1963 Season

Driver changes

Porsche’s withdrawal from the works team reshuffles two seats at the front. Dan Gurney moves to the Brabham team, joining double World Champion Jack Brabham. Jo Bonnier joins Rob Walker’s private team.

At Ferrari, 1961 champion Phil Hill and his teammate Giancarlo Baghetti both depart to join ATS, the new constructor formed by ex-Ferrari employees after the “palace revolt” of 1961. John Surtees, previously with Reg Parnell Racing, signs with Ferrari in their place. Parnell finds two replacements: veteran Maurice Trintignant and debutant Chris Amon of New Zealand.

Team changes

Porsche withdraws their works entry, choosing to concentrate on road-going sports cars. Carel Godin de Beaufort continues to field a private Porsche.

ATS enters the championship as a new constructor. The team is formed by ex-Ferrari engineers including chief engineers Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini, who departed Ferrari following the palace revolt of 1961, and will run Phil Hill and Giancarlo Baghetti.

Calendar

The championship runs over ten rounds, its longest season to date. The Dutch Grand Prix moves back a month compared to 1962, slotting in as the third round. The French Grand Prix returns to Reims-Gueux. The British Grand Prix leaves Aintree — which had alternated with Silverstone since 1955 — and moves to Silverstone for the first time since 1960.

Most significantly, the Mexican Grand Prix joins the calendar for the first time, held at the Magdalena Mixhuca circuit in Mexico City. The season opens at Monaco in late May and closes at East London, South Africa, on 28 December.

Regulation changes

All ten teams compete on tyres supplied exclusively by Dunlop throughout the season.