Robert Jean Joseph Manzon (12 April 1917 – 19 January 2015)[1] was a French racing driver. He participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 21 May 1950. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points. At the time of his death, Manzon was the last surviving driver to have taken part in the first Formula One World Championship in 1950.
| Born | 12 April 1917 Marseille, France |
|---|---|
| Died | 19 January 2015 (aged 97) Cassis, France |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  French |
| Active years | 1950–1956 |
| Teams | Gordini; Ferrari inc. non-works |
| Entries | 29 (28 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 2 |
| Career points | 16 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1950 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1956 Italian Grand Prix |
Career edit
Manzon began his career as a mechanic and after World War II he started racing, initially with a Cisitalia D46. Earning a contract with the Gordini team for 1948, Manzon won some minor races although his machinery was not always reliable.[2]
He continued with Gordini into the new Formula One era, scoring points at the 1950 French Grand Prix, and finishing sixth in the World Drivers' Championship in 1952, taking third place in the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix. He left Gordini in 1953 and joined Louis Rosier's team, which was campaigning Ferraris. He subsequently achieved his second podium at the 1954 French Grand Prix at the wheel of a Ferrari 625.[2]
Manzon then returned to the Gordini team, but found little success in World Championship events. Outside the Championship, he won the 1956 Naples Grand Prix and a sports car race at Pescara.[2]
After racing, he later operated his own diesel equipment distribution business. [3]
Manzon died at his home in the south of France on 19 January 2015 aged 97.[4] He was the last surviving entrant of the 1950 Formula One season.
Complete Formula One World Championship results edit
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Equipe Simca Gordini | Simca Gordini Type 15 | Gordini Straight-4 | GBR | MON Ret |
500 | SUI | BEL | FRA 4 |
ITA Ret |
14th | 3 | ||
| 1951 | Equipe Simca Gordini | Simca Gordini Type 15 | Gordini Straight-4 | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA Ret |
GBR | GER 7 |
ITA Ret |
ESP 9 |
NC | 0 | |
| 1952 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini Type 16 | Gordini Straight-6 | SUI Ret |
500 | BEL 3 |
FRA 4 |
GBR Ret |
GER Ret |
NED 5 |
ITA 14 |
6th | 9 | |
| 1953 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini Type 16 | Gordini Straight-6 | ARG Ret |
500 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | NC | 0 |
| 1954 | Equipe Rosier | Ferrari 625 | Ferrari Straight-4 | ARG | 500 | BEL | FRA 3 |
GBR Ret |
GER 9 |
ITA Ret |
ESP Ret |
15th | 4 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 553 | SUI DNS |
||||||||||||
| 1955 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini Type 16 | Gordini Straight-6 | ARG | MON Ret |
500 | BEL | NED Ret |
GBR Ret |
ITA | NC | 0 | ||
| 1956 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini Type 16 | Gordini Straight-6 | ARG DNA |
MON Ret |
500 | BEL | NC | 0 | |||||
| Gordini Type 32 | Gordini Straight-8 | FRA 9 |
GBR 9 |
GER Ret |
ITA Ret |
References edit
- ^ "Motorsport Memorial - Robert Manzon". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ a b c "Obituary: Former grand prix driver Robert Manzon 1917-2015". Autosport. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Robert Manzon". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Formula One: French driver Robert Manzon, the last of the racers from F1's first season in 1950, dies at 97". ABC News. ABC Australia. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.