1959 F1 Season

The 1959 Formula One season, marking the 13th season of FIA Formula One motor racing, was a period of transition and notable achievements in the sport. This season featured the World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, spanning nine races from 10 May to 12 December. The season was significant for the absence of any previous world champions on the grid, following the retirements of Juan Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn. Jack Brabham emerged victorious, clinching the World Championship of Drivers, and marking his entry as the first Australian World Champion. Cooper-Climax, with their revolutionary mid-engined cars, dominated the season, winning five of the races with drivers including Brabham, Stirling Moss, and Bruce McLaren. BRM also achieved its first victory with Jo Bonnier at the helm. A tragic moment occurred during the German Grand Prix at the high-speed AVUS circuit, where Jean Behra of Ferrari was fatally injured in a sports car race. The season concluded dramatically at the inaugural United States Grand Prix, where a battle for the title ensued between Ferrari’s Tony Brooks, Moss, and Brabham. In a striking turn of events, Brabham, having run out of fuel on the last lap, pushed his car across the finish line to secure fourth place, ensuring his championship victory as Brooks finished third. This season marked Cooper’s triumph in the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, signifying a shift in the automotive engineering paradigm towards mid-engined cars.