1953 French Grand Prix
Formula 1

Greatest Formula 1 Races – The 1953 French Grand Prix

Avatar photoDennis David

1953 French Grand Prix – The New Boy Makes Good

By Rodney Walkerley

I find this a most difficult report to write. If I use the superlatives justified by the staggering racing we witnessed in the 40th Grand Prix de France this afternoon, a certain exaggeration might be suspected. But it can go on record that Mike Hawthorn’s magnificent victory by one second over the champion Fangio crowned a neck-and-neck, wheel-to-wheel duel for the last half of the race, with four seconds between 2nd and 3rd, and 3.2 seconds between 3rd and 4th, and gave the shouting spectators what is probably the finest Grand Prix ever run anywhere at any time, with what amounted to two dead heats in lightning succession.

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