1950 Formula One season

The 1950 Formula One season was the inaugural FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on May 13, 1950, and ended on September 3 after 7 races. The championship consisted of six Formula One races in Europe plus the Indianapolis 500, which was run to AAA/USAC regulations.

The World Drivers' Championship was won by Italian Guiseppe Farina. The Constructors' Championship did not begin until 1958.

Numerous other Formula One races, which did not count towards the Championship, were also held during the year.

RegulationsEdit

1950 would be the penultimate season that would use the original Formula One ruleset that was stipulated by the AIACR in 1947.^[1] The rules were simply that no supercharged car could exceed 1.5 litre engines whilst non-supercharged cars were restricted to 3 litre engines.^[1]

Season ReviewEdit

Round 1-  1950 British Grand Prix - Silverstone.Edit

The British Royal family were present at the British Grand Prix to witness the dominant Alfa Romeo's of Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli storm around the circuit. Fangio would retire giving the early championship advantage to his teammates as Farina won, from Fagioli and Alfa Romeo guest driver Reg Parnell.

Round 2 - 1950 Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco.Edit

The Alfa Romeo's were joined on the front row of the grid by José Froilán González in his Maserati but it was Juan Manuel Fangio who got away better than his teammates leading around the first lap. When they got to the Tabac corner, near the harbour they found it had been flooded by a tidal wave, Nino Farina spun from 2nd and caused a multi-car pile-up as Fango got away. He would win from Alberto Ascari in a Ferrari and Louis Chiron in a Maserati after Luigi Villoresi who stalled in the mele and charged back to second retired his Ferrari with a broken rear axel from second.

Round 3 -  1950 Indianapolis 500 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Edit

None of the championship main runners attended this race, won by Johnnie Parsons in his Kurtis-Kraft.

Round 4 - 1950 Swiss Grand Prix - Bremgarten.Edit

In Switzerland, Nino Farina earned an easy victory after his main competitor around this difficult circuit as Juan Manuel Fangio retired. Luigi Fagioli finished second ahead of Louis Rosier in a Talbot-Lago and four Maserti's, Prince Bira and Felice Bonetto scoring the points. The race however would be remembered for a serious crash for French driver Eugène Martin when his Talbot-Lago barrel-rolled.

Round 5 - 1950 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-FrancorchampsEdit

Johnny Claes had crashed his team truck on the way to his home race and was allowed to start from the back after his race car was escorted to the circuit on public roads by night. Raymond Sommer had been dropped by Ferrari after poor pace and raced his Talbot-Lago at Spa. In the race Sommer got passed his former teammates and went off in pursuit of the Alfa Romeo's. As Juan Manuel Fangio pitted for fuel, Sommer lead the race, the first driver to take the fight to Alfa all season. Unfortunately he blew his engine and the race finished Fangio, Luigi Fagioli and Louis Rosier. Nino Farina came home 4th with a struggling car which would be important for the championship.

Round 6 - 1950 French Grand Prix - ReimsEdit

The French Grand Prix was disappointing after the excitement of Spa. The Ferrari's were withdrawn after team principle Enzo Ferrari deemed them uncompetitive and the cars of Talbot-Lago and Maserati overheated. Nino Farina retired from the lead of the race leaving Juan Manuel Fangio an easy victory over Luigi Fagioli and Peter Whitehead in his privateer Ferrari who had wowed the crowd after starting from the back and Robert Manzon scoring the first points for Simca-Gordini.

Round 7 - 1950 Italian Grand Prix - MonzaEdit

Ferrari brought a new improved car to Monza where Alberto Ascari qualified second to Nino Farina. Farina was third in the championship and needed to win. He started well with Ascari in pursuit. When he pitted Ascari took the lead, only the second time this season that an Alfa hadn't lead. Sadly ascari blew his engine.Juan Manuel Fangio was driving cautiously, cruising to the title when his car broke down. He took over a teammates car and blew that up too. Farina won the race over Ascari, who had taken over a teammates car and Luigi Fagioli. Farina was champion.

Team SummaryEdit

OverviewEdit

In this first World Championship season, 14 teams (4 works and 10 independent) participated, alongside a number of privately entered cars, in the 6 European Grands Prix. Only US teams, constructors and drivers participated in the Indianapolis 500. The chassis, engine and car numbers varied from race to race.

