The UK manufacturers slow reaction to the new 1.5 litre formula gave Ferrari an advantage for the 1961 season, winning 5 races. Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips, each with 2 victories, closely competed for the title but a fatal accident to von Trips in the penultimate race gave Phil Hill the Championship by just a point.

Von Trips had led for more laps than any other driver, but Phil Hill had taken 5 of the pole positions achieved in the famous Ferrari 156 'shark nose'. Lotus attempted to give chase to the Ferraris but despite wins with the Lotus 18, 18/21 and 21, had to be content with second place in the Constructors title, beating Porsche by 10 points. For the first year Porsche made a credible impression on the F1 scene due to the efforts of Dan Gurney who took 3 second places, finishing equal third overall with Moss. Our artwork shows Phil Hill and the late 'Taffy' von Trips fighting it out at Spa.