Juan Manuel Fangio: 1957

Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio was born on the 24th of June 1911. He was very much admired by his peers, they called him “The Maestro”. He dominated the first decade of Formula One racing, winning the World Drivers’ Championship five times.

In 1957, Fangio returned to the Maserati team, that was still using the iconic 250F, which Fangio had driven back in 1954. He started the season with a hat-trick of victories in Argentina, Monaco and France, and also won the 12 Hours of Sebring with Jean Behra in a Maserati 450S.

Later in the season, he scored his most legendary victory at the Nurburgring, when he chased the Ferrari’s of Hawthorn and Collins who had a lead of more than 50 seconds and won. After the race he declared : “I have never driven that quickly before in my life and I don’t think I will ever be able to do it again.”

This performance is often regarded as the greatest drive in Formula One history, and it was to be Fangio’s last win, who will be crowned F1 1957 World Champion and will retire from racing in 1958.