Photo by Willy Pragher / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, CC BY 3.0 - Credit Links at the end of the content
Peter Collins and his F1 journey…
We continue to share the legends of F1 on our site. It takes time to research, write, and piece these stories together, but we choose drivers who genuinely left their mark on motorsport history.
Our pick today is the British legend Collins. He remains one of Formula One’s most loved figures, not because of statistics or titles, but because of the way he raced, lived, and treated others.
Collins: Rising Fast in a Dangerous Era
He entered F1 in early 1950s, a time when safety was minimal and bravery was non-negotiable, and he raced for several teams early on, including HWM, Vanwall, Maserati, before joining Ferrari.
However, he left his strongest mark at Ferrari. We will share more of those stories later in this piece. By the mid-1950s, Ferrari was already the benchmark team in Formula One, and Collins fit perfectly into its passionate environment. Ferrari always demanded the very best drivers, and Collins was undeniably quick, a partnership that made sense from both sides.
1956: Defined a Career
The best season came in 1956, driving for Ferrari he won two races during the season at the Belgian GP and French GP and finished third in the championship.
One moment would define his reputation forever, at Monza, he had realistic chances of fighting for the championship, instead, when team-mate Juan Manuel Fangio ran into trouble, Collins made a decision that still feels almost impossible today.
Collins handed his car over to Fangio, sacrificing his own title hopes to ensure that Ferrari secured the championship.
It was not an order from the team, it was personal choice by Collins.
Years later, when asked if he regretted it, Collins simply said that Fangio was the greatest driver in the world and deserved the title.
Have we ever heard of another driver who willingly handed over his car and, with it, a real chance at the World Championship? Probably not. The only comparable moment came a year later at the 1957 British Grand Prix, when Tony Brooks gave his car to Stirling Moss mid-race, simply to keep the fight alive for a first home victory by a British team in Formula One.
“Mon Ami Mate”: The Bond With Mike Hawthorn
If Fangio represented respect, Mike Hawthorn represented brotherhood, another team-mate at Ferrari.
Both British drivers, both shared one of the closest friendships F1 has ever seen.
Their greeting ‘Mon Ami Mate’ became famous throughout the paddock, they were opposites in some ways, but inseparable where it mattered.
The 1958 season can fairly be described as a British-dominated year. Vanwall were competing at the highest level and looked like the team to beat, but the friendship between Peter Collins and Hawthorn at Ferrari ended up changing everything.
Hawthorn’s Title and Collins’ Silent Contribution
The 1958 season is remembered as Mike Hawthorn’s championship years, and the first British F1 champion.
But behind all the story, sits Collins’ unseen influence.
Earlier that season, Enzo Ferrari briefly dismissed Collins, questioning his commitment. Hawthorn responded by storming into Maranello and threatening to quit on the spot unless Collins was reinstated.
Ferrari backed down, and Collins was back in the car within days.
Later at Silverstone, he played a decisive role in Hawthorn’s championship fight. He pushed his Ferrari relentlessly to take the fight to Stirling Moss, easing the pressure on his teammate. Forced to respond, Moss drove beyond the limits of his car and his engine eventually failed. He went on to win the British Grand Prix, with Hawthorn finishing second.
These points mattered, Hawthorn would later win the World Championship by a single point, without Collins’ support earlier in the season, that margin would not have existed!
Looking back, the 1958 season ended brilliantly for British fans. Mike Hawthorn became the first British driver to win the Formula One World Championship, while Vanwall secured the Constructors’ title, the first for a British team. It was more than a season of success, it was the beginning of Britain’s rise in Grand Prix racing.
MORE: In another historic moment for British racing, just weeks before tragedy struck, Collins became the first driver to win the British Grand Prix for Ferrari. Little did anyone know, it would be his final triumph.
Nürburgring, 1958: A Career Cut Short
On August 3, 1958, during the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, He was fighting at the front when his race ended in tragedy. He was just 26 years old.
Reports suggest that Hawthorn decided to retire from Formula One after losing his beloved friend. He was more than a teammate—he was a close companion—and Hawthorn never truly recovered from his death. Tragically, just a few months later, Mike Hawthorn himself would pass away.
Beyond Formula One: A Complete Racer
While his F1 career often takes the spotlight, Peter Collins also achieved remarkable success in other categories, particularly in endurance racing.
He won the Targa Florio in 1955 alongside Stirling Moss, and claimed victory at the 12 hours of Sebring in 1958 with the US driver Phil Hill.
Remembering Peter Collins…
He is not remembered as a champion, but as something rare.
A driver who could have chased glory, yet chose loyalty, something you cannot find nowadays.
F1 has changed beyond recognition since the 1950s, tech dominates, contracts define loyalty, and sacrifice is measured in milliseconds, not championship.
He represents an era when courage was human, decisions were personal, and greatness was not always measured by titles.
That is why his name still echoes through F1 history.
Featured Image Credit:
Photo by Willy Pragher / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, CC BY 3.0 – Source: Wikimedia Commons
