Vanwall was a privately funded grand prix team that competed during the 1950s. Founded by a British industrialist, Tony Vandervell, owner of a large bearings manufacturing company, Vandervell Products Ltd, the team achieved some notable success with its British Racing Green cars. Prior to entering Formula One the team competed in non-championship races from 1950 using Ferrari chassis before designing its own chassis for the 1954 season when it took part in only two grand prix.
1957 Monaco GP Vanwall Moss 18
The following year was essentially a learning curve while the British engineer, Colin Chapman, dedicated himself to the task of designing a new car, assisted by the aerodynamicist Frank Costin. The new Vanwall proved fragile, posting several retirements before winning a handful of non-championship races at the end of the year, one of which was achieved by Stirling Moss. He was sufficiently impressed by the cars potential that he signed for the team for the 1957 season along with fellow British drivers Tony Brooks and Stewart Lewis-Evans. Moss drove the new Vanwall VW5 to victory in three of the eight rounds of the championship, achieving Vanwall’s first victory at the British grand prix at Aintree where he shared driving duties with Brooks. Further success came in 1958 with six victories as Vanwall won the inaugural Constructors title despite a rule change that banned alcohol fuels in favour of aviation fuel. This gave competitors a power advantage but this was counteracted by Vanwall using new Dunlop tyres and disc brakes that helped it remain competitive. However, during 1958 Tony Vandervell began to suffer from poor health and although the team continued, the impetus slowly evaporated and by the end of 1959 Vanwall had departed from the grid. The photograph shows Stirling Moss rejoining the circuit during the 1957 Monaco grand prix where he qualified on the front row but on the fourth lap the brakes failed as he approached the chicane. The Vanwall went straight on, coming to rest halfway up a tree as hay bales flew across the road. The following cars took avoiding action but a number of cars collided and were retired, leaving the Maserati of Fangio to cruise to a comfortable victory followed by Tony Brooks in the remaining Vanwall. The two drivers lapped the remaining cars twice.
