Overview

The 1960 Formula One season was the World Championship campaign that awarded the title of World Champion to drivers and the International Cup to constructors. The drivers' championship was won by Jack Brabham, continuing the success of rear‑engined cars and close competition among small specialist teams and established manufacturers. The year remained part of the 2.5‑litre Formula era, immediately preceding the new regulations introduced for 1961.

Season characteristics

Races in 1960 combined traditional Grand Prix venues with a calendar that mixed fast circuits and tight street courses. The championship calendar consisted of a modest number of World Championship Grand Prix events, supplemented by numerous non‑championship races that attracted top drivers and teams. Points were awarded to top finishers toward the drivers' title, while manufacturers pursued the International Cup on the basis of their best results.

The season reinforced the shift from front‑engine to rear‑engine layouts that had become decisive by the late 1950s. Lightweight chassis, mid‑ or rear‑mounted engines, and attention to handling rather than sheer engine size marked many competitive cars. Teams focused on chassis development, suspension refinements, and braking as engine regulations still allowed relatively large capacities compared with the regulations that arrived the following year.

Competition and significance

  • Jack Brabham's title underscored the rise of drivers who paired technical understanding with driving skill, and the strength of small specialist constructors.
  • Non‑championship events remained important for testing, driver development, and local interest in motor racing.
  • The 1960 season is often seen as a turning point before the 1.5‑litre regulation change in 1961, which reshaped technical priorities.

The 1960 championship is remembered for tight on‑track contests, growing technical sophistication, and the consolidation of rear‑engine design as the standard for top‑level Grand Prix racing. It occupies a transitional place in Formula One history between the early postwar years and the more regulated, constructor‑focused decades that followed.