What is the chassis code of the Ferrari that won the 1958 Formula One Drivers’ Championship? The answer is the Ferrari 246 F1.
The 246 F1 was Ferrari’s front-engined Grand Prix car for the 1958 season. It carried a 2.4-litre Dino V6, with “246” referring to its approximate 2.4-litre displacement and six-cylinder layout. The car’s engine produced about 280 PS and was developed under Formula One’s 2.5-litre regulations.
Britain’s Mike Hawthorn drove the Ferrari 246 F1 to the Drivers’ Championship, narrowly beating fellow Briton Stirling Moss. Hawthorn won only one Grand Prix, the 1958 French Grand Prix, but consistent finishes and championship scoring gave him the title. He became the first British Formula One World Champion.
The result is sometimes confused with the Constructors’ Championship: Ferrari finished second in that competition, behind Vanwall. The 246 F1 also holds an unusual place in racing history. It was the first V6-engined car to win a Formula One Grand Prix and the last front-engined car to win one, at the 1960 Italian Grand Prix.