1950 was the official inaugural Formula One season. It contained 6 rounds, from an opener at Silverstone, England, to the season finale at Monza, Italy. The Indy 500 was technically part of the championship as well, making it a 7 race season. Even though the classic race provided points for the championship till 1960, only one Formula One driver has competed in the Indy 500. Also another 17 races were contended in 1950, but didn't count toward the championship standings. The championship was contested by 26 different teams varying from 1 to 5 cars per team. The championship was won by Guiseppe (Nino) Farina, with tight competition from Juan Manuel Fangino (who would later win 5 championships) and Luigi Fagioli. Fangio, Fagioli and Farina drove for the Alfa Romeo team but a constructors championship was not introduced to 1958.
 |
| Farina on his way to victory at Silverstone. |
The first race in the inaugural Formula One season took place at the Silverstone circuit in England on the 13th of May. Farina won with team mate Fangioli coming in second. Fangio retired with 8 laps from the finish. A week later in Monaco a pile up on the first lap involved Farina (who was in second) ended any hope of him winning. As he blocked the road, Fangio was in the lead and had no knowledge of the crash, and managed to weave through the accident when he came across it on the next lap. Fangio won the race. Alberto Ascari in the Ferrari came home in second. The next race was the Swiss Grand Prix, won by Farina with Fagioli in second, and Fangio retired. All three Ferrari cars had blown up leaving the last podium slot to Louis Rosier. Spa then hosted the Belgium Grand Prix, and this time Fangio won, Fagioli in second, Farina failing to make the podium in 4th, but picking up vital points in the process. The French Grand Prix was next, and it was won comfortably by Juan Manuel Fangio again with Fagioli second. At this point in the season Fangio had 26 points, Fangioli 24, Farina was behind in third. The last race of the year was at Monza, Italy and Alfa Romeo had 2 more cars, which were to be driven by Piero Taruffi and Consalvo Sanesi. On the 24th lap, Fangio's gearbox failed, but he was able to take over the new car driven Taruffi. However this car then dropped a valve forcing Fangio to retire from the race. Now Ferrari's Alberto Ascari was in the fight for the win, because the Alfa Romeos required two lengthy refueling stops, whilst the Ferrari only needed one. Unluckily for Ascari his car failed, but he could knick the car from his team mate Dorino Serafini, and managed to get back to second, with Fagioli behind in third, Farina in the lead. The race order didn't change and it gave Farina his third win, and winning the championship with 30 points from Fangio and Fagioli. Fangio finished second in the championship on 27 points and Fagioli with 24 points. The year was dominated by Alfa Romeo, with them winning all 6 races in the European leg.
 |
| Nino Farina after he won the first ever World Championship race, Silverstone, 1950. |
Race 1: Silverstone - Winner: Nino Farina
Race 2: Monaco - Winner: Juan Manuel Fangio
Race 3: Indianapolis 500 - Winner: Johnnie Parsons
Race 4: Switzerland - Winner: Nino Farina
Race 5: Belgium - Winner: Juan Manuel Fangio
Race 6: France - Winner: Juan Manuel Fangio
Race 7: Italy - Winner: Nino Farina
And that was the first season of Formula One, the birth of a magnificent sport. Next week will be 1951.
No comments:
Post a Comment