title: 1951 Formula One season
text: # 1951 Formula One season
  
  * Races by country
  * Races by venue
  
  The 1951 Formula One season was the fifth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1951 World Championship of Drivers, which commenced on 27 May 1951 and ended on 28 October after eight races. The season also included 14 races open to Formula One cars but did not count towards the championship standings.
  
  ## Teams and drivers
  
  The following teams and drivers competed in the 1951 FIA World Championship of Drivers. The list does not include those that contested only the Indianapolis 500 event.
  
  | Entrant | Constructor | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Driver | Rounds |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Ecurie Belge | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Johnny Claes | 1, 3–8 |
  | Philippe Étancelin | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Philippe Étancelin | 1, 3–4, 6, 8 |
  | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | 1, 3–4, 6–8 |
  | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Guy Mairesse | 1, 4 |
  | Ecurie Rosier | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Louis Rosier | 1, 3–8 |
  | Ecurie Rosier | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Henri Louveau | 1 |
  | Ecurie Rosier | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Louis Chiron | 3–8 |
  | HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 51 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | D | George Abecassis | 1 |
  | HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 51 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | D | Stirling Moss | 1 |
  | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 375 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P E | Luigi Villoresi | 1, 3–8 |
  | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 375 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P E | Alberto Ascari | 1, 3–8 |
  | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 375 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P E | Piero Taruffi | 1, 3, 6–8 |
  | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 375 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P E | José Froilán González | 4–8 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Giuseppe Farina | 1, 3–8 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1, 3–8 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Toulo de Graffenried | 1, 7–8 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Consalvo Sanesi | 1, 3–5 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Luigi Fagioli | 4 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Felice Bonetto | 5–8 |
  | Alfa Romeo SpA | Alfa Romeo | 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s | P | Paul Pietsch | 6 |
  | Enrico Platé | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | P | Louis Chiron | 1 |
  | Enrico Platé | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | P | Harry Schell | 1, 4 |
  | Enrico Platé | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | P | Toulo de Graffenried | 4, 6 |
  | Enrico Platé | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | P | Paul Pietsch | 6 |
  | Ecurie Espadon | Ferrari | 212 | Ferrari 212 2.5 V12 | P | Rudi Fischer | 1, 6–7 |
  | José Froilán González | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | José Froilán González | 1 |
  | Peter Hirt | Veritas | Meteor | Veritas 2.0 L6 | P | Peter Hirt | 1 |
  | Ecurie Belgique | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | André Pilette | 3 |
  | Ecurie Belgique | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Jacques Swaters | 6–7 |
  | Pierre Levegh | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Pierre Levegh | 3, 6–7 |
  | Graham Whitehead | Ferrari | 125 | Ferrari 125 1.5 V12 s | D | Peter Whitehead | 4 |
  | GA Vandervell | Ferrari | 375 tw | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P | Reg Parnell | 4 |
  | GA Vandervell | Ferrari | 375 tw | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P | Peter Whitehead | 5 |
  | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini | T15 T11 | Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s | E | Robert Manzon | 4, 6–8 |
  | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini | T15 T11 | Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s | E | Maurice Trintignant | 4, 6–8 |
  | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini | T15 T11 | Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s | E | André Simon | 4, 6–8 |
  | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini | T15 T11 | Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s | E | Aldo Gordini | 4 |
  | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini | T15 T11 | Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s | E | Jean Behra | 7 |
  | Eugène Chaboud | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Eugène Chaboud | 4 |
  | Scuderia Milano | Maserati-Speluzzi | 4CLT/50 | Speluzzi 1.5 L4 | P | Onofre Marimón | 4 |
  | Scuderia Milano | Maserati-Speluzzi | 4CLT/50 | Speluzzi 1.5 L4 | P | Paco Godia | 8 |
  | Scuderia Milano | Maserati-Speluzzi | 4CLT/50 | Speluzzi 1.5 L4 | P | Juan Jover | 8 |
  | Joe Kelly | Alta | GP | Alta 1.5 L4 s | D | Joe Kelly | 5 |
  | BRM Ltd | BRM | P15 | BRM P15 1.5 V16 s | D | Reg Parnell | 5, 7 |
  | BRM Ltd | BRM | P15 | BRM P15 1.5 V16 s | D | Peter Walker | 5 |
  | BRM Ltd | BRM | P15 | BRM P15 1.5 V16 s | D | Ken Richardson | 7 |
  | BRM Ltd | BRM | P15 | BRM P15 1.5 V16 s | D | Hans Stuck | 7 |
  | Bob Gerard | ERA | B | ERA 1.5 L6 s | D | Bob Gerard | 5 |
  | Brian Shawe-Taylor | ERA | B | ERA 1.5 L6 s | D | Brian Shawe-Taylor | 5 |
  | Scuderia Ambrosiana | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | D | David Murray | 5–6 |
  | John James | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | D | John James | 5 |
  | Philip Fotheringham-Parker | Maserati | 4CL | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | D | Philip Fotheringham-Parker | 5 |
  | Duncan Hamilton | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Duncan Hamilton | 5–6 |
  | Antonio Branca | Maserati | 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | P | Toni Branca | 6 |
  | Francisco Landi | Ferrari | 375 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | P | Chico Landi | 7 |
  | Peter Whitehead | Ferrari | 125 | Ferrari 125 1.5 V12 s | D | Peter Whitehead | 1, 7 |
  | OSCA Automobili | OSCA | 4500G | OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 | P | Franco Rol | 7 |
  | Birabongse Bhanudej | Maserati-OSCA | 4CLT/48 | OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 | P | Birabongse Bhanudej | 8 |
  | Georges Grignard | Talbot-Lago | T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | D | Georges Grignard | 8 |
  
