Argentine GP 1954

Argentine GP, 1954

The new Formula 1 regulations which came into force in 1954 meant that there was a change in the established order of the sport although many of the newcomers were not ready in time for the start of the season and so Ferrari and Maserati continued the battle they had had in 1953 with their old modified for the new rules. Ferrari started the year with the Type 625 while Maserati had reworked the A6SSG Formula 2 car to produce the Maserati 250F. Gordini used his old cars fitted with bigger engines.

All three companies sent their factory teams to Buenos Aires and with Alberto Ascari and Gigi Villoresi having left Ferrari to join the yet-to-appear Lancia team, Ferrari fielded Giuseppe Farina, Mike Hawthorn and Umberto Maglioli alongside new signings Froilan Gonzalez and Maurice Trintignant. Maserati retained Juan-Manuel Fangio, Onofre Marimon and youngster Luigi Musso.

Farina was fastest in practice with Gonzalez alongside and the front row was completed by Fangio and Hawthorn while on the second row Trintignant had Marimon and would have had Musso if the Italian had been able to start the event. Unfortunately he had suffered an engine failure and had no replacement unit.

Farina took the lead at the start with Fangio close behind him but it was Gonzalez who made the most impression in the early laps as he climbed through the order, passing Hawthorn and Fangio and taking the lead on lap 15. On lap 32, however, a storm broke and Gonzalez spun off in the rain. Farina stopped to get a visor for his helmet and Hawthorn spun and so Fangio was left in the lead. As the track dried he was caught and passed by Gonzalez and Farina but then the rain intensified and Fangio moved back into the lead. Hawthorn dropped out after receiving outside assistance after a second spin. On lap 61 Fangio stopped for some special hand-cut tires after which Ferrari team manager Nello Ugolini decided to protest that Maserati has used too many mechanics during the pit stop. The Ferrari team was confident that the protest would be upheld and so Farina and Gonzalez were signaled not to take risks. Fangio caught and passed them both to win. The protest was rejected by the race organizers and later by the FIA as well.

POS	NO	DRIVER	ENTRANT	LAPS	TIME/RETIREMENT	QUAL POS
1	2	Juan-Manuel Fangio	Maserati 250F	87	3h00m55.800s	3
2	10	Giuseppe Farina	Ferrari 625	87	3h02m14.800s	1
3	12	Froilan Gonzalez	Ferrari 625	87	3h02m56.800s	2
4	26	Maurice Trintignant	Ferrari 625	86		5
5	20	Elie Bayol	Gordini T16	85		14
6	28	Harry Schell	Maserati A6GCM	84		10
7	8	Prince Bira	Maserati A6GCM	83		9
8	30	Emmanuel de Graffenried	Maserati A6GCM	83		12
9	16	Umberto Maglioli	Ferrari 625	82		11
dq	14	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari 625		Push Start After Spin	4
dq	18	Jean Behra	Gordini T16		Push Start After Spin	16
r	4	Onofre Marimon	Maserati 250F	5	Accident	6
r	32	Roberto Mieres	Maserati A6GCM		Engine	8
r	34	Jorge Daponte	Maserati A6GCM		Engine	17
r	22	Roger Loyer	Gordini T16		Engine	15
r	24	Louis Rosier	Ferrari 500	2	Accident	13
ns	6	Luigi Musso	Maserati A6GCM		Engine	7
ns	36	Carlos Menditeguy	Maserati A6GCM		Engine	18