The introduction of the magnificent new Mercedes-Benz W125 returned the marque to the forefront of Grand Prix racing with a vengeance in 1937. Rudolf Caracciola was now at the height of his powers and he won the German, Swiss, Italian (run on Livorno’s Montenero road course for the only time) and Czech GPs to regain the European Championship. Normally a team player, Manfred von Brauchitsch disobeyed team orders for once to defeat Caracciola at Monaco.
After the heroics of the previous season, Bernd Rosemeyer was restricted to victories in the Vanderbilt Cup and Donington GP – the latter attracting the German teams to England for the first time. While Rosemeyer and others travelled to Long Island for the Vanderbilt Cup, Auto Union’s Rudolf Hasse scored a surprise victory in the Belgian GP by beating team-mate Hans Stuck and the Mercedes of former mechanic Hermann Lang.
French races were again run to sports car rules with Louis Chiron leading a Lago-Talbot 1-2-3 in its national Grand Prix at Montlhéry. Alfa Romeo could only score minor placings (Tazio Nuvolari finishing fourth in Germany) and Maserati struggled financially.
This was the final year of the 750 kgs rules – one of the most powerful GP formulae of all time.
nb The French, Masaryk and Donington GPs were non-championship events.