  * ↑ Pietsch was also entered in the No. 80 Maserati. He only participated with the Maserati in practice and qualified and raced in the No. 78 Alfa Romeo.
  * ↑ Behra secretly replaced the unwell Trintignant for the race of the Italian Grand Prix. Team principal Amédée Gordini did not inform the race organizers about this change as it would have reduced the starting fee the team received. Behra even wore his compatriot’s helmet to disguise the switch.
  
  ## Calendar
  
  | Round | Grand Prix | Circuit | Date |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Swiss Grand Prix | Circuit Bremgarten, Bern | 27 May |
  | 2 | Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway | 30 May |
  | 3 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot | 17 June |
  | 4 | French Grand Prix | Reims-Gueux, Gueux | 1 July |
  | 5 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone | 14 July |
  | 6 | German Grand Prix | Nürburgring, Nürburg | 29 July |
  | 7 | Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza | 16 September |
  | 8 | Spanish Grand Prix | Pedralbes Circuit, Barcelona | 28 October |
  
  ### Calendar changes
  
  The Monaco Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar.
  
  The Swiss Grand Prix was moved from June to May to become the season opener.
  
  The German Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1951, the race was held at the Nürburgring on 29 July.
  
  The Spanish Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1951, the race was held at the Pedralbes Circuit on 28 October.
  
  ## World Championship season summary
  
  Ferrari's newer, naturally aspirated 4.5-litre cars offered a real challenge to the Alfas, which were nearing the end of their development potential. The Ferraris were able to capitalize on the inefficiency of the Alfa's very thirsty engines, particularly at Silverstone. Although Alfas won four races, with Fangio taking the championship, Ferrari's three victories spelled the end for the Alfas. BRM made their only championship appearance with the V16 at Silverstone, and the old, slow Talbots were increasingly outclassed.
  
  Points were given to the top 5 finishers (8, 6, 4, 3, 2). One point was given for the fastest lap. Only the best four of eight scores counted towards the world championship. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps.
  
  ### Pre-season non-championship races
  
  Although the official championship season would start in late May in Switzerland, a handful of non-championship events were to be run. The first was the first-ever Syracuse Grand Prix near the ancient city of Syracuse on the southern island of Sicily. This race was won by Italian Luigi Villoresi driving the new 4 1/2 litre Ferrari 375 on the 3.4 miles (5.5 km) public road circuit. Villoresi would triumph again two weeks later at Pau in southwest France over homeland hero Louis Rosier and Nino Farina, driving a Maserati for this race. On the same day, Thai driver Birabongse Bhanudej would triumph at the Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood in southern England in his Maserati.
  
