<< Prev Page 2 of 2 A born winner Performance of the 250F in its first two races was better than anyone at Maserati could have imagined. Both races were won by Juan Manuel Fangio. However, before the third European race, Fangio left Maserati to race for the newly formed Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix team. The 250F was not able to match the outright performance of of the Mercedes-Benz and its drivers. Fangio and Moss dominated the 1954 and 1955 season, with Fangio picking up the title both years. After Mercedes-Benz' withdrawal Fangio moved to Ferrari, to race the Jano designed Lancia/Ferrari D50. With the ingenious D50, the Master scored a third title in a row. Although the 250F was not a top contender in those years, it was a popular car on the grid, with many privateers racing them.
As mentioned before, the 250F was revamped for the 1957 season. In addition to the engine modifications the chassis was also drastically revised. More but smaller diameter tubing was used, increasing the rigidity and lowering the weight. The new machines were dubbed the 'T2' or 'Lightweight' and were readied for the 1957 season. Subject of constant development had always been the aluminium single-seater body, which was now lower and sleeker than ever before. Discontent at Ferrari, Fangio returned to Maserati where he found the completely revamped 250F. Pitched against Ferraris and Vanwalls, driven by very talented drives like Moss, Collins and Hawthorn, Fangio showcased once more what the 250F was capable of. With his characteristic four wheel drifts, 'The Master' piloted the 250F to four victories and his fifth driver's title.
'57 Nürburgring Grand Prix Fangio's most notable drive was his amazing Nürburgring victory. Halfway through the race Fangio was almost a minute adrift of Collins and Hawthorn in the leading Ferraris. Collins was flying, breaking Fangio's lap record set earlier in the race. Fangio then recorded a series of laps that took most people's breath away and more importantly seconds from Collins' lead. Breaking the lap record lap after lap (he broke the lap record ten times in 22 laps), Fangio gained as much as 1 second per mile on lap 15. On lap 18 he recorded the first 90 mph lap time and by the end of the race he was close to a 92 mph lap time. With two laps to go the large lead was gone and Fangio had charged past both Ferraris to record his finest victory. A victory that has added a lot to both his and the 250F's legend, even though he has been much more successful with the Mercedes-Benz racers Fangio will forever be connected with the 250F. The best balanced of all front engined Grand Prix racers perfectly suited Fangio's high speed four wheel drifts. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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