Coventry Climax were late in producing the smaller 1.5-litre engine required for the 1961 season and the Cooper-Climaxes were outclassed by new mid-engined cars from Porsche, Lotus, and championship-winners Ferrari.
Coventry Climax tardou en producir o motor máis pequeno de 1.5 litros requirido para a tempada 1961 da Fórmula Un e os Cooper-Climaxes foron superados polos novos coches con motor central de Porsche, Lotus, e o gañador do campionato Ferrari.