1955 Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix returns to the World Championship for the first time since 1950. It carries the honorary title Grand Prix d’Europe.

Previous race

In Argentina, Fangio was the only classified finisher not to share his car, completing all 96 laps alone in 52 °C heat to win. The two Ferrari cars that completed the podium each cycled through three different drivers as others succumbed to exhaustion. Fangio suffered burns to his leg throughout the race where it rubbed against the exhaust-heated chassis — a scar he will carry for life. It took him three months to fully recover; he finished second in the Mille Miglia in May.

Championship standings

Fangio leads the championship after his Argentine victory.

Between-race developments

Four months have passed since Argentina, with teams turning to sports car racing at Sebring and the Mille Miglia. Mercedes entered all four F1 drivers at the Mille Miglia; Moss won after more than ten hours at the wheel, beating Fangio by half an hour in what many consider the greatest win of his career. Kling crashed near Rome, broke his ribs, and is absent from Monaco. André Simon has been called up as his replacement.

Entrants

During practice at Monaco, Hans Herrmann crashed into a harbour wall near the sea and is out for the remainder of the season. André Simon, already present to cover for Kling, steps in. Louis Chiron, at 55 years and 292 days, becomes the oldest driver to start a World Championship Grand Prix.

Practice

For this race only, times set during Thursday afternoon’s first practice session determine the front row of the grid; Friday and Saturday sessions set the remaining starting positions. The arrangement was intended to draw spectators to every session but has been met with scepticism by the drivers.

Fangio set a Thursday practice lap of 1:41.1 in the Mercedes W196, breaking the Monaco track record that had stood since 1937, when Rudolf Caracciola lapped in 1:46.5 in the 5.6-litre Mercedes W125.

Milestones

Alberto Ascari enters driving car number 26 — the same number worn by his father Antonio’s Alfa Romeo P2 when Antonio Ascari was killed at the 1925 French Grand Prix on 26 July. The superstitious Alberto is flanked in the entry by the Mercedes of Fangio (car 2) and Moss (car 6).