Alfred Neubauer
Encyclopedia
Alfred Neubauer was the racing manager of the Mercedes Grand Prix
team from 1926 to 1955.
Neubauer was involved in the repair of motor vehicles while an officer in the Imperial Austrian army. After the First World War
, he joined the Austrian car manufacturer Austro-Daimler
, where Ferdinand Porsche
appointed him chief tester. From 1922 onwards, Neubauer also drove in races, but without any great success. In 1923, when Ferdinand Porsche moved to the Daimler Works at Stuttgart (Daimler-Benz
was not founded until 1926), he took Neubauer with him. In 1926, recognizing that he himself was not a great racing driver, Neubauer had an inspiration. He invented the position of racing team manager (Rennleiter).
Racing drivers in those days being isolated from the outside, they often did not know their position in a race. Occasionally a driver would be surprised to learn after a race that he had won. To overcome this situation, Alfred Neubauer devised a well thought-out system, with flags and boards, to give his drivers tactical information. When he tried out the system for the first time at the Solitude races on 12 September 1926, the chief steward demanded angrily that he leave the track, since his ‘antics’ were irritating the drivers. To Neubauer’s explanation that he was the Rennleiter, the organizer responded: ‘Are you mad? I’m the Rennleiter’.
The Mercedes team was soon winning races with SS and SSK
racing cars, frequently in the hands of Rudolf Caracciola
, the best driver of those days. Neubauer’s contribution lay not just in his tactical skill, but also in the perfectionist, almost military drill of the pit crew, which constantly gave the team a time advantage over its rivals.
Neubauer’s organization at the Mille Miglia
in 1931 was a master stroke. To reach each staging post before Caracciola arrived, he repeatedly criss-crossed Italy with his team.
According to Neubauer, the origin of the Silver Arrows
phrase was due to the cars being overweight at their first race. Neubauer's story says that the rules prescribed a weight limit of 750 kg, whilst one day before the new cars’ first race they weighed in at 751 kg. This led to Neubauer and Manfred von Brauchitsch
eventually coming up with the idea of removing the cars' white paint. The silver-coloured aluminium bodywork was exposed, and the Silver Arrows
were born. However, this story is a fabrication by Neubauer, a well-known raconteur. The debut race was run to Formula Libre
rules, meaning there was no weight limit. Additionally, there are no reports or photographs from the time suggesting that the cars were ever run in white paint.
years were dominated by German racing cars and the rivalry between Mercedes-Benz
and Auto Union
. In its most successful phase, the Mercedes team’s regular drivers were Rudolf Caracciola
, Hermann Lang
, Manfred von Brauchitsch
and Richard Seaman
.
After the Second World War, Mercedes-Benz
was anxious to return to racing as soon as possible, but a new formula was announced for 1954, and there was insufficient time to produce a new model. As a compromise solution, the design of the Mercedes 300 was adapted. The result was a new racing car, the Mercedes 300SL
.
With this car, Neubauer achieved victories at the Carrera Panamericana
and the Le Mans
24-hour race. When Mercedes cars returned to Grand Prix racing in 1954, the new silver Arrows proved to be superior as they had been before the war. Juan Manuel Fangio
was World Champion in 1954 and 1955.
Probably Neubauer’s blackest day as racing manager was at Le Mans in 1955, when a Mercedes 300SLR
was catapulted into the crowd, killing more than 80 people
. After consultation with Stuttgart, Neubauer withdrew the remaining cars from the event.
After the shock of Le Mans, Mercedes withdrew from racing altogether, and Alfred Neubauer retired.
Mercedes GP
Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season....
team from 1926 to 1955.
Biography
Neubauer's father, Karl Neubauer, was a furniture-maker in Neutitschein, which then was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Karl christened his only son Alfred, but the child quickly became known to family and friends as Friedl.Neubauer was involved in the repair of motor vehicles while an officer in the Imperial Austrian army. After the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he joined the Austrian car manufacturer Austro-Daimler
Austro-Daimler
Austro-Daimler was an Austrian automaker company, from 1899 until 1934. It was subsidiary of the German Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft .-Early history:...
, where Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
appointed him chief tester. From 1922 onwards, Neubauer also drove in races, but without any great success. In 1923, when Ferdinand Porsche moved to the Daimler Works at Stuttgart (Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
was not founded until 1926), he took Neubauer with him. In 1926, recognizing that he himself was not a great racing driver, Neubauer had an inspiration. He invented the position of racing team manager (Rennleiter).
