1954 Season

Regulation changes

The maximum allowed engine displacement is increased from 2.0 to 2.5 litres for naturally-aspirated engines. For supercharged engines the limit remains 750 cc, unchanged since 1952. The higher power ceiling attracts several new constructors while prompting others to step back: Veritas, OSCA, and AFM have all withdrawn from the championship because of the changed regulations. Cooper and Connaught could not get a car prepared in time under the new rules and will not enter their works teams. HWM has built an F1 chassis but it is short on pace; Lance Macklin is expected to enter only one championship round.

Driver changes

After winning back-to-back championships with Ferrari in 1952 and 1953, Alberto Ascari has left the team over a salary dispute to join new entrant Lancia. His mentor and teammate Luigi Villoresi has made the same move. Ferrari has filled both seats by promoting Maurice Trintignant from Gordini and building around 1950 world champion Nino Farina.

Juan Manuel Fangio has signed with Mercedes-Benz for the season, but since the W196 will not be ready for the opening rounds he will race a Maserati in the early part of the year. At Maserati, the team lost Felice Bonetto over the winter — he died in the 1953 Carrera Panamericana. Prince Bira has initially taken over the seat, with Sergio Mantovani also in contention.

Gordini has hired Élie Bayol, who drove for OSCA in 1953. Harry Schell, previously at Gordini, moves to a privately entered Maserati.

Team changes

Mercedes-Benz will join the championship from the French Grand Prix onward, fielding their new W196 for Fangio, Karl Kling, and Hans Herrmann, along with pre-war star Hermann Lang. At the same race, the British Racing Motors organisation returns to the World Championship — competing under the name Owen Racing Organisation — having appeared only once, in 1951. Vanwall are set to make their championship debut at the British Grand Prix with former HWM driver Peter Collins, their chassis prepared by Cooper.

Lancia are new to Formula One, fielding the D50 for Ascari and Villoresi. The car may not be ready for the early rounds, in which case both drivers will need alternative arrangements.

Calendar

Nine championship rounds are scheduled between January in Buenos Aires and October in Barcelona. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, originally scheduled for 6 June, has been cancelled for monetary reasons. The Spanish Grand Prix at Pedralbes returns to the calendar for the first time since 1951, having been absent due to financial difficulties. As in previous years, the Indianapolis 500 counts towards the World Championship but no European Formula One drivers are expected to compete there.