The inaugural World Championship, ran to a formula which specified engine capacity of 1.5 litres supercharged or 4.5 litres unsupercharged.

Alfa RomeoEdit

Alfa dominate with their supercharged 158, a well-developed pre-war design, which won all six European Grands Prix. Alfa drivers consequently dominated the championship with Nino Farina edging out Juan Manuel Fangio by virtue of his fourth place in Belgium and Luigi Fagioli in the third Alfa was within contention throughout. Reg Parnell also scored a podium on a guest drive.

Talbot-LagoEdit

The French squad were the most consistent of the other manufacturers represented in the 1950 season, with drivers Louis Rosier, fourth in the championship and Raymond Sommer, after being sacked by Ferrari starring at parts and points finishes for other factory and non-factory drivers.

FerrariEdit

The Italians had mixed form as they experimented with different engines after starting the season with the Ferrari 125 and would experience mixed fortunes with Alberto Ascari finishing sixth in the championship whilst Luigi Villoresi was unplaced. The Ferrari ended the season strongly with Ferrari 375, an improved packaging fighting the Alfa's for victory at the season ending Monza GP.

MaseratiEdit

Maserati entries struggled with their ageing models, Prince Bira scoring for the Enrico Plate team in what was often a close battle between fellow Maserati drivers for points. José Froilán González qualified third at Monaco for Scuderia Achille Varzi whilst Louis Chiron achieved the marques first podium in the Officine Alfieri Maserati at Monaco. Felice Bonetto also featured, scoring points for the Scuderia Milano team. 

Simca-GordiniEdit

The little French squad scored points with Robert Manzon battling to a points finish at Reims in the Type 15.

ERA and AltaEdit

ERA and Alta also featured in private hands, most notably with the brave Brit Bob Gerard.

Although the Indianapolis 500, which ran to different regulations, was included in the championship series until 1960, it attracted very little European participation and, conversely, very few American Indianapolis drivers entered any grand prix.

RacesEdit

Race ScheduleEdit

ResultsEdit

1	British Grand Prix				Report
	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo	1	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo		Fastest Lap
	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo	2	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo		Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo
	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo	3	Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo		1:50.6 on Lap 2

2	Monaco Grand Prix				Report
	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo	1	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo		Fastest Lap
	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo	2	Alberto Ascari Ferrari		Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo
	José Froilán González Maserati	3	Louis Chiron Maserati		1:51.0 on Lap ?

3	Indianapolis 500				Report
	Walt Faulkner Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	1	Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser		Fastest Lap
	Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	2	Bill Holland Deidt-Offenhauser		Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
	Mauri Rose Deidt-Offenhauser	3	Mauri Rose Deidt-Offenhauser		1:09.77 on Lap ?

4	Swiss Grand Prix				Report
	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo	1	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo		Fastest Lap
	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo	2	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo		Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo
	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo	3	Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot		2:41.6 on Lap 8

5	Belgian Grand Prix				Report
	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo	1	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo		Fastest Lap
	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo	2	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo		Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo
	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo	3	Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot		4:34.1 on Lap 18

6	French Grand Prix				Report
	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo	1	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo		Fastest Lap
	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo	2	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo		Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo
	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo	3	Peter Whitehead Ferrari		2:35.6 on Lap 52

7	Italian Grand Prix				Report
	Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo	1	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo		Fastest Lap
	Alberto Ascari Ferrari	2	Dorino Serafini Alberto Ascari Ferrari		Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo
	Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo	3	Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo		2:00.0 on Lap 7

Non-Championship RacesEdit

Teams and DriversEdit

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1950 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Driver line-upsEdit