  Three weeks after the Goodwood and Pau races, it was the San Remo Grand Prix in western Italy, not far from Monaco. Alberto Ascari made his first appearance of the season and promptly won in a Ferrari 375 on this twisty and demanding 2.1 miles (3.4 km) street circuit, ahead of his countryman Dorino Serafini and Swiss Rudi Fischer, both in Ferraris. A week later was the Bordeaux Grand Prix in western France, and it was won by Rosier in a Talbot, ahead of Fischer and Briton Peter Whitehead in a Ferrari. Besides Farina, this race did not feature any Italians because they were competing in the Mille Miglia.
  
  A week later was the BRDC International Trophy race at Silverstone, with the Alfa Romeos making their first appearance in 1951. Of the first two heats, Fangio won the first while Farina won the second, and Reg Parnell won the final all-important event, which was stopped because of torrential rain and flooding. Two weeks after this was the Paris Grand Prix in the Bois de Boulogne Park in the French capital city, which Farina won in a Maserati.
  
  ### Race 1: Switzerland
  
  A week after the BRDC International Trophy race, the Formula One Championship season started in Switzerland at the very dangerous and tree-lined Bremgarten public road circuit near Bern around the time the Monaco Grand Prix would have been held, but that historic race was not held this year. Alfa Romeo, the dominant team in 1950 with its supercharged 159 Alfetta, took the first five places on the grid, except 3rd, which Luigi Villoresi took in a Ferrari. Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio was on pole position, with his Italian teammate Giuseppe "Nino" Farina alongside him. The race started while it was raining, and with its overhanging trees lining the road, this circuit was even more dangerous in the wet. But Fangio made no mistake and won the race from Piero Taruffi in a Ferrari and Farina, whose decision to run the race without changing tires proved wrong.
  
  ### Race 2: Indianapolis 500
  
  The Indianapolis 500 in the United States was run three days after the Swiss Grand Prix on a Wednesday. It was the only non-European championship round and the only round that was not run to FIA Grand Prix regulations. Lee Wallard won this demanding race in his Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser.
  
  ### Race 3: Belgium
  
  Farina had won again at Ulster Trophy held at the very dangerous and fast Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland in an Alfa, and the next championship Grand Prix was in Belgium at the fastest circuit of the year: the spectacular and rural 8.7 miles (14.0 km) Spa-Francorchamps circuit. With Fangio and Farina once again 1–2 with the Ferraris of Villoresi and Alberto Ascari taking 3rd and 4th, the Alfas and Ferraris dueled around this circuit, with only 13 entries – small grids in all kinds of motorsports in Europe were commonplace at Spa, because of the fear most drivers had of the circuit. Farina, already on a high after winning at Dundrod, won by three minutes over Ascari and Villoresi, with Fangio finishing four laps down in 9th after one of his Alfa's wheels jammed on its hub.
  
  ### Race 4: France
  
  The French Grand Prix, given the honorary designation of the European Grand Prix this year, was held at the very fast 4.8 miles (7.7 km) Reims-Gueux circuit (a circuit only two mph slower than Spa) deep in northern French champagne country played the host for an exciting race. Fangio, on pole again, was beaten off the line by 3rd-placed qualifier Ascari, with 2nd-placed qualifier Farina making a terrible start and dropping to 11th. On this triangular public road circuit, made up entirely of long straights, slight kinks, and slow, angular corners saw Ascari retire his car with a broken gearbox and Fangio nursing a sick car. Farina pushed very hard and eventually took the lead. Argentine José Froilán González was 2nd in a Ferrari, and 53-year old pre-war great Luigi Fagioli in an Alfa was 3rd in a one-off appearance this year. González was chasing Farina very hard, but Farina's car developed magneto problems and had to fall back, which put González in the lead, with Fagioli in 2nd. However, during both the leader's pitstops, as was commonplace in Grand Prix racing up until 1957, when it was banned – González handed his car over to Ascari, and Fagioli exchanged his healthy car with Fangio's mechanically unhealthy car, so Ascari and Fangio were back in 1st and 2nd where they had been before. But Fangio took advantage of Ascari's brake problems on his Ferrari (the Reims-Gueux circuit was very hard on engines and brakes) to win a race that holds the record for farthest racing distance ever completed for a Grand Prix, 373 miles (600 km). Fagioli, finishing 22 laps down and furious over having to swap cars with Fangio, quit Grand Prix racing on the spot. The veteran Italian would die after crashing a Lancia during a sportscar race at Monaco in 1952.
  
