Lap Ledger1950–2027 · every championship race

Season · 9 rounds, all run

1959 FIA Formula One World Championship

The rear-engined revolution: Cooper's mid-engined T51 broke the front-engined orthodoxy for good.

Rounds
9all run
Drivers' champion
Sir Jack Brabham31 points
Constructors' champion
Cooper40 points
Margin
4over Tony Brooks

How the title was decided

05101520253035R2R4R6R83127
Sir Jack BrabhamTony BrooksSir Stirling Moss

The three drivers who finished highest, tracked from the opening round. Before 1991 only a driver's best few results counted, so a line can rise by less than they scored that weekend.

The numbers behind this chart, How the title was decided
How the title was decided
DriverAfter roundPoints
Sir Jack Brabham19
Sir Jack Brabham29
Sir Jack Brabham315
Sir Jack Brabham419
Sir Jack Brabham527
Sir Jack Brabham627
Sir Jack Brabham727
Sir Jack Brabham831
Sir Jack Brabham931
Tony Brooks16
Tony Brooks26
Tony Brooks36
Tony Brooks414
Tony Brooks514
Tony Brooks623
Tony Brooks723
Tony Brooks823
Tony Brooks927
Sir Stirling Moss31
Sir Stirling Moss42
Sir Stirling Moss58.5
Sir Stirling Moss68.5
Sir Stirling Moss717.5
Sir Stirling Moss825.5
Sir Stirling Moss925.5

Final drivers' standings

Final drivers' standings
PosDriverWinsPointsGap
1Sir Jack Brabham231—
2Tony Brooks2274
3Sir Stirling Moss225.55.5
4Phil Hill02011
5Maurice Trintignant01912
6Bruce McLaren116.514.5
7Dan Gurney01318
8Jo Bonnier11021
9Masten Gregory01021
10Rodger Ward1823
11Jim Rathmann0625
12Johnny Thomson0526
13Harry Schell0526
13Innes Ireland0526
15Tony Bettenhausen0328
15Olivier Gendebien0328
17Paul Goldsmith0229
17Jean Behra0229
17Cliff Allison0229
A driver with points and no position was excluded from the classification: the points stand, the position does not. Wins are counted from the race records, and a shared drive is a win for both of its drivers. The gap is to the highest points total classified, so the leader's own is an em dash; before 1991 it is a difference of net totals, dropped scores and all.

Final constructors' standings

Final constructors' standings
PosConstructorPointsGap
1Cooper climax40—
2Ferrari ferrari328
3BRM brm1822
4Team Lotus climax535
The gap is to the highest points total classified, so the leader's own is an em dash; before 1991 it is a difference of net totals, dropped scores and all. The championship is contested by a chassis–engine pair, so one name can appear more than once with different engines.

The calendar

  1. R1Monacorun
  2. R2Indianapolis 500run
  3. R3Dutchrun
  4. R4Frenchrun
  5. R5Britishrun
  6. R6Germanrun
  7. R7Portugueserun
  8. R8Italianrun
  9. R9United Statesrun

The outline is F1DB’s, for every layout; the trace is OpenStreetMap’s, where it exists. F1DB, CC BY 4.0 · drawn by Jules Roy.

The calendar
RGrand PrixCircuitDatesWinnerConstructorPoleFastest lap
1Monaco Grand PrixCircuit de MonacoSir Jack BrabhamCooperSir Stirling MossSir Jack Brabham
2Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayRodger WardWatson-OffenhauserJohnny ThomsonJohnny Thomson
3Dutch Grand PrixCircuit ZandvoortJo BonnierBRMJo BonnierSir Stirling Moss
4French Grand PrixReims-GueuxTony BrooksFerrariTony BrooksSir Stirling Moss
5British Grand PrixAintreeSir Jack BrabhamCooperSir Jack BrabhamSir Stirling Moss / Bruce McLaren
6German Grand PrixAVUSTony BrooksFerrariTony BrooksTony Brooks
7Portuguese Grand PrixMonsanto ParkSir Stirling MossCooperSir Stirling MossSir Stirling Moss
8Italian Grand PrixAutodromo Nazionale MonzaSir Stirling MossCooperSir Stirling MossPhil Hill
9United States Grand PrixSebringBruce McLarenCooperSir Stirling MossMaurice Trintignant
Two names in one cell is a shared drive: both drivers are classified in that position, and both are winners. Open any round for its full classification.

