Formula 1

About the season

A new era began as engine capacity was cut from 2.5 to 1.5 litres, and Ferrari was best prepared for it with its shark-nosed, 120-degree V6-powered 156. Ferrari won five of the eight races and claimed the first Constructors' Championship of this new formula. At the Italian Grand Prix at Monza (10 September), championship leader Wolfgang von Trips collided with Jim Clark's Lotus on the second lap; his car became airborne and crashed into the crowd barrier, killing von Trips and fifteen spectators - the deadliest accident in the sport's history. The race was not stopped. Phil Hill won both the race and the title, becoming the first American world champion, but the victory was overshadowed by his teammate's death. Phil Hill won the 1961 Drivers' Championship with 34 points (Ferrari), 1 point ahead of the runner-up. Ferrari won the Constructors' Championship with 45 points, 10 points ahead of the runner-up. Across 8 completed races this season, there were 107 retirements. 5 different drivers won a race this season. Phil Hill took the most race wins, 2 in total. Moss won the season-opening race, the Monaco Grand Prix. The season's biggest upset win came from Baghetti at the French Grand Prix, starting from grid position 12. The closest finish of the season came at the French Grand Prix, with a gap of just 0.100 seconds. The most dominant win of the season came at the British Grand Prix, with a margin of 46.0 seconds. Parnell made the biggest gain of the season at the Italian Grand Prix, from grid position 27 to finishing 10 (up 17 places). The Italian Grand Prix saw the most retirements of the season, with 26 drivers failing to finish. Ireland won the United States Grand Prix, the final race of the season.