The rivalry between Ferrari and Maserati in the summer of 1953 culminated in a splendid battle at the French Grand Prix at Reims with the race only being settled in the final slipstreaming dash to the finishing line after 300 miles of racing. Rising star Mike Hawthorn beat Juan-Manuel Fangio by a second with Froilan Gonzalez, Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Farina all within a few seconds of one another. The rest of the field comprising Gordinis, HWMs and a few privateers were not in contention.

Practice has resulted in Ascari taking pole position for Ferrari with Felice Bonetto's Maserati and Villoresi's Ferrari alongside. On the second row were the Maseratis and Fangio and Gonzalez, while Farina, Hawthorn and Onofre Marimon completed the top eight. The only other drivers close to them were Baron Emanuel de Graffenried in his private Maserati and Louis Rosier in his private Ferrari.

Gonzalez started with a light fuel load and so took the lead in the early laps, while Bonetto lost touch with the leaders when he spun. The other cars were switching places all the time. Gonzalez pitted but was unable to get out ahead of the battle and so joined in, although Marimon dropped out soon afterwards with a radiator problem which had to be repaired.

The battle for victory continued right to the flag, which ended the most exciting race in World Championship history up to that point.