Pneumatici Maserati 250F

Maserati 250F Pirelli Tyres

A motoring enthusiast recalls a story from Alf Francis’s book about working on Stirling Moss’s Maserati 250F — when the team reluctantly swapped the Pirellis for Dunlops and the car’s handling fell apart. Only after refitting the Pirellis did Moss regain control, demonstrating the Pirelli's superiority on the track.

" Dougal Cawley I remembered reading Alf Francis's book, he went to Modena to look after Stirling Moss' 250F while it was being built. He said that the Maserati personnel found it odd that Moss wanted the throttle to the right (they still preferred the centre throttle pedal), and the seat set further back (they preferred the seat closer to the steering wheel, while Moss had his arms outstretched driving), but did it anyway...

But when Alf Francis mentioned that, as part of Moss' sponsorship with Dunlop, it would have to be fitted with Dunlop tyres, they were indignant. They said that they knew what tyres work best for their cars, and the Pirellis would stay. Francis decided not to argue, as he felt that they will need the factory support when fighting the Mercedes Benz team, so keeping on good terms is key. He removed the Pirellis and put the Dunlop tyres on after the car left the factory...

But on Moss' first race on the 250F at Bordeaux, he struggled with handling on the damp track. Francis found it odd, as there's absolutely nothing wrong with it when Moss tested it at Modena. The only thing they changed were the tyres...

So he borrowed a set from the Pirelli tyre depot and flagged Moss in for a tyre stop. The car was transformed with the Pirellis and Moss did a great recovery drive to regain lost places... "

Maserati 250F History

The Maserati 250F was an Italian racing car that competed in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. There were just twenty-six copies produced in total. The SSG 220 bhp (@ 7400 rpm) 2.5-litre Maserati A6 straight-six engine powered the 250F. The 250F featured ribbed 13.4" drum brakes, wishbone independent front suspension, and a De Dion tube axle.

The 250F made its debut at the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix, when Juan Manuel Fangio scored the first of two victories before joining the new Mercedes-Benz team. Stirling Moss raced his own privately owned 250F for the whole 1954 season, while Fangio won the Drivers' World Championship with points earned with both Maserati and Mercedes-Benz. Prince Bira was another driver who preferred the 250F. A 5-speed transmission, SU fuel injection, and Dunlop disc brakes were added in 1955. Jean Behra led a five-man labour team that included Luigi Musso. Stirling Moss won the Monaco and Italian Grands Prix in 1956, both in factory cars.

By the 1958 season, the new rear-engined F1 vehicles had completely surpassed the 250F. The vehicle, however, remained popular among privateers, like Maria Teresa de Filippis, and was used by back markers throughout the 1960 F1 season, the final for the 2.5-litre format. With 277 entrants, the 250F raced in 46 Formula One championship races, winning eight of them. The success of the 250F drivers was not restricted to World Championship events, with several non-championship races won across the world.