An example of the all-conquering Mercedes-Benz W196 was recently auctioned for $29.6 million. The car's illustrious pedigree - it was driven by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio for the team managed by the legendary Alfred Neubauer - added greatly to its value. (Bonham photo)
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The main talking point of 1954 was the much-anticipated World Championship debut of Mercedes-Benz, though the German team's Silver Arrows cars were not expected to be ready until about a third of the way through the season. Juan Manuel Fangio (then driving for Maserati) had been approached late in 1953 by the Mercedes team manager Alfred Neubauer and offered the then quite staggering stipend of $2,250 per race. In addition to the attraction of a sum that was substantially larger than any racing driver had yet earned, Juan was impressed by the mechanical potential of the first new Silver Arrows racing cars to be built in 14 years. Neubauer had explained in loving detail the plans for the new car. The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 featured a 2,496cc, 8-cylinder engine, bristling with sophisticated technology and developing well over 200bhp, and a 1,600lb chassis with fully-enclosed, aerodynamically-efficient bodywork or an open wheel version, which Fangio came to prefer and in examples of which he would lead the team to a one-sided domination of the 1954 and 1955 seasons.
The main talking point of 1954 was the much-anticipated World Championship debut of Mercedes-Benz, though the German team's Silver Arrows cars were not expected to be ready until about a third of the way through the season. Juan Manuel Fangio (then driving for Maserati) had been approached late in 1953 by the Mercedes team manager Alfred Neubauer and offered the then quite staggering stipend of $2,250 per race. In addition to the attraction of a sum that was substantially larger than any racing driver had yet earned, Juan was impressed by the mechanical potential of the first new Silver Arrows racing cars to be built in 14 years. Neubauer had explained in loving detail the plans for the new car. The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 featured a 2,496cc, 8-cylinder engine, bristling with sophisticated technology and developing well over 200bhp, and a 1,600lb chassis with fully-enclosed, aerodynamically-efficient bodywork or an open wheel version, which Fangio came to prefer and in examples of which he would lead the team to a one-sided domination of the 1954 and 1955 seasons.
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As usual, and as had been the case for 30 years, the racing enterprise was presided over by the flamboyant team leader, Alfred Neubauer, renowned for his tyrannical leadership qualities and his histrionic antics while carrying them out. A larger than life character (he sometimes tipped the scales near 300 pounds) Neubauer was born in 1891 and, according to legend, was already organising and directing local races for horseless carriages when he was ten years old. As an officer in the Austro-Hungarian army, he at first handled horses then was placed in charge of a battery of motorised armoured vehicles, which were designed by Ferdinand Porsche. When Porsche went to Daimler-Benz in 1923 he took Neubauer with him. The ex-artillery officer soon whipped the race troops into shape and under his leadership the Mercedes blitzkrieg (funded mainly by Adolf Hitler's Nazi government, as was the rival Auto Union equipe)rolled victoriously through the racing world until the start of World War 2.
Though a rather forbidding figure - and
certainly a strict disciplinarian with a military bearing, a strutting walk, a
brusque manner and a commanding voice to boot - he also had a sense of humour,
though more often jokes were made at the expense of the sometimes comically
officious Herr Neubauer.
Stirling Moss, a Mercedes team mate of Fangio in 1955, Had this to say about their boss: "He was an amazing character, who could have everybody snapping to attention if necessary, but would also show great thought and understanding. In relaxed moments he could have us all rolling about with laughter."
Stirling Moss, a Mercedes team mate of Fangio in 1955, Had this to say about their boss: "He was an amazing character, who could have everybody snapping to attention if necessary, but would also show great thought and understanding. In relaxed moments he could have us all rolling about with laughter."
Even Enzo Ferrari made sport of the
Mercedes man, whom he first met at races in the 1920's, when Ferrari was
running a team for Alfa Romeo. Though adversaries from the start, they
eventually became good friends. Over the years Ferrari noted that as the
Mercedes racing effort intensified, Neubauer's bulk grew...