  ### Race 5: Britain
  
  The British Grand Prix at the Silverstone airfield circuit in England played host to round 5 of the World Championship, and this race was to make history. The Alfa Romeos, with their powerful 420 hp supercharged 1.5L engines were fast but had horrendous fuel consumption: 1.5 miles per gallon (thanks to the relatively simple pre-World War II engine design), meaning that Fangio and Farina had to stop twice to refuel, José Froilán González in the more fuel-efficient 4.5L naturally aspirated V12 Ferrari went on to win, with Fangio second. This was the first time Enzo Ferrari had won a Grand Prix with a car of his own company's construction, and this team went on to be the most successful in Formula One history.
  
  ### Race 6: Germany
  
  A week after the British Grand Prix, the non-championship Dutch Grand Prix at the fast beachside Zandvoort circuit near Amsterdam was won by Louis Rosier in a Talbot, ahead of veteran Phillippe Etancelin and up-and-comer Stirling Moss in an HWM.
  
  West Germany had been banned from international sports competitions until 1951, so the German Grand Prix was able to be a Grand Prix championship round for the first time since 1939. The venue was the same as it had been in 1939 – it was the dauntingly challenging, dangerous, and twisty 14.2 miles (22.9 km) Nürburgring Nordschleife. Ascari took pole position in front of his teammate González and Alfa drivers Fangio and Farina. At the start, Farina took the lead, but the Alfas started to develop overheating problems, and Farina soon retired. In addition to engine problems, the gearbox in Fangio's Alfa lost 1st and 2nd of four gears. After trading the lead with Fangio during pitstops, Ascari took the lead and won his first championship Formula One Grand Prix.
  
  ### Race 7: Italy
  
  A week after the German Grand Prix was the Albi Grand Prix on a high-speed and dangerous public road circuit outside the southwestern French village of Albi. Maurice Trintignant won this race in a Simca. Ten days after this race, the Coppa Acerbo at the 15.8 miles (25.4 km) and dauntingly dangerous Pescara Circuit in eastern Italy, which was won by José Froilán González in a Ferrari. Two weeks later, Fangio won the Bari Grand Prix in the small southeastern Italian coastal city.
  
  Italy was the next championship race, and the Monza Autodrome near Milan played host to the seventh round of the Formula One Grand Prix championship. Fangio, in an Alfa, pole position again, but he retired his car, which had engine problems; Farina, who had taken Felice Bonetto's Alfa, had a leaking fuel tank and had to come in twice for fuel, which dropped him down the order far enough for him only to get as far as third. Fellow local hero and Milan native Ascari won again in his Ferrari–which kept his championship hopes alive to catch the leader Fangio going into the last championship Grand Prix in Spain.
  
  ### Race 8: Spain
  
  The last non-championship race of the year, the Goodwood Trophy, was won by Farina in an Alfa three weeks after the Italian Grand Prix.
  
  The first ever Formula One Spanish Grand Prix, held at the Pedralbes street circuit in Barcelona, took place four weeks after the Goodwood Trophy race. The Ferrari and Alfa Romeo teams each ran four cars, with Ferrari fielding Ascari, Gigi Villoresi, Froilan González, and Piero Taruffi and Alfa Romeo running Fangio, Giuseppe Farina, Felice Bonetto, and Baron Emanuel de Graffenried. Ascari was fastest in practice and shared the front row of the 4–3–4 grid with Fangio, González, and Farina. Behind them were Villoresi, de Graffenried and Taruffi. Ascari led from the start, with González chasing, but by the end of the first lap, González had dropped to fifth behind Farina, Fangio, and Bonetto. Fangio quickly passed Farina and took the lead from Ascari on the fourth lap. As Fangio sailed away to victory, Ferrari's challenge fell apart along with its tires – the team having opted to use smaller wheels than normal. By the time the team had sorted out the problem, Ascari was two laps behind. Fangio duly won the race and his first of five championships, with González finishing second and Farina third.
  
