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Hermann Lang
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{{short description|German racing driver (1909–1987)}} {{Infobox F1 driver | name = Hermann Lang | image = Hermann Lang El Gráfico.jpg | caption = Lang in 1951 | nationality = {{flagicon|DEU}} German | birth_date = {{birth date|1909|4|6|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Cannstatt]], [[Kingdom of Württemberg]], [[German Empire]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1987|10|19|1909|4|6|df=y}} | death_place = Bad Cannstatt, [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[West Germany]] | Years = {{F1|1953}}–{{F1|1954}} | Team(s) = [[Maserati in motorsport|Maserati]], [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] | Races = 2 | Championships = 0 | Wins = 0 | Podiums = 0 | Points = 2 | Poles = 0 | Fastest laps = 0 | First race = [[1953 Swiss Grand Prix]] | First win = | Last win = | Last race = [[1954 German Grand Prix]] }} '''Hermann Albert Lang''' (6 April 1909 – 19 October 1987)<ref name=mem>{{Cite web |title=Motorsport Memorial - Hermann Lang |url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db2=LWF&db=ct&n=230 |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=Motorsport Memorial}}</ref> was a German racing driver who raced motorcycles, [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]] cars, and sports cars. ==Prewar racing== Born in [[Cannstatt]] near [[Stuttgart]], [[Baden-Württemberg]], Germany, Hermann Lang had to go to work at age fourteen to help support his family following the death of his father. Young Lang found a job as a motorcycle mechanic, eventually buying his own used bike with which he began amateur racing. He won the first race he entered and before long decided to compete in the sidecar class. At age twenty-two, he won the German sidecar mountain race championship. Lang's big break came when he landed a job at the [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]] factory where he became part of their [[Grand Prix motor racing]] team. He was made head mechanic for the [[Mercedes-Benz W25]]A model to be driven by the [[Italy|Italian]] star [[Luigi Fagioli]] who had left [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo]] to create a powerhouse Mercedes factory team that also included [[Rudolf Caracciola]]. Following a very successful season in which Fagioli won both the [[Italian Grand Prix|Italian]] and [[Spanish Grand Prix]], Hermann Lang was given a chance to drive for the Mercedes team. He proved to be most capable on high-speed racetracks, capturing his first win in the 1937 [[Tripoli Grand Prix]] at the Mellaha Lake course in [[Libya]] which was then the fastest racetrack in the world. Lang dominated the event, winning it for three straight years. That year he won his second major race at the [[AVUS]] extravaganza. In 1938, he won two more races for Mercedes including the prestigious [[Coppa Ciano]] at [[Livorno, Italy]]. Nevertheless, in spite of Hermann Lang's skills and racing success and his popularity with racing fans, being a part of the Mercedes [[Silver Arrows]] team was not easy. Made up of wealthy and aristocratic drivers who looked down on the uneducated, working-class Lang, he was always treated as an outsider. However, in 1939 he earned their grudging respect when he won five of the eight Grand Prix races he started, including victories at the [[Belgian Grand Prix]], the [[Pau Grand Prix]] in [[France]], the [[Swiss Grand Prix]] and his third consecutive [[Tripoli Grand Prix]]. In addition to being a quick driver, Lang was also advantaged in that being a former mechanic, he had a lot of mechanical knowledge of cars and was able to give good technical feedback during testing and races to chief designer [[Rudolf Uhlenhaut]], who was able to develop the Mercedes cars to a greater degree, and Lang's natural feel for the machinery meant that he was able to get set-ups on his cars that made them faster than his rivals' cars. He clocked the fastest lap at the [[French Grand Prix]] and was leading the field but engine trouble knocked him out of the race. In 1939, Lang also competed in, and won, the [[Kahlenberg]] [[hillclimbing]] race in [[Austria]]. ==1939 championship controversy== {{main|1939 Grand Prix season}} In 1939, Lang was declared the champion of the European Championship, but this is unofficial. The season was cut short by [[World War II]] and Lang received this title from the German motor racing authority, instead of the official authority AIACR, based in Paris. By way of the points at the last attempted race of the season, competitor [[Hermann Paul Müller]] was considered the points leader, not Lang. ==Postwar racing== [[File:LangH-MB-W125-1977.jpg|thumb|240px|Lang, third in the 1937 [[European Championship (auto racing)|European Championship]], demonstrates a [[Mercedes-Benz W125]] in 1977]] The onset of [[World War II]] robbed Lang of his best years but after the war ended, he returned to racing in 1946 without a team, driving a six-year-old [[BMW]] to victory in the first post-war race in Germany held at [[Ruhestein]]. In 1949 he began [[sports car racing]] and then competed in [[Formula Two]] racing before joining the Mercedes Grand Prix racing team in [[Argentina]], at the [[Buenos Aires Grand Prix (motor racing)|Buenos Aires Grand Prix]] in 1951. In 1952, at age 43, he teamed up with [[Fritz Riess]] to capture the [[24 hours of Le Mans]]. The following year, he published his autobiography titled "Grand Prix Driver," with the Foreword written by the Mercedes team manager, [[Alfred Neubauer]]. Published in Germany, it was translated into English by Charles Meisl and brought out in [[England]]. In 1953, Hermann Lang was given a chance to participate in [[Formula One]] racing driving for [[Maserati in motorsport|Maserati]] after one of their team drivers was injured. He raced in two F1 events that year with his best result a fifth-place finish at the Swiss Grand Prix. The following year Mercedes rejoined Grand Prix racing and Lang came back for another F1 season behind the wheel of a Mercedes W196. But at age 45, he had a less than successful campaign that saw him replaced in several races by one of the team's younger drivers. His season and career ended at the 1954 [[German Grand Prix]] at [[Nürburgring]] when he spun out after ten laps, even though he was running as high as 2nd in front of his teammate [[Karl Kling]]. Lang recognized the time had come to retire from racing and he returned to his job at the Mercedes factory. ==Racing record== ===Complete European Championship results=== ([[:Template:EC driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! Year ! Entrant ! Chassis ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! {{Tooltip|EDC|European Drivers' Championship}} ! Pts |- |rowspan=2| [[1935 Grand Prix season|1935]] !rowspan=2 nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Daimler-Benz AG]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] [[Mercedes-Benz W25|W25A]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] 3.4 [[Straight-eight engine|L8]] | [[1935 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]] | [[1935 French Grand Prix|FRA]] | [[1935 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]] |style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1935 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br/>{{small|Ret}} | |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1935 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br/>{{small|Ret}} | [[1935 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]] !rowspan=2| 12th !rowspan=2| 45 |- ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] [[Mercedes-Benz W25|W25B]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] 4.0 [[Straight-eight engine|L8]] | | | | |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1935 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br/>{{small|6}} | | |- | [[1936 Grand Prix season|1936]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Daimler-Benz AG]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] [[Mercedes-Benz W25|W25K]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] 4.7 [[Straight-eight engine|L8]] | [[1936 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]] |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1936 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br/>{{small|Ret}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1936 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br/>{{small|4}} | [[1936 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]] | | | ! 10th ! 24 |- | [[1937 Grand Prix season|1937]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Daimler-Benz AG]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] [[Mercedes-Benz W125|W125]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] 5.7 [[Straight-eight engine|L8]] |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ''[[1937 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]''<br/>{{small|3}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1937 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br/>{{small|7}} |style="background:#ffffff;"| [[1937 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br/>{{small|DNS}} |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1937 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br/>{{small|2}} |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''[[1937 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]''<br/>{{small|2}} | | !style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd !style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 19 |- | [[1938 Grand Prix season|1938]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Daimler-Benz AG]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] [[Mercedes-Benz W154|W154]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] 3.0 [[V12 engine|V12]] |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''''[[1938 French Grand Prix|FRA]]'''''<br/>{{small|3}} |style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1938 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br/>{{small|Ret}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1938 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br/>{{small|10}} |style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''''[[1938 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]'''''<br/>{{small|Ret}} | | | !style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd !style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 