Complete calendar with 10 races
The 1960 Formula 1 season marked Jack Brabham's second consecutive World Championship, cementing his status as one of the sport's dominant forces and securing Cooper's second straight constructors' title. The Australian driver demonstrated remarkable consistency and racecraft throughout the ten-round championship, winning five races to finish with 43 points, nine ahead of teammate Bruce McLaren.
Brabham's dominance was built on a string of victories in the middle of the season, winning four consecutive races from Belgium through Portugal. His Cooper-Climax proved to be the class of the field, with its revolutionary rear-engine design continuing to set the standard that would soon be adopted by all competitors. The lightweight, nimble Cooper was particularly effective on twisty circuits, where its superior handling more than compensated for any power deficit against the front-engined cars that were rapidly becoming obsolete.
Young Bruce McLaren emerged as Brabham's primary challenger, securing his maiden Grand Prix victory in the opening round at Argentina at just 22 years old, becoming the youngest-ever winner at the time. The New Zealander's consistent point-scoring throughout the season earned him second place in the championship, confirming Cooper's superiority with a dominant one-two finish. The team's success represented a complete vindication of their revolutionary design philosophy.
Stirling Moss continued to showcase his virtuoso talents despite lacking truly competitive machinery, winning Monaco in a Rob Walker-entered Lotus and finishing third in the championship with 19 points. Moss's ability to extract maximum performance from inferior equipment was legendary, and his Monaco victory - achieved through sheer driving brilliance and perfect tire management - stood as one of the year's most impressive performances.
The season was notable for Jim Clark's Grand Prix debut with Lotus at the Dutch Grand Prix, where the young Scot finished fifth. Though unremarkable at the time, this debut marked the beginning of one of Formula 1's greatest careers. The 1960 season also saw the final appearances of several legendary drivers from the 1950s, as the sport continued its transition into a new era of professionalism and technical sophistication.
Ferrari struggled throughout the season, managing only a single victory when Phil Hill won at Monza with teammates Richie Ginther and Willy Mairesse completing a podium sweep on home soil. The Italian team's traditional front-engine designs were clearly being outclassed by the new rear-engine revolution, and they would need to adapt quickly to remain competitive. The Monza triumph provided some consolation but couldn't mask the reality that Ferrari was falling behind in the technical arms race.
The championship featured races across four continents, from Argentina to the United States, with the Indianapolis 500 counting toward the championship despite operating under entirely different regulations. This anomaly meant that drivers who competed only at Indianapolis, like winner Jim Rathmann, were classified in the championship standings despite never racing in any other Grand Prix. The season maintained Formula 1's international character while the sport continued to grow in popularity and prestige.
Brabham's second consecutive title established him as the standard-bearer of the new generation, combining engineering acumen with exceptional driving skill. His championship validated Cooper's revolutionary approach and accelerated the demise of front-engine racing cars in Formula 1. The 1960 season stood as a clear demarcation point between the sport's past and future, with the rear-engine revolution now complete and irreversible.