  ## Results and standings
  
  ### Grands Prix
  
  | Round | Grand Prix | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning driver | Winning constructor | Tyre | Report |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Swiss Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Alfa Romeo | P | Report |
  | 2 | Indianapolis 500 | Duke Nalon | Lee Wallard | Lee Wallard | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | F | Report |
  | 3 | Belgian Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Romeo | P | Report |
  | 4 | French Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio Luigi Fagioli | Alfa Romeo | P | Report |
  | 5 | British Grand Prix | José Froilán González | Giuseppe Farina | José Froilán González | Ferrari | P | Report |
  | 6 | German Grand Prix | Alberto Ascari | Juan Manuel Fangio | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | P | Report |
  | 7 | Italian Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Giuseppe Farina | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | P | Report |
  | 8 | Spanish Grand Prix | Alberto Ascari | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Alfa Romeo | P | Report |
  
  ### World Championship of Drivers standings
  
  Points were awarded on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis to the first five finishers at each Grand Prix, with an additional point for the fastest lap. Only the best four results counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.
  
  | Pos. | Driver | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | ESP | Pts. |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Juan Manuel Fangio | $1^P^F$ | | $(9^P^F)$ | $(1^F)†/11^P†$ | 2 | $2^F$ | $Ret^P$ | $1^F$ | 31 (37) |
  | 2 | Alberto Ascari | 6 | | 2 | 2† | Ret | $1^P$ | 1 | $(4^P)$ | 25 (28) |
  | 3 | José Froilán González | Ret | | | (2)† | $1^P$ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 24 (27) |
  | 4 | Giuseppe Farina | 3 | | 1 | (5) | $(Ret^F)$ | Ret | $3^F†/$ Ret | 3 | 19 (22) |
  | 5 | Luigi Villoresi | Ret | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | (4) | Ret | 15 (18) |
  | 6 | Piero Taruffi | 2 | | Ret | | | 5 | 5 | Ret | 10 |
  | 7 | Lee Wallard | | $1^F$ | | | | | | | 9 |
  | 8 | Felice Bonetto | | | | | 4 | Ret | 3† | 5 | 7 |
  | 9 | Mike Nazaruk | | 2 | | | | | | | 6 |
  | 10 | Reg Parnell | | | | 4 | 5 | | DNS | | 5 |
  | 11 | Luigi Fagioli | | | | 1† / 11† | | | | | 4 |
  | 12 | Consalvo Sanesi | 4 | | Ret | 10 | 6 | | | | 3 |
  | 13 | Louis Rosier | 9 | | 4 | Ret | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
  | 14 | Andy Linden | | 4 | | | | | | | 3 |
  | 15 | Manny Ayulo | | 3† | | | | | | | 2 |
  | 16 | Jack McGrath | | 3† | | | | | | | 2 |
  | 17 | Toulo de Graffenried | 5 | | | Ret | | Ret | Ret | 6 | 2 |
  | 18 | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Ret | | 5 | 7 | | Ret | 8 | Ret | 2 |
  | 19 | Bobby Ball | | 5 | | | | | | | 2 |
  | — | Louis Chiron | 7 | | Ret | 6 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 0 |
  | — | Rudi Fischer | 11 | | | | | 6 | DNS | | 0 |
  | — | André Simon | | | | Ret | | Ret | 6 | Ret | 0 |
  | — | Henry Banks | | 6 | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | André Pilette | | | 6 | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Robert Manzon | | | | Ret | | 7 | Ret | 9 | 0 |
  | — | Johnny Claes | 13 | | 7 | Ret | 13 | 11 | Ret | Ret | 0 |
  | — | Carl Forberg | | 7 | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Peter Walker | | | | | 7 | | | | 0 |
  | — | Pierre Levegh | | | 8 | | | 9 | Ret | | 0 |
  | — | Philippe Étancelin | 10 | | Ret | Ret | | Ret | | 8 | 0 |
  | — | Stirling Moss | 8 | | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Duane Carter | | 8 | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Eugène Chaboud | | | | 8 | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Brian Shawe-Taylor | | | | | 8 | | | | 0 |
  | — | Guy Mairesse | 14 | | | 9 | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Peter Whitehead | Ret | | | Ret | 9 | | Ret | | 0 |
  | — | Franco Rol | | | | | | | 9 | | 0 |
  | — | Jacques Swaters | | | | | | 10 | Ret | | 0 |
  | — | Paco Godia | | | | | | | | 10 | 0 |
  | — | Bob Gerard | | | | | 11 | | | | 0 |
  | — | Harry Schell | 12 | | | Ret | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Duncan Hamilton | | | | | 12 | Ret | | | 0 |
  | — | Joe Kelly | | | | | NC | | | | 0 |
  | — | Maurice Trintignant | | | | Ret | | Ret | DNS | Ret | 0 |
  | — | Henri Louveau | Ret | | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | George Abecassis | Ret | | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Peter Hirt | Ret | | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Tony Bettenhausen | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Duke Nalon | | $Ret^P$ | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Gene Force | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Sam Hanks | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Bill Schindler | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Mauri Rose | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Walt Faulkner | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Jimmy Davies | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Fred Agabashian | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Carl Scarborough | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Bill Mackey | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Chuck Stevenson | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Johnnie Parsons | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Cecil Green | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Troy Ruttman | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Duke Dinsmore | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Chet Miller | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Walt Brown | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Rodger Ward | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Cliff Griffith | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Bill Vukovich | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | George Connor | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Mack Hellings | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Joe James | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Johnny McDowell | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Aldo Gordini | | | | Ret | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Onofre Marimón | | | | Ret | | | | | 0 |
  | — | Philip Fotheringham-Parker | | | | | Ret | | | | 0 |
  | — | David Murray | | | | | Ret | | | | 0 |
  | — | John James | | | | | Ret | | | | 0 |
  | — | Paul Pietsch | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
  | — | Toni Branca | | | | | | Ret | | | 0 |
  | — | Jean Behra | | | | | | | Ret | | 0 |
  | — | Chico Landi | | | | | | | Ret | | 0 |
  | — | Georges Grignard | | | | | | | | Ret | 0 |
  | — | Birabongse Bhanudej | | | | | | | | Ret | 0 |
  | — | Ken Richardson | | | | | | | DNS | | 0 |
  | — | Juan Jover | | | | | | | | DNS | 0 |
  | Pos. | Driver | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | ESP | Pts. |
  
