1952 Swiss Grand Prix

With the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo from the World Championship, Ferrari were left as the sole competitive team under the existing Formula One regulations. It was therefore decided to restrict the World Championship Grand Prix races to Formula Two cars.

The works Ferrari team brought three drivers to the Swiss Grand Prix, namely Farina, Taruffi and Simon. Regular Ferrari drivers Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi were both unavailable, the former due to his participation in the Indianapolis 500, and the latter because of his having had a road accident. Also running Ferraris were Rudi Fischer and Peter Hirt of Ecurie Espadon, and veteran Frenchman Louis Rosier. Gordini also had a three-car team for this race, consisting of Robert Manzon, B. Bira and the debutant Jean Behra. The HWM team, returning to the World Championship for the first time since the previous race at Bremgarten, fielded the all-British quartet of Abecassis, Collins, Macklin and Moss. Maserati had planned to enter defending World Drivers' Champion Juan Manuel Fangio and fellow Argentinian José Froilán González, but this did not come into fruition. Completing the field were the sole AFM entry of Hans Stuck and a number of privately run cars representing various constructors.

Former Alfa Romeo driver Nino Farina took pole position, alongside Taruffi and Manzon on the front row of the grid. Simon and Fischer started from the second row, in front of Collins, Behra and Toulo de Graffenried, who was driving an Enrico Platé-entered Maserati.

Polesitter Farina led the race until his car broke down. His Ferrari teammate assumed the lead, which he held for the remainder of the race. Moss was impressively running in third place in the early stages, behind Farina and Taruffi, before he had to stop. Moss and Macklin withdrew from the race. The main battle was between Behra and Simon, for second place (once Farina had retired). When Behra had to stop, due to his exhaust pipe having fallen off, Farina, who had taken over Simon's car, assumed second place. However, further problems meant that he once again had to retire, on lap 51, handing second to local driver Rudi Fischer. The Swiss driver took his first Championship podium, being the only driver not to be lapped by Taruffi, who took his first (and only) World Championship race victory. Behra completed the podium, taking third on debut, while Ken Wharton (fourth) and Alan Brown (fifth) took the first points finishes for Frazer Nash and Cooper, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr016.html|title=Swiss GP, 1952 Race Report|publisher=Grandprix.com|access-date=14 August 2012}}

:{{Note|1|1}} — André Simon qualified and drove 21 laps of the race in the #32 Ferrari. Nino Farina, whose own vehicle had already retired, took over the car for a further 30 laps before again being forced to retire.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/race/1404.html|title=Swiss Grand Prix 1952 - Results|publisher=ESPN F1|access-date=10 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217234739/http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/race/1404.html|archive-date=17 December 2013}}

:{{Note|2|2}} — Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González, whose cars were unavailable, withdrew from the event prior to practice.{{cite web|url=http://www.statsf1.com/en/1952/suisse/classement.aspx|title=Switzerland 1952 - Result|publisher=statsf1.com|access-date=10 January 2014}}

:{{Note|3|3}} — Peter Hirt qualified and drove the entire race in the #44 Ferrari. Rudolf Schoeller, named substitute driver for the car, was not used during the Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=http://www.statsf1.com/en/1952/suisse/engages.aspx|title=Switzerland 1952 - Race entrants|publisher=statsf1.com|access-date=10 January 2014}}

:{{Note|4|4}} — Max de Terra drove the #50 Simca-Gordini in the race. Alfred Dattner, who was also entered in the same car, was unable to take part in the Grand Prix due to illness.

;Notes

• {{Note|1|1}} – Includes 1 point for fastest lap

• Farina (33 laps) took over from Simon (18) after Farina retired from the race.

;Drivers' Championship standings

• Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.

{{Reflist | 30em}}

{{F1 race report

| Name_of_race = Swiss Grand Prix

| Year_of_race = 1952

| Previous_race_in_season = 1951 Spanish Grand Prix

| Next_race_in_season = 1952 Indianapolis 500

| Previous_year's_race = 1951 Swiss Grand Prix

| Next_year's_race = 1953 Swiss Grand Prix

}}

{{F1GP 50-59}}

Swiss Grand Prix

Category:Swiss Grand Prix

Grand Prix

Swiss Grand Prix