Ferrari and Neubauer (Allsport photo)
Even Enzo Ferrari made sport of the Mercedes man, whom he first met at races in the 1920's, when Ferrari was running a team for Alfa Romeo. Though adversaries from the start, they eventually became good friends. Over the years Ferrari noted that as the Mercedes racing effort intensified, Neubauer's bulk grew...
Enzo Ferrari (writing in his memoirs): ‘Seemingly in pace with the increasing strength of Mercedes and Germany, Neubauer grew steadily fatter and fatter and became increasingly more authoritarian and dictatorial. He was to be seen by the pits, casting scornful glances at his rivals and barking out commands in his Wehrmacht officer's voice, whilst his staff jumped to his orders as though on a parade ground. Very soon, he was a well-known personage in our little world, generally disliked-although this did not worry him in the slightest - yet he was highly esteemed and feared for his efficiency.
‘I thought quite often of Neubauer during the war: indeed, I could not help thinking of him every time a German mechanized column passed in front of my workshops and some officer or other alighted and started shouting orders.
‘In 1954 Alfred Neubauer turned up once
more at the head of a team of sleek, silver cars. And he was fatter and more
dictatorial than ever. I watched him grow stouter and stouter with increasing
concern: he and Mercedes and Germany seemed to grow as though they were one,
pound by pound, success by success, mark by mark. This unhalting progress could
not help making me think: if Neubauer doesn't stop putting on weight, it looks
as though Germany is getting ready for another war.’
Commanded by the corpulent Neubauer the Silver Arrows team featuring the Maestro Juan Manuel Fangio dominated the 1954 and 1955 seasons, winning 12 of the 15 Grands Prix it entered. Fangio scored eight of these victories to secure his second and third world championships. Having so emphatically made its point, and also in response to the terrible 1955 Le Mans disaster, Daimler-Benz withdrew from Formula 1, the W196 cars were placed in the factory museum and Juan Manuel Fangio went to work for Enzo Ferrari, in whose cars he would win the 1956 driving title.
Commanded by the corpulent Neubauer the Silver Arrows team featuring the Maestro Juan Manuel Fangio dominated the 1954 and 1955 seasons, winning 12 of the 15 Grands Prix it entered. Fangio scored eight of these victories to secure his second and third world championships. Having so emphatically made its point, and also in response to the terrible 1955 Le Mans disaster, Daimler-Benz withdrew from Formula 1, the W196 cars were placed in the factory museum and Juan Manuel Fangio went to work for Enzo Ferrari, in whose cars he would win the 1956 driving title.
"Fangio did not remain loyal to any marque. He was conscious of his ability and used every endeavour to ensure he had the best car." - Enzo Ferrari (Fangio's employer in 1956)
"Of course he always had the best car and that was because he was the best bloody driver! The cheapest method of becoming a successful Grand Prix team was to sign up Fangio." - Stirling Moss (Fangio's team mate in 1955)
"Of course he always had the best car and that was because he was the best bloody driver! The cheapest method of becoming a successful Grand Prix team was to sign up Fangio." - Stirling Moss (Fangio's team mate in 1955)
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The story of the multimillion dollar Fangio Mercedes-Benz W196
includes a tragic episode. Mercedes first home win in the car was Fangio's saddest victory...
(BBC photo)
"It was very difficult to drive afterwards, but that was our profession. It was a very, very sad day, an unhappy time to be remembered forever with great sadness." - Juan Manuel Fangio
In 1954, though it was designated the European Grand Prix, the Formula 1 race held in Germany was the most important of the year - indeed for many years - for Mercedes. To tackle its home race at the Nurburging, the most difficult of all Grand Prix circuits, the W196 chassis were made lighter and engine power was increased. The value of the modifications was quickly demonstrated by Fangio, who after only a couple of trial runs hurled his W196 around the desperately dangerous 14.5-mile course in an astonishing time of 9 minutes and 50 seconds. Next fastest, after equally brave efforts, were Mike Hawthorn in his Ferrari and Stirling Moss in a Maserati. When Moss set by far the fastest Maserati time at the Nurburgring it did not sit well with Onofre Marimon, who, following Fangio's move to Mercedes, had been made the Maserati team leader. In the final moments of qualifying on Saturday Marimon set off in search of a better time. Instead, the deadly Nurburgring took his life.
