1952 Dutch Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alberto Ascari clinched the Drivers’ Championship at the Nürburgring two weeks ago, the first driver to win the title with two rounds still to run. Taruffi remains second in the standings, Farina third and Fischer fourth.

Previous race

At the Nürburgring, Ascari led Farina for 16 laps before briefly pitting for oil. He emerged 10 seconds behind Farina but caught and passed his teammate within the final lap to win his fourth consecutive Grand Prix and claim the World Championship, equalling the injured Fangio’s win record in the process. Taruffi ran third for most of the race before a suspension failure dropped him behind privateer Ferrari driver Fischer in the closing stages.

Between-race developments

Piero Taruffi is absent from the Dutch round. Luigi Villoresi, who has not started a World Championship race since the final round of the 1951 season, returns to the Ferrari lineup in his place.

Milestones

This is the inaugural Dutch Grand Prix as a World Championship round — Circuit Zandvoort makes its first appearance on the calendar.

Entrants

Ferrari run Ascari, Farina and Villoresi plus a private entry for Charles de Tornaco of Ecurie Francorchamps. Gordini enter Behra, Manzon and Trintignant; Paul Frère drives a Simca-Gordini for Ecurie Belge. HWM pairs Macklin and Duncan Hamilton with local driver Dries van der Lof. Jan Flinterman is the second Dutch driver in the field, sharing a Maserati for Escuderia Bandeirantes. Stirling Moss enters an ERA. The works Maserati team is absent following their German appearance.

Qualifying

Ascari took pole ahead of Farina. Mike Hawthorn impressed in his Cooper-Bristol, qualifying from the front row and pushing Villoresi’s Ferrari to the second row. Trintignant’s Gordini also starts from row two alongside Villoresi. Behra and Manzon join Wharton’s Frazer-Nash on the third row.