Vanwall was a British motor racing team and F1 constructor active in F1 during the 1950s. The team was established by Tony Vandervell, with the Vanwall moniker emerging from a blend of the owner’s name and his Thinwall bearings, produced at Vandervell Products.
Notable Team Members and Drivers
Stirling Moss: Widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers never to win the World Championship, Stirling Moss delivered multiple Grand Prix wins for the team, helping the team secure the first-ever Constructors’ Championship in 1958.
Tony Brooks: Tony Brooks, known as the “racing dentist,” was another key driver for Vanwall. He was part of the team’s successful 1958 season, winning races and helping Vanwall secure the Constructors’ Championship.
Colin Chapman: Before founding Lotus, Colin Chapman worked as a technical advisor for Vanwall. His engineering expertise contributed to the development of the Vanwall cars, which were known for their innovation and performance.
Initially competing with modified Ferraris in non-championship events, Vanwall built its first car for the 1954 Formula One season. The team’s first victory came at the 1957 British Grand Prix, where Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks co-drove a VW5 to victory, making Vanwall the first constructor of a British car to win a World Championship race.
In 1958, Vanwall secured the first-ever Constructors’ Championship in F1 history, aiding Moss and Brooks to secure second and third places in the 1958 Drivers’ Championship. Each driver claiming three wins for the team.
Due to Vandervell’s deteriorating health, 1958 marked their last complete season, although the team participated in a few races until withdrawing from competition in 1961.
Vanwall Formula One World Championship Records
| First entry | 1954 British Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| Races entered | 29 (28 starts) |
| Constructors’ Championships | 1 (1958) |
| Drivers’ Championships | 0 |
| Race victories | 9 |
| Podiums | 13 |
| Points | 57 |
| Pole positions | 7 |
| Fastest laps | 6 |
| Final entry | 1960 French Grand Prix |
Vanwall Championship Results
The World Constructor’s Championship was not awarded until 1958.
| Year | Car | Drivers | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Vanwall Special | Peter Collins | – | – |
| 1955 | Vanwall VW 55 | Mike Hawthorn Ken Wharton Harry Schell | – | – |
| 1956 | Vanwall VW 2 | Maurice Trintignant Harry Schell Mike Hawthorn Colin Chapman José Froilán González Piero Taruffi | – | – |
| 1957 | Vanwall VW 5 | Stirling Moss Tony Brooks Stuart Lewis-Evans Roy Salvadori | – | – |
| 1958 | Vanwall VW 5 | Stirling Moss Tony Brooks Stuart Lewis-Evans | 48 | 1st |
| 1959 | Vanwall VW 59 | Tony Brooks | 0 | NC |
| 1960 | Vanwall VW 11 | Tony Brooks | 0 | NC |
