The 1921  Grand Prix season was the first of its kind in post-war Europe. The European automotive industry took a long time, to get back on its feet again. In contrast to that, American automobile manufacturers were much less confronted by such problems. Their post-war advantage gave a superiotity, that the Europeans had to get acquainted to. In technological terms, the American Duesenbergs were far ahead with their four-wheel hydraulic brake system, just patented a year earlier.
   This year, the first two postwar Grand Prix were held. The French Grand Prix on the Sarthe road course on July 26 and Italy saw their first Italian Grand prix on the Montichiari roead course near Brescia on september 4.
   For the French Grand Prix, the American Duesenberg team came to Europe on last notice of the Frenchman Albert Champion (of the US brand Champion Spark Plugs) who paid for all expenses like travel and starting money. They brought with them a small armada of five cars, of which one became a dns. Ballot entered four cars and STD (Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq) came with a total of seven cars.
   The track was general in a poor condition, with small stones being thrown all around. This led to severe tyre wear and hence, many pit stops with tyre changes. For all, Jean Chassagne suffered a fuel tank failure in lap 17, just because of these stones, costin him most surely victory. Jimmy Murphy in Duesenberg won the race after he could overtake Jean Chassagne in Ballot.
    The  first ever Italian Grand Prix only counted some six cars. Goux in a Ballot won on the triangular road course
   Although European supremacy was over, still new European brands such as Ballot, made their standing by finishing second and third.