Background Both
Mike Hawthorn and
Stirling Moss came into the race with a chance of becoming
World Drivers' Champion. Moss, on 32 points, needed to win the race and set fastest lap, with Hawthorn (40 pts) finishing no higher than third or to win without fastest lap with Hawthorn again finishing third or lower but also without fastest lap.
Practice and qualifying There was an entry of 25 cars, of which 19 were to
Formula One (F1) specification.
Ferrari and
Vanwall entered three cars each,
BRM four and
Lotus and
Cooper two each. There were a further five non-works F1 entries. Six
Formula Two Coopers brought the total entry to 25. In Friday practice,
Jean Behra (BRM) set fastest time at 2:25.2.
Tony Brooks (Vanwall) and Hawthorn (Ferrari) were second and third, four and five tenths behind respectively. Moss did not better 2:26, despite a late attempt, having been hampered by other cars during some of his fast lap attempts. but died as a result of his burns six days later. Vandervell, already in failing health himself, ended his involvement with the Vanwall team partly as a result of the accident. and ceased involvement with the sport till 1965. It was also the last race for Hawthorn who retired as a driver shortly after the season ended. He was killed in a road accident in Surrey on 22 January 1959. Picard ultimately recovered from his injuries after six months of incapacity, but did not race again. ==Classification==