Formula 1

About the season

A new technical era began: engines were now capped at 2.5 litres naturally aspirated or 0.75 litres supercharged, a formula that would shape the cars for years to come. Fangio won the season's first two races, in Argentina and Belgium, still driving a Maserati, since Mercedes-Benz's new W196 was not yet race-ready. Mercedes returned to grand prix racing for the first time since the Second World War at the French Grand Prix, and did so spectacularly: running the streamlined "Type Monza" bodywork, Fangio and Karl Kling finished first and second on the car's debut. Mercedes went on to dominate for the rest of the year, capturing both championships it contested in its very first season back. Juan Fangio won the 1954 Drivers' Championship with 42 points (Maserati, Mercedes), 16.86 points ahead of the runner-up. Across 9 completed races this season, there were 120 retirements. 4 different drivers won a race this season. Juan Fangio took the most race wins, 6 in total. Fangio won the season-opening race, the Argentine Grand Prix. The season's biggest upset win came from Vukovich at the Indianapolis 500, starting from grid position 19. The Indianapolis 500 saw the most retirements of the season, with 24 drivers failing to finish. The closest finish of the season came at the French Grand Prix, with a gap of just 0.100 seconds. Mieres made the biggest gain of the season at the British Grand Prix, from grid position 32 to finishing 6 (up 26 places). The most dominant win of the season came at the German Grand Prix, with a margin of 96.5 seconds. Hawthorn won the Spanish Grand Prix, the final race of the season.