Maserati 250F: A Legendary Formula 1 Car

A history of the most iconic racecar ever produced by Maserati.

Renowned for its balanced handling and driver-friendly dynamics, the Maserati 250F achieved the pinnacle of motorsport success by securing the Formula 1 World Championship for Maserati in 1957 in the hands of the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. Throughout the 1950s, the 250F was driven by many of the era’s greatest names in racing, including Stirling Moss, Jean Behra, and, of course, Fangio. The 250F was also a popular choice among privateers and amateur drivers around the world, further cementing its legacy. To this day, its sleek, elegant design remains celebrated as one of the most beautiful Formula 1 cars ever built—a true masterpiece of automotive engineering and aesthetics. This comprehensive account records the story of this iconic model, including a detailed race history.
 

Walter Bäumer was born in 1954 into a family of car enthusiasts. His uncle was a Mercedes Grand Prix driver and the winner, along with Huschke von Hanstein, of the 1940 Mille Miglia, driving a BMW 328 with Touring coachwork. His father, Werner, acted as Walter’s manager and business advisor. Since 2003, he has worked full-time as a Maserati historian and consultant.

Jean-François Blachette is a long-time enthusiast of Maserati history and collector of Maserati period photographs. Retired from the car industry, where he had worked for Ford, Volvo, Ferrari, and PSA Peugeot-Citroën, he now lives near Paris. Maserati 250F is his third Maserati book written with Walter Bäumer.