The 1961 Italian Grand Prix decided the Formula One World Championship and resulted in one of the deadliest accidents in the sport's history, killing 16 people.
Key Facts
- Date
- 10 September 1961
- Spectators killed in crash
- 15 people
- Total deaths (incl. von Trips)
- 16 people
- Race winner
- Phil Hill (Ferrari)
- Championship outcome
- Phil Hill, first American F1 World Champion
- Circuit length
- 10 km
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
At the end of lap 2, approaching the Parabolica corner, Ferrari driver Wolfgang von Trips collided with Jim Clark's Lotus. Von Trips was the sole championship rival to his teammate Phil Hill, and the two cars made contact at racing speed during a closely contested race.
Von Trips lost control after the collision and his Ferrari struck a spectator fence, killing 15 bystanders and von Trips himself. Despite the catastrophic accident, race officials chose not to stop the event, citing concerns that a mass exodus of spectators would block roads needed by emergency services.
Phil Hill went on to win the race and, with von Trips eliminated as a challenger, secured the 1961 Formula One World Championship with one round remaining, becoming the first American to hold the title. Ferrari also clinched the Constructors' Championship. The race was the last ever held on Monza's full 10-kilometre banked circuit configuration.