Who entered

Who entered
ConstructorEntered asChassisDesignsEnginesTyres
Aston MartinDavid Brown CorporationAston Martin DBR41Aston Martin RB6 2.5 L6Avon
Behra-PorscheDr. Ing. F. Porsche KGBehra-Porsche RSK1Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4Dunlop
Behra-PorscheJean BehraBehra-Porsche RSK1Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4Dunlop
BRMBritish Racing PartnershipBRM P251BRM P25 2.5 L4Dunlop
BRMOwen Racing OrganisationBRM P251BRM P25 2.5 L4Dunlop
ConnaughtConnaught Cars-Paul EmeryConnaught C1Alta GP 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperAce Garage RotherhamCooper T511Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperAlan Brown EquipeCooper T451Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperBritish Racing PartnershipCooper T511Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperBritish Racing PartnershipCooper T511Borgward 1500 RS 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperCooper Car CompanyCooper T511Climax FPF 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperEcurie BleueCooper T511Climax FPF 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperEquipe Nationale BelgeCooper T511Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperGilby EngineeringCooper T431Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperHigh Efficiency MotorsCooper T451Maserati 250S 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperHigh Efficiency MotorsCooper T451Climax FPF 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperJean LucienbonnetCooper T451Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperOSCA AutomobiliCooper T431OSCA 2.0 L4Dunlop
CooperR.H.H. ParnellCooper T51, Cooper T432Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
CooperR.R.C. Walker Racing TeamCooper T511Climax FPF 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperScuderia Centro SudCooper T511Maserati 250S 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperTaylor-Crawley Racing TeamCooper T451Climax FPF 2.5 L4Dunlop
CooperUnited Racing StableCooper T511Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
FerrariScuderia FerrariFerrari 246, Ferrari 1562Ferrari 155 2.4 V6, Ferrari D156 1.5 V6Dunlop
FryDavid FryFry F21Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
JBWJ.B. NaylorJBW 591Maserati 250S 2.5 L4Dunlop
MaseratiMonte Carlo Auto SportMaserati 250F1Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6Dunlop
MaseratiOttorino VolonterioMaserati 250F1Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6Dunlop
MaseratiPhil CadeMaserati 250F1Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6Dunlop
MaseratiScuderia Centro SudMaserati 250F1Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6Dunlop
MaseratiScuderia UgoliniMaserati 250F1Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6Dunlop
PorscheBlanchard Automobile Co.Porsche RSK1Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4Dunlop
PorscheDr. Ing. F. Porsche KGPorsche 7181Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4Dunlop
PorscheEcurie MaarsbergenPorsche RSK1Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4Dunlop
Team LotusDennis TaylorLotus 121Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
Team LotusDorchester Service StationLotus 161Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
Team LotusJohn FisherLotus 161Climax FPF 1.5 L4Dunlop
Team LotusTeam LotusLotus 161Climax FPF 2.5 L4Dunlop
Tec-MecCamoradi USATec-Mec F4151Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6Dunlop
VanwallVandervell ProductsVanwall VW 591Vanwall 254 2.5 L4Dunlop
A.E. DeanA.E. DeanKuzma Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Bignotti-Bowes RacingBignotti-Bowes RacingEpperly Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Bignotti-Bowes RacingBignotti-Bowes RacingKurtis Kraft KK500H1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Bob EstesBob EstesPhillips1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Chapman S. RootChapman S. RootKurtis Kraft KK500G1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Ernest L. RuizErnest L. RuizChristensen1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Federal Auto AssociatesFederal Auto AssociatesKurtis Kraft KK500C, Kurtis Kraft KK500E2Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Fred GerhardtFred GerhardtKurtis Kraft KK500G1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
George SalihGeorge SalihEpperly Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
George Walther Jr.George Walther Jr.Sutton1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
H.H. JohnsonH.H. JohnsonKuzma Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Harry DunnHarry DunnDunn1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
J.S. DonaldsonJ.S. DonaldsonKurtis Kraft KK500G1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Jim RobbinsJim RobbinsKurtis Kraft KK500G1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
John R. WillsJohn R. WillsEpperly Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
John ZinkJohn ZinkMoore1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
John ZinkJohn ZinkWatson Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Kalamazoo Sports Inc.Kalamazoo Sports Inc.Watson Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Karl HallKarl HallKurtis Kraft1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Leader Cards Inc.Leader Cards Inc.Watson Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Leader Cards Inc.Leader Cards Inc.Kurtis Kraft Midget1Offenhauser 1.7 L4Firestone
LeRoy E. Foutch Jr.LeRoy E. Foutch Jr.Kurtis Kraft KK500C1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Lindsey HopkinsLindsey HopkinsWatson Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Lysle GreenmanLysle GreenmanKuzma Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Norman C. DemlerNorman C. DemlerEpperly Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Peter SchmidtPeter SchmidtKuzma Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
R.T. Marley Sr.R.T. Marley Sr.Kuzma Indy Roadster1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Racing AssociatesRacing AssociatesLesovsky1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Ray CrawfordRay CrawfordElder1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Ray T. BradyRay T. BradyKurtis Kraft KK500C1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Roy McKayRoy McKayKurtis Kraft KK500G1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Wolcott Memorial Racing TeamWolcott Memorial Racing TeamLesovsky1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Yunick, Glover & LathropYunick, Glover & LathropKurtis Kraft KK500H1Offenhauser 4.5 L4Firestone
Show all 73 entrantsShow the first 10, Who entered
Where an entrant ran more than one design, no source records which car raced which round — so those race results carry no chassis.

Photographs

From Wikimedia Commons, each shown with the photographer and licence its terms require.

Cooper T51
Cooper T51
Cooper T51 Rob Walker Donington · John Chapman ( Pyrope ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
BRM P25
BRM P25
BRM P25 at Silverstone Classic 2011 · David Merrett from Daventry, England · CC BY 2.0
Lotus 16
Lotus 16
Lotus 16 · Pyrope · CC BY-SA 3.0
Cooper T45
Cooper T45
Cooper T45 Rob WalkerDonington pits · John Chapman ( Pyrope ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Maserati 250F
Maserati 250F
Maserati 250 F, Bj. 1957 (1977-08-14) Südkehre · Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem · CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Aston Martin DBR4
Aston Martin DBR4
Aston Martin DBR4 Mallory Park · TOM at Picassa . · CC BY-SA 3.0
2 more photographs
Connaught Type C
Connaught Type C
Connaught Type C · In Vitrio · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lotus 12
Lotus 12
1957 Lotus 12 Formula 2 (31515662418) · Sicnag · CC BY 2.0

Where this comes from

Team
Cooper
Runner-up
Tony Brooks — 27
Engine formula
2.5 L naturally aspirated
Tyres
Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear
Entered
88 drivers, 24 constructors, 11 engine makers — counted from the entries, whether or not they started