| Type: | F1 |
| Country: | France |
| Grand Prix: | French |
| Date: | 1 July |
| Year: | 1956 |
| Previous Round: | 1956 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Next Round: | 1956 British Grand Prix |
| Official Name: | XLII Grand Prix de l'ACF |
| Location: | Reims Circuit, Reims, France |
| Course: | Temporary road course |
| Course Mi: | 5.159 |
| Course Km: | 8.302 |
| Distance Laps: | 61 |
| Distance Mi: | 314.676 |
| Distance Km: | 506.422 |
| Pole Driver: | Juan Manuel Fangio |
| Pole Team: | Ferrari |
| Pole Time: | 2:23.3 |
| Pole Country: | Argentina |
| Fast Driver: | Juan Manuel Fangio |
| Fast Team: | Ferrari |
| Fast Time: | 2:25.8 |
| Fast Country: | Argentina |
| First Driver: | Peter Collins |
| First Team: | Ferrari |
| First Country: | United Kingdom |
| Second Driver: | Eugenio Castellotti |
| Second Team: | Ferrari |
| Second Country: | Italy |
| Third Driver: | Jean Behra |
| Third Team: | Maserati |
| Third Country: | France |
The 1956 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 1 July 1956 at Reims. It was race 5 of 8 in the 1956 World Championship of Drivers.
Bugatti made a one-off appearance in this race with their Type 251 driven by Maurice Trintignant. The car proved to be uncompetitive and he retired after 18 laps.
This race was also notable for being the only Formula One World Championship entry as a driver for Lotus founder Colin Chapman.
| 1 | 10 |  Juan Manuel Fangio | Ferrari | 2:23.3 | — | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 12 |  Eugenio Castellotti | Ferrari | 2:24.6 | +1.3 | |
| 3 | 14 | Peter Collins | Ferrari | 2:25.6 | +2.3 | |
| 4 | 22 |  Harry Schell | Vanwall | 2:26.1 | +2.8 | |
| 5 | 26 | Colin Chapman | Vanwall | 2:26.8 | +3.5 | |
| 6 | 24 | Mike Hawthorn | Vanwall | 2:27.0 | +3.7 | |
| 7 | 4 |  Jean Behra | Maserati | 2:27.8 | +4.5 | |
| 8 | 2 | Stirling Moss | Maserati | 2:29.9 | +6.6 | |
| 9 | 16 |  Alfonso de Portago | Ferrari | 2:30.9 | +7.6 | |
| 10 | 38 | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati | 2:33.3 | +10.0 | |
| 11 | 44 |  Olivier Gendebien | Ferrari | 2:34.5 | +11.2 | |
| 12 | 36 | Louis Rosier | Maserati | 2:35.3 | +12.0 | |
| 13 | 8 | Piero Taruffi | Maserati | 2:35.6 | +12.3 | |
| 14 | 32 |  Hermano da Silva Ramos | Gordini | 2:35.9 | +12.6 | |
| 15 | 30 | Robert Manzon | Gordini | 2:36.0 | +12.7 | |
| 16 | 6 | Cesare Perdisa | Maserati | 2:36.4 | +13.1 | |
| 17 | 40 | Paco Godia | Maserati | 2:40.0 | +16.7 | |
| 18 | 28 | Maurice Trintignant | Bugatti | 2:41.9 | +18.6 | |
| 19 | 34 | André Pilette | Gordini | 2:46.8 | +23.5 | |
| 20 | 42 | André Simon | Maserati | 2:47.9 | +24.6 | |
| Source:[1] | ||||||
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Peter Collins | Ferrari | 61 | 2:34:23.4 | 3 | 8 | |
| 2 | 12 | Eugenio Castellotti | Ferrari | 61 | +0.3 | 2 | 6 | |
| 3 | 4 | Jean Behra | Maserati | 61 | +1:29.9 | 7 | 4 | |
| 4 | 10 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Ferrari | 61 | +1:35.1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 5 | 6 | Cesare Perdisa Stirling Moss | Maserati | 59 | +2 Laps | 13 | 1 1 | |
| 6 | 36 | Louis Rosier | Maserati | 58 | +3 Laps | 12 | ||
| 7 | 40 | Paco Godia | Maserati | 57 | +4 Laps | 17 | ||
| 8 | 32 | Hermano da Silva Ramos | Gordini | 57 | +4 Laps | 14 | ||
| 9 | 30 | Robert Manzon | Gordini | 56 | +5 Laps | 15 | ||
| 10 | 24 | Mike Hawthorn Harry Schell | Vanwall | 56 | +5 Laps | 6 | ||
| 11 | 34 | André Pilette | Gordini | 55 | +6 Laps | 19 | ||
| Ret | 42 | André Simon | Maserati | 41 | Engine | 20 | ||
| Ret | 8 | Piero Taruffi | Maserati | 40 | Engine | 16 | ||
| Ret | 44 | Olivier Gendebien | Ferrari | 38 | Clutch | 11 | ||
| Ret | 38 | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati | 23 | Brakes | 10 | ||
| Ret | 16 | Alfonso de Portago | Ferrari | 20 | Gearbox | 9 | ||
| Ret | 28 | Maurice Trintignant | Bugatti | 18 | Throttle | 18 | ||
| Ret | 2 | Stirling Moss | Maserati | 12 | Gearbox | 8 | ||
| Ret | 22 | Harry Schell | Vanwall | 5 | Engine | 4 | ||
| DNS | 26 | Colin Chapman | Vanwall | Accident/driver injured | 5 | |||
| Pos | Driver | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Collins | 19 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 14 | ||
| 1 | 3 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 13 | |
| 2 | 4 | Stirling Moss | 12 | |
| 5 | Pat Flaherty | 8 | ||
| Source: [2] | ||||