When
'Pinocho' Marimon came to Europe Juan had promised his father Domingo Marimon
that he would personally look after him. It was the least he could do for the
son of the friend who Juan said he loved like a brother. On the Friday night at
the Nurburgring Juan could see that his young protege had become agitated by
the presence of the very fast newcomer, Moss. Juan told Pinocho to stay calm,
to try his best, but not take too many risks in qualifying, during which Juan
would lead him around for a couple of laps to show him the best lines. Juan had
done this but was in the pits when the dreadful accident occurred.
As
word of trouble out on the track filtered in the far side of the circuit there
was great consternation in the Maserati pits. A quick count of their cars
confirmed Juan's growing fears: Pinocho's Maserati was missing. In the distance, the lonely wailing of an
ambulance siren broke the eerie silence that had enveloped the misty Eifel
mountains. Juan ran to the nearby circuit hotel to pick up Gonzalez, who had
returned there after finishing qualifying his Ferrari. Together, the shaken Argentine
comrades drove out to the scene of the crash. Beyond the very fast downhill
descent to the Wehrseifen corner they found black skid marks on the road,
beyond which was a car-sized hole in thick hedge. Behind it, lying below in a
dark ravine, were the crumpled remains of the Maserati. The shocked friends
scrambled down to the wreckage and tried to reconstruct poor Pinocho's last
moments. They knew that the right-hand corner above them could only be taken
safely in third gear. The Maserati was stuck in fourth gear. Despite the
desperate braking attempt, the runaway car had speared straight through the
hedge, uprooted a tree, then tumbled down the hill, where it overturned and fatally
crushed its driver.
The sudden tragedy that had claimed the life of a well-liked young man
in his prime affected even the most hardened drivers, none more so than his two
grief-stricken countrymen. As they prepared for the start Juan spoke to no one, his mouth set with grim determination. His friend was less
able to contain his emotions and as they stood together Froilan broke down and
sobbed like a child. Juan, now also with his tears in his eyes, embraced him
and whispered to him words of encouragement. They must race for Pinocho, Juan
said, and for Domingo, who would surely want them to them to carry on for
Argentina.
Hoping for a home victory, over 300,000 spectators were crowded around
the Nurburgring, where the Fangio-driven Mercedes was on pole. But for the
first half of the opening lap the 310-mile race was led by the faster-starting
Ferrari of Gonzalez. Rivals once more in the heat of battle, the grieving
friends set a furious pace, leaving their 18 pursuers behind. At the far side
of the circuit, as they roared flat out side-by-side beneath the Antonuisbuche
bridge, the Mercedes crept ahead and edged into the lead. Gonzalez hung on
grimly, and for the next several laps the Mercedes-Ferrari duel kept the crowd
transfixed. Then the Ferrari began to fall back and on the 16th lap, with the
Mercedes in front by several minutes, the Ferrari coasted slowly into the pits.
Gonzalez, climbed out and turned his back on the car. His distress over
Marimon's death, exacerbated by the extreme fatigue brought on by his chase of
Fangio, had become too much and the thoroughly disillusioned Gonzalez said he
could no longer continue. Ferrari signalled Hawthorn, who was running seventh
at the time, to come in and take over the Gonzalez car. Near the end of the
race, which went on for nearly 4 hours, Hawthorn's Ferrari began to close the
gap to the leading car. At the finish the Ferrari was less than 2 minutes
behind the winning Mercedes W196, whose anguished driver was having trouble seeing
through his tears.
On the podium, where the Argentine national anthem was played in honour
of the winning driver, then 'Deutschland Uber Alles' for the winning team, the
victor stood with his head bowed. For Juan Manuel Fangio, this great day in the
history of Mercedes-Benz was the saddest victory of his career.
- adapted from FANGIO The Life Behind The Legend, by Gerald Donaldsonhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Fangio-Life-Behind-Legend-ebook/dp/B009EQG924
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