• Italian Grand Prix 1957

Moss completes season with win in Italy

Stirling Moss is congratulated by Juan Manuel Fangio after winning the race - Fangio still took the drivers' title but his second place at Monza was his last championship podium © Getty Images

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• Race:
• Italian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Juan Manuel Fangio
• |
• Stirling Moss

• Teams:
• Ferrari
• |
• Maserati
• |
• Vanwall

Stirling Moss ended the season on a high with victory at the Italian Grand Prix, his second successive win and a result which ensured he finished runner-up to the peerless Juan Manuel Fangio in the drivers' championship. As had been the case at Pescara three weeks earlier, Moss held the lead for much of the time and was never seriously threatened once he had moved ahead on the 21st of the 87 laps.

While the championship was done and dusted, there was nevertheless a lot at stake as the Italian manufacturers were smarting from Vanwall's success on their home turf and were out for revenge. As it was, Ferrari's participation was in doubt until the eve of the race as Enzo Ferrari was sulking over the Italian authorities' attitude to road racing after accidents in the Mille Miglia. It was a revised Monza track as well, with the steep bankings which had played havoc with the lighter F1 cars the year before cut out.

From the off there were five cars in the hunt - three Vanwalls (Moss, Tony Brooks and Stuart Lewis-Evans) and two Maseratis (Fangio and Jean Behra) but before too long Brooks and Lewis-Evans had had to endure long pit stops. While Moss pulled ahead, Behra had to stop for fuel and Fangio for fresh tyres while the Ferraris had various technical problems and faded out of contention.

Brooks rubbed salt in the Italian's wounds by setting the fastest lap on his way to seventh, and Moss' dominance was underlined when he lapped Fangio . "I knew before the start there was nothing I could do against the Vanwalls if they lasted out the race," Fangio shrugged afterwards.

The only flutter for the Brits came on the 77th lap when Moss pitted for fuel and new tyres, but he resumed with a healthy lead and finished 42 seconds ahead of Fangio.

Martin Williamson is managing editor of digital media ESPN EMEA

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