A 1.5-litre Formula was introduced, and Ferrari's fortunes began to change. It prepared meticulously for the new season and the introduction of the rear-engined V-6 'sharknose' paid off. British teams struggled with cars using dated 4-cylinder units which had a very modest power output.
Ferrari's assault on the championship was spearheaded by Phil Hill, Ritchie Ginther and Wolfgang von Trips, but Moss won the season opener at Monaco and the Ferraris came in second, third and fourth. Dan Gurney was next, with Porsche, a new name in Formula One. The race was a fantastic display by Moss, who went into it with a double handicap: he had to use the old, square-shaped Lotus 18, with the outdated Climax engine under the bonnet. The new model — the 21 —was delayed because of contractual arguments. At Monaco the skill factor compensated for the fact that Moss would be outpaced on faster circuits, and he took the flag just 3.6 seconds in front of Ginther, with Hill and von Trips well behind.
"Phil Hill and von Trips neck and neck"
Moss was similarly impressive later in the series at the Nurburgring, but the 1961 title race was generally about the battle between Hill and von Trips. At Zandvoort von Trips got home just nine-tenths of a second ahead of his team-mate, giving Germany its first Grand Prix winner for 22 years. Jim Clark was also squeezing out all he could from his outdated Lotus. He took third, and Moss came home ahead of Ginther. This was the first time in a championship event that an entire field — 15-strong that day — completed a race without incident. Ferrari had a clean sweep at Spa, occupying the first four places. It was Hill from von Trips this time, with Ginther third and Olivier Gendebien in fourth. Gendebien only had occasional drives during the year and the fact that Ferrari's fourth driver could get into the frame demonstrates the team's dominance. Hill, von Trips and Ginther all retired from the French Grand Prix at Reims, but a Ferrari crossed the line first again. Giancarlo Baghetti, making his Grand Prix debut, was a narrow winner in his privately entered Ferrari, and remains the only man to win a Grand Prix on his first outing. Ferrari had another one-two-three in the British Grand Prix at Aintree: von Trips led Hill and Ginther home in torrential rain.
"Black day as championship leader killed"
At the Nurburgring Moss broke the Ferrari stranglehold as he had at Monaco — with superb driving and clever tactics. He knew all the intricacies of the difficult 14.2-mile circuit, but he made a gamble in tyre selection that paid off brilliantly. This time there were no objections to the combined road and banked Monza circuit. Von Trips started with 33 points, four ahead of Hill, and looked all set to clinch the title but tragedy struck on the second lap. His Ferrari collided with Clark's Lotus, and both went off at Vedano Corner. Clark emerged unscathed but von Trips was killed, as were 12 spectators. Phil Hill went on to win, taking the title in unhappy circumstances.
Ferrari withdrew from the Watkins Glen United States Grand Prix. Moss and Brabham vied for the lead, but both retired and Innes Ireland took over and won. It was his first and only Grand Prix win. Tony Brooks gave BRM their best finish of the year, coming third, and he decided to retire. Brooks had never won the championship itself, but he had six Grand Prix wins to his name and was regarded as a highly accomplished and professional driver.
1961 Drivers Championship
1. Phil Hill - 34
2. Wolfgang von Trips - 33
3. Stirling Moss - 25.5 - 21
1961 Constructors Title
1. Ferrari - 45
2. Cooper-Climax - 33
3. Porsche - 22
