Controversial 1300cc minimum and 1500cc maximum engine capacity ushers in the 1.5 litre Formula, which runs through to 1965. British teams who had consistently opposed the changes were uncompetitive with their Climax and BRM engines short of horsepower compared to Ferrari.

The shark-nosed cars from Maranello would have steam-rollered the opposition, but for the brilliance of Stirling Moss who took brilliant wins for Rob Walker at Monaco and the Nürburgring.

The tussle for the Championship crown ended in disaster at Monza when the Ferrari of Wolfgang von Trips was involved in collision with the Lotus of Jim Clark. The German was killed instantly along with 12 unfortunate spectators when his car speared into the crowd, leaving Phil Hill as the USA's first World Champion driver.

In an effort to minimise injuries, roll-over bars were made compulsory in F1, whist the points system amended yet again with: 9-6-4-3-2-1 points awarded for the top six finishers.