1951 British Grand Prix

Championship standings

Fangio leads the championship, having won the French Grand Prix despite his car misfiring and requiring a magneto change. The Reims win came after the team ordered Fagioli to swap his healthy car for Fangio’s troubled machine.

Previous race

At Reims, Fangio and Fagioli were credited with a shared victory — the first time two drivers have been credited with winning a World Championship Grand Prix. Fagioli, whose healthy car was handed to Fangio mid-race on team orders while he took Fangio’s misfiring machine, finished 11th and 22 laps down. Ascari took second in González’s car after his own retired with a broken gearbox.

Between-race developments

Fagioli, furious at being ordered to surrender his car to Fangio, quit Grand Prix racing on the spot after Reims. Felice Bonetto joins Alfa Romeo as his replacement. Consalvo Sanesi has left the team.

Entrants

BRM make their debut, entering Peter Walker and Reg Parnell. The team arrived at the last minute and did not take part in practice or qualifying, starting from 19th and 20th on the grid.

José Froilán González takes the first pole position of his career for Ferrari — also Ferrari’s first pole in a World Championship race outside Indianapolis.