Jack Brabham won his second consecutive Formula One Drivers' Championship in the final season of the 2.5-litre formula, marking a decisive shift to rear-engined cars.
Key Facts
- Season races
- 10 World Championship rounds
- Champion driver
- Jack Brabham (Cooper)
- Manufacturers' champion
- Cooper (second consecutive title)
- Drivers killed
- 3 (Schell, Bristow, Stacey)
- Last season
- Indianapolis 500 included in F1 calendar
- Engine formula
- Final year of 2.5-litre formula
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
The FIA's 2.5-litre engine formula, introduced in 1954, was approaching its mandated end, with a switch to 1.5-litre engines scheduled for 1961. Rear-engined car designs from Cooper, Lotus, BRM, and Porsche had proven superior to the traditional front-engined configurations still used by Ferrari, Scarab, and Aston Martin.
The 1960 Formula One World Championship ran over ten races from 7 February to 20 November. Jack Brabham, driving for Cooper, claimed his second consecutive Drivers' title, and Cooper secured a second straight Manufacturers' crown. Ferrari boycotted by British teams led to Ferrari's home win at Monza, the last World Championship victory for a front-engined car.
The season confirmed the dominance of rear-engined design in grand prix racing and closed the 2.5-litre era. The Indianapolis 500 was removed from the Formula One calendar after this season. Three driver fatalities, including two at the Belgian Grand Prix, underscored the dangers of the sport during this period.