Formula 1 drivers are not required to fuel up these days and it only became a popular form of strategy during the 1980s, but Jack Brabham unintentionally did this during the 1957 Pescara Grand Prix in strange fashion.
A pit stop to refuel and change tyres during a Grand Prix was not attempted until Juan Manuel Fangio completed the move during the German event prior to Pescara and won the race in a thrilling last lap.
Although Fangio won the race and thus secured his record fifth world title, the strategy to pit mid-race was not popularised until the early 1980s through the Bernie Ecclestone-led Brabham, however the founder of this team encountered a major problem in Pescara and the solution was remarkable.
The 1957 World Drivers’ Championship included rounds at Monaco, the Nordschleife, Monza and even the Indianapolis 500, but the Pescara Grand prix was to make history.
At 25.579km, the Pescara circuit is the longest to hold a Grand Prix and 1957 was the only time it was featured as part of the World Championship as just four years later it was closed due to safety concerns.
The sole reason it appeared on the calendar was due to the Belgian and Dutch Grand Prix organisers disputing fees.
Due to the death of 13 people in the Mille Miglia earlier in 1957, the Italian Government had banned racing on public roads, but an exception was made for the Pescara Grand Prix where modifications had been made to confirm to new safety regulations in response to the incident.
Enzo Ferrari’s red barons were missing from the grid because of the tragedy, but a sole 801 was entered for Luigi Musso, though its not regarded as an official entry for the manufacturer.
Racing a Formula 2 Cooper Climax, Brabham was last on the grid with a time of 11m 35.2s and was close to two minutes off the pace of Fangio.
Stirling Moss took victory for Vanwall ahead of Fangio in his Maserati, who was struggling with pains in his right shoulder.
Brabham finished seventh, three laps down, however if it wasn’t for a trip to a petrol station during the race after being close to empty far from the pits. The Australian asked a local ‘garagista’ to serve him so he could continue the race.