Peter Collins | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Peter John Collins 6 November 1931 Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England |
| Died | 3 August 1958 (aged 26) |
| Cause of death | Injuries sustained at the 1958 German Grand Prix |
| Spouse |
Louise King (m. 1957) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1952–1958 |
| Teams | HWM, Vanwall, BRM, Maserati, Ferrari |
| Entries | 35 (32 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podiums | 9 |
| Career points | 47 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1952 Swiss Grand Prix |
| First win | 1956 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1958 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1958 German Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1952–1958 |
| Teams | Aston Martin, Ferrari |
| Best finish | 2nd (1955, 1956) |
| Class wins | 2 (1955, 1956) |
Peter John Collins (6 November 1931 – 3 August 1958) was a British racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1952 to 1958. Collins won three Formula One Grands Prix across seven seasons. In endurance racing, Collins won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1958 with Ferrari.
Born and raised in Kidderminster, Collins started his racing career aged 17 in a 500cc Cooper 500. The 500cc category became Formula Three in 1950, where he finished third in the 1951 Autosport National Formula 3 Championship. He then progressed to Formula Two with HWM in 1952, who promoted him to Formula One that season to replace Stirling Moss, making his debut at the Swiss Grand Prix. Collins made intermittent appearances over the next four seasons for HWM, Vanwall and Maserati; despite scoring no World Championship points, he took major wins at the 1953 RAC Tourist Trophy with Aston Martin and the non-championship 1955 BRDC International Trophy. Following his victory at the 1955 Targa Florio with Mercedes, Collins was signed by Ferrari in 1956. He was immediately successful at Ferrari, taking his maiden wins at the Belgian and French Grands Prix amongst several podiums, and finishing third in the World Drivers' Championship. After a winless 1957 season, Collins died during the 1958 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, just weeks after winning the British Grand Prix. He had achieved three wins and nine podiums—with four non-championship race wins—in Formula One.
Outside of Formula One, Collins was twice runner-up in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955 and 1956 with Aston Martin, as well as in the 1956 Mille Miglia with Ferrari. In popular culture, Collins was portrayed by Jack O'Connell in the sports drama film Ferrari (2023).