1952 Italian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Ascari is World Champion. Farina moved to second in the Drivers’ standings after Zandvoort, overtaking the absent Taruffi who is third. Fischer and Hawthorn are joint fourth.

Previous race

At Zandvoort, Ascari won his fifth consecutive Grand Prix from pole with the fastest lap — his seventh World Championship victory in total, surpassing Fangio’s record for the most wins. Farina and Villoresi completed an all-Ferrari, all-Italian podium. Hawthorn fought the Ferraris for five laps before slipping to fourth, finishing two laps behind the leaders.

Entrants

Ferrari enter five drivers for their home race: World Champion Ascari, Farina and Villoresi from the Dutch GP lineup, joined by Taruffi and André Simon, who last competed at the Swiss Grand Prix. Multiple private Ferrari entries add to the Scuderia’s presence at Monza.

The works Maserati team enter three cars — Felice Bonetto, Franco Rol and José Froilán González — marking their most substantial championship appearance of the year. González, making his only World Championship start of the season, lines up from the second row.

The Connaught team returns to the championship after missing three rounds since Britain, running Stirling Moss, Dennis Poore and Kenneth McAlpine. Moss, who drove for ERA at Zandvoort, switches to the Lea Francis-engined car. Élie Bayol enters the sole OSCA.

Only 24 cars are permitted to start from the 35 entered, leaving 11 drivers without a grid place. Among those eliminated are all of the HWM entries, three private Ferraris and both of Enrico Platé’s older Maseratis.

Qualifying

Ascari claimed his third consecutive pole position and his fifth of the season. Villoresi and Farina complete the front row alongside Trintignant’s Gordini. González lines up on the second row for Maserati alongside the works Ferraris of Taruffi and Simon and Manzon’s Gordini. Moss leads the third row in the Connaught ahead of Bayol, Behra and Hawthorn.