  Key :
  
  | Colour | Result |
  | - | - |
  | Gold | Winner |
  | Silver | Second place |
  | Bronze | Third place |
  | Green | Other points position |
  | Blue | Other classified position |
  | Blue | Not classified, finished (NC) |
  | Purple | Not classified, retired (Ret) |
  | Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
  | Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
  | White | Did not start (DNS) |
  | White | Race cancelled (C) |
  | Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
  | Blank | Excluded (EX) |
  | Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
  | Blank | Withdrawn (WD) |
  | Blank | Did not enter (empty cell) |
  | Annotation | Meaning |
  | P | Pole position |
  | F | Fastest lap |
  
  * † Position shared between two or more drivers of the same car
  
  ## Non-championship races
  
  Other Formula One races, which did not count towards the World Championship, were also held in 1951.
  
  | Race name | Circuit | Date | Winning driver | Constructor | Report |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | I Gran Premio di Siracusa | Syracuse | 11 March | Luigi Villoresi | Ferrari | Report |
  | XII Pau Grand Prix | Pau | 26 March | Luigi Villoresi | Ferrari | Report |
  | III Richmond Trophy | Goodwood | 26 March | Birabongse Bhanudej | Maserati | Report |
  | VI Gran Premio di Sanremo | Ospedaletti | 22 April | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report |
  | I Grand Prix de Bordeaux | Bordeaux | 29 April | Louis Rosier | Talbot-Lago | Report |
  | III BRDC International Trophy | Silverstone | 5 May | Reg Parnell | Ferrari | Report |
  | V Grand Prix de Paris | Bois de Boulogne | 20 May | Giuseppe Farina | Maserati | Report |
  | V Ulster Trophy | Dundrod | 2 June | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Romeo | Report |
  | I Scottish Grand Prix | Winfield | 21 July | Philip Fotheringham-Parker | Maserati | Report |
  | II Grote Prijs van Nederland | Zandvoort | 22 July | Louis Rosier | Talbot-Lago | Report |
  | XIII Grand Prix de l'Albigeois | Albi (Les Planques) | 5 August | Maurice Trintignant | Simca-Gordini | Report |
  | XX Circuito di Pescara | Pescara | 15 August | José Froilán González | Ferrari | Report |
  | V Gran Premio di Bari | Bari | 2 September | Juan Manuel Fangio | Alfa Romeo | Report |
  | IV Goodwood Trophy | Goodwood | 29 September | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Romeo | Report |
  