1958 F1 Season

The 1958 Formula One season, a pivotal year in the sport’s history, was the 12th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1958 World Championship of Drivers and introduced the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers. The season, which started on 19 January and concluded on 19 October, comprised eleven races. English driver Mike Hawthorn won the Drivers’ title after a closely fought battle with compatriot Stirling Moss, while Vanwall claimed the inaugural Manufacturers’ award. Hawthorn, having won only one race throughout the season, tragically died in a road car accident three months after retiring from racing.

This season was marked by profound tragedy, with the deaths of four drivers: Luigi Musso at the French Grand Prix, Peter Collins at the German Grand Prix, Stuart Lewis-Evans at the Moroccan Grand Prix, and Pat O’Connor at the Indianapolis 500. The 1958 season represented a turning point in Formula One’s technological evolution, being the final year dominated by front-engined cars. The introduction of more mid-engined cars in the following seasons marked a significant shift in racing design and strategy. The season included races at the Argentine, Monaco, Dutch, Indianapolis 500, Belgian, French, British, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Moroccan Grands Prix.