French Grand Prix 1958 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Mike Hawthorn claimed his sole victory of the 1958 season at the French Grand Prix, defeating Stirling Moss in a thrilling duel at the ultra-fast Reims circuit. The British Ferrari driver held off Moss' Vanwall in a race-long battle that showcased both drivers' bravery and skill. Wolfgang von Trips finished third for Ferrari, completing a strong day for the Scuderia.

Reims' high-speed layout through the champagne region suited Ferrari's powerful Dino 246, allowing Hawthorn to exploit the car's straight-line speed advantage. The race developed into a classic duel between Hawthorn's tactical intelligence and Moss' raw speed, with the Ferrari driver ultimately prevailing through superior race management. Hawthorn's victory would prove decisive in the championship battle, as his single win combined with consistent point-scoring would edge out Moss' superior number of victories.

The French Grand Prix highlighted the quirk of the 1958 points system, which only counted drivers' best six results toward the championship. Hawthorn's tactical approach of consistent finishing rather than chasing victories would ultimately deliver the title by a single point, demonstrating that sometimes championsipswere won through tactical excellence rather than outright speed.