17 |- | [[1939 Grand Prix season|1939]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Daimler-Benz AG]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] [[Mercedes-Benz W154|W154]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] 3.0 [[V12 engine|V12]] |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1939 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]''<br/>{{small|1}} |style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''''[[1939 French Grand Prix|FRA]]'''''<br/>{{small|Ret}} |style="background:#FFCFCF;"| '''[[1939 German Grand Prix|GER]]'''<br/>{{small|Ret}} |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1939 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]'''''<br/>{{small|1}} | | | !style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd !style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 14 |- !colspan=13|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenera.fi/main.htm|title=THE GOLDEN ERA – OF GRAND PRIX RACING|work=goldenera.fi|access-date=March 22, 2025|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606091347/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/main.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>}}}} |} ===Complete Formula One results=== ([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! Year ! Team ! Chassis ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! {{Tooltip|WDC|World Drivers' Championship}} ! [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|Pts]] |- | {{f1|1953}} ! nowrap| [[Maserati in motorsport|Officine Alfieri Maserati]] ! nowrap| [[Maserati in motorsport|Maserati]] [[Maserati A6GCM|A6GCM]] ! nowrap| [[Maserati in motorsport|Maserati]] A6 2.0 [[Straight-6|L6]] | [[1953 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]] | [[1953 Indianapolis 500|500]] | [[1953 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]] | [[1953 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]] | [[1953 French Grand Prix|FRA]] | [[1953 British Grand Prix|GBR]] | [[1953 German Grand Prix|GER]] |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1953 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]<br />{{small|5}} | [[1953 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]] ! 17th ! 2 |- | {{f1|1954}} ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Daimler Benz AG]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes-Benz]] [[Mercedes-Benz W196|W196]] ! nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] M196 2.5 [[Straight-8|L8]] | [[1954 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]] | [[1954 Indianapolis 500|500]] | [[1954 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]] | [[1954 French Grand Prix|FRA]] | [[1954 British Grand Prix|GBR]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1954 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />{{small|Ret}} | [[1954 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]] | [[1954 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]] | [[1954 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]] ! NC ! 0 |} ===Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class<br>Pos.|Class Position}} |- ! [[1952 24 Hours of Le Mans|1952]] |align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Daimler-Benz AG]] |align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Fritz Riess]] |align="left" nowrap| [[Mercedes-Benz W194]] | S<br>3.0 | 277 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''1st''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''1st''' |- !colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Hermann-Lang-D.html|title=All Results of Hermann Lang|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref>}}}} |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/lang.htm Grand Prix History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218150205/http://www.grandprixhistory.org/lang.htm |date=2021-02-18 }}, Hermann Lang *[http://chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Hermann%20Lang&type=D Detailed Formula One driving statistics] {{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box|title=German Mountain Climb Champion |before=[[Hans Stuck]]|after=None|years=1939}} {{succession box|title=[[List of 24 Hours of Le Mans winners|Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans]] |before= [[Peter Walker (driver)|Peter Walker]]<br>[[Peter Whitehead (racing driver)|Peter Whitehead]]|after= [[Tony Rolt]]<br>[[Duncan Hamilton (racing driver)|Duncan Hamilton]]|years= [[1952 24 Hours of Le Mans|1952]] |with=[[Fritz Riess]]}} {{s-end}} {{24 Hours of Le Mans winners}} {{Silver Arrows}} {{Mercedes Grand Prix}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lang, Hermann}} [[Category:1909 births]] [[Category:1987 deaths]] [[Category:German racing drivers]] [[Category:German Formula One drivers]] [[Category:Maserati Formula One drivers]] [[Category:Mercedes-Benz Formula One drivers]] [[Category:Mercedes-Benz]] [[Category:Grand Prix drivers]] [[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers]] [[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans winning drivers]] [[Category:Racing drivers from Stuttgart]] [[Category:European Championship drivers]]
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