76th, British Elegance at the Nürburgring: Richard Seaman's Victory for Mercedes

1938 German GP
July 24, Nürburgring

In the context of 1938, the result was amazing – the first Grand Prix win for a British driver in 15 years. In the context of today, a British aristocrat racing and winning for Mercedes-Benz little more than a year away from a world war is startling. Seaman would make a great subject for a movie…

Ahead of the race, Tazio Nuvolari was the centre of attention, this being the Mantuan’s first race for Auto Union following his sensational defection from Alfa Romeo. Could he defeat the fancied Mercs in a car he barely knew?

The answer came at the end of the first lap: no. He retired with a dented tail, but later took over Hermann Müller’s car to share fourth place.

Hermann Lang led Seaman across the line on lap one, followed by an unwell Rudi Caracciola and Manfred von Brauchitsch. On lap three Lang slowed, oiled plugs dropping his W154 down the order. He would eventually sub for ‘Caratsch’, whose stomach ache would become too much to bear, and finish second.

Von Brauchitsch was already past Seaman and apparently on his way to victory – until a now-infamous pit fire on lap 16. The W154 was extinguished and covered in foam, but still von Brauchitsch returned to the track. He would later run off the road while lying third and thus failed to make the finish.

Seaman was left to deliver Mercedes its home win. Motor Sport’s period report takes us back to incredible moments in history: “As Seaman crossed the line victorious, ‘God Save the King’ blarred sonorously from the loudspeakers, and the whole vast crowd stood with right arms uplifted in salute of the British driver. ‘Deutschland über Alles’ followed for his car…” DS

1st Richard Seaman (Mercedes-Benz)
2nd Hermann Lang/Rudolf Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz)
3rd Hans Stuck (Auto Union)
Winner’s time & speed 3hr 51min 46.1sec, 83.8mph
Pole position Manfred von Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz), 9m48.4s, 86.6mph