Racing drivers in those days being isolated from the outside, they often did not know their position in a race. Occasionally a driver would be surprised to learn after a race that he had won. To overcome this situation, Alfred Neubauer devised a well thought-out system, with flags and boards, to give his drivers tactical information. When he tried out the system for the first time at the Solitude races on 12 September 1926, the chief steward demanded angrily that he leave the track, since his ‘antics’ were irritating the drivers. To Neubauer’s explanation that he was the Rennleiter, the organizer responded: ‘Are you mad? I’m the Rennleiter’.
The Mercedes team was soon winning races with SS and SSK
Mercedes-Benz SSK
The Mercedes-Benz SSK is a roadster built by German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz between 1928 and 1932. Its name is an acronym of Super Sport Kurz, German for "Super Sport Short", as it was a short wheelbase development of the earlier Mercedes-Benz S...
racing cars, frequently in the hands of Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola
Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times...
, the best driver of those days. Neubauer’s contribution lay not just in his tactical skill, but also in the perfectionist, almost military drill of the pit crew, which constantly gave the team a time advantage over its rivals.
Neubauer’s organization at the Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
in 1931 was a master stroke. To reach each staging post before Caracciola arrived, he repeatedly criss-crossed Italy with his team.
According to Neubauer, the origin of the Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
phrase was due to the cars being overweight at their first race. Neubauer's story says that the rules prescribed a weight limit of 750 kg, whilst one day before the new cars’ first race they weighed in at 751 kg. This led to Neubauer and Manfred von Brauchitsch
Manfred von Brauchitsch
Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch was a German auto racing driver who drove for Mercedes-Benz in the famous "Silver Arrows" of Grand Prix motor racing in the 1930s....
eventually coming up with the idea of removing the cars' white paint. The silver-coloured aluminium bodywork was exposed, and the Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
were born. However, this story is a fabrication by Neubauer, a well-known raconteur. The debut race was run to Formula Libre
Formula Libre
Formula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...
rules, meaning there was no weight limit. Additionally, there are no reports or photographs from the time suggesting that the cars were ever run in white paint.
Silver Arrows
The Silver ArrowsSilver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
years were dominated by German racing cars and the rivalry between Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
. In its most successful phase, the Mercedes team’s regular drivers were Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola
Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times...
, Hermann Lang
Hermann Lang
Hermann Lang was a German champion race car driver.Born in the Bad Cannstatt district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, at age fourteen Hermann Lang had to go to work to help support his family following the death of his father...
, Manfred von Brauchitsch
Manfred von Brauchitsch
Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch was a German auto racing driver who drove for Mercedes-Benz in the famous "Silver Arrows" of Grand Prix motor racing in the 1930s....
and Richard Seaman
Richard Seaman
Richard John Beattie "Dick" Seaman , was one of the greatest pre-war Grand Prix drivers from Britain....
.
After the Second World War, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
was anxious to return to racing as soon as possible, but a new formula was announced for 1954, and there was insufficient time to produce a new model. As a compromise solution, the design of the Mercedes 300 was adapted. The result was a new racing car, the Mercedes 300SL
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
.
With this car, Neubauer achieved victories at the Carrera Panamericana
Carrera Panamericana
The Carrera Panamericana was a border-to-border sports car racing event on open roads in Mexico similar to the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio in Italy. Running for five consecutive years from 1950 to 1954, it was widely held by contemporaries to be the most dangerous race of any type in the world...
and the Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
24-hour race. When Mercedes cars returned to Grand Prix racing in 1954, the new silver Arrows proved to be superior as they had been before the war. Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing...
was World Champion in 1954 and 1955.
Probably Neubauer’s blackest day as racing manager was at Le Mans in 1955, when a Mercedes 300SLR
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was a sportscar racing car for the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season, which it won.-Technical highlights:...
was catapulted into the crowd, killing more than 80 people
1955 Le Mans disaster
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large parts of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. The driver was killed, as were 83 spectators. A further 120 people were injured...
. After consultation with Stuttgart, Neubauer withdrew the remaining cars from the event.
After the shock of Le Mans, Mercedes withdrew from racing altogether, and Alfred Neubauer retired.