Team	Constructor	Chasis	Engine	Tyre	Drivers	Non-Championship Drivers
Alfa Romeo SpA	Alfa Romeo	158 159	Alfa Romeo	P	Giuseppe Farina Juan Manuel Fangio Luigi Fagioli Reg Parnell Consalvo Sanesi Piero Taruffi
Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari	125 275 375	Ferrari	P	Alberto Ascari Luigi Villoresi Raymond Sommer Dorino Serafini
Automobile Talbot-Darracq	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Yves Giraud-Cabantous Eugène Martin Louis Rosier Philippe Étancelin Raymond Sommer
Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati	4CLT/48 4CL	Maserati	P	Louis Chiron Franco Rol	Juan Manuel Fangio Enrico Platé
Equipe Simca-Gordini	Simca-Gordini	Type 15	Gordini	E	Maurice Trintignant Robert Manzon
English Racing Automobiles	ERA	E-Type	ERA	D	Leslie Johnson
Scuderia Ambrosiana	Maserati	4CLT/48	Maserati	D	David Murray David Hampshire Reg Parnell
Peter Walker	ERA	E-Type	ERA	D	Peter Walker Tony Rolt
Joe Fry	Maserati	4CL	Maserati	D	Joe Fry Brian-Shawe Taylor
TC Harrison	ERA	C-Type	ERA	D	Cuth Harrison
FR Gerard	ERA	A-Type B-Type	ERA	D	Bob Gerard
Ecurie Rosier	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Louis Rosier Henri Louveau
Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Philippe Étancelin
Ecurie Belge	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Johnny Claes
Enrico Plate	Maserati	4CLT/48	Maserati	P	Toulo de Graffenried B Bira
Scuderia Milano	Maserati Milano	4CLT/50 Milano 1	Maserati	P	Felice Bonetto Franco Comotti
Joe Kelly	Alta	Alta GP	Alta	D	Joe Kelly
Geoffrey Crossley	Alta	Alta GP	Alta	D	Geoffrey Crossley
Raymond Mays	ERA	D-Type	ERA	D	Raymond Mays
Scuderia Achille Varzi	Maserati	4CLT/48 4CL	Maserati	P	José Froilán González Antonio Branca Nello Pagani
Horschell Racing Corporation	Cooper	T12	JAP	D	Harry Schell
Ecurie Espadon	SVA	1500	FIAT	P	Rudi Fischer
Ecurie Bleue	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Harry Schell
Ecurie Letita	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Eugène Chaboud
Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Pierre Levegh
Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	125	Ferrari	D	Peter Whitehead	Graham Whitehead
	ERA	B-Type	ERA
Raymond Sommer	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Raymond Sommer
Antonio Branca	Maserati	4CL	Maserati	P	Antonio Branca
Charles Pozzi	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Charles Pozzi
Clemente Biondetti	Ferrari	166S	Jaguar	P	Clemente Biondetti
Paul Pietsch	Maserati	4CLT/48	Maserati	P	Paul Pietsch
Guy Mairesse	Talbot-Lago	T26C	Talbot-Lago	D	Guy Mairesse
Archie J. Butterworth	AJB	?	Duesenberg	D	Archie J. Butterworth
Brian-Shawe Taylor	ERA	B-Type	ERA	D	Brian-Shawe Taylor
John Heath	HWM	?	Alta	D	George Abecassis
Charles Murray	Maserati	4CL	Maserati	P	Colin Murray
Rob Walker Racing Team	Delage	15S8	Delage	D	Tony Rolt
Gordon Watson	Alta	F2	Alta	D	Gordon Watson

1950 Drivers Championship final standingsEdit

Pos.	Driver
									Pts
1st	Giuseppe Farina	1st*	Ret	DNA	1st*	4th*	7th	1st	30
2nd	Juan Manuel Fangio	Ret	1st		Ret	1st	1st*	Ret* Ret	27
3rd	Luigi Fagioli	2nd	Ret		2nd	2nd	2nd	3rd	24 (28)
4th	Louis Rosier	5th	Ret		3rd	3rd	6th †	4th	13
5th	Alberto Ascari		2nd		Ret	5th		2nd †	11
6th	Johnnie Parsons			1st*					9
7th	Bill Holland			2nd					6
8th	Prince Bira	Ret	5th		4th			Ret	5
9th	Peter Whitehead						3rd	7th	4
=	Louis Chiron	Ret	3rd		9th		Ret	Ret	4
=	Reg Parnell	3rd					Ret		4
=	Mauri Rose			3rd					4
13th	Dorino Serafini							2nd †	3
14th	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	4th			Ret	Ret	8th		3
=	Raymond Sommer		4th		Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	3
=	Robert Manzon		Ret				4th	Ret	3
=	Cecil Green			4th					3
18th	Philippe Étancelin	8th	Ret		Ret	Ret	5th †	5th	3
19th	Felice Bonetto				5th		Ret	Ret	2
20th	Eugène Chaboud					Ret	5th †		1
21st	Joie Chitwood			5th †					1
=	Tony Bettenhausen			5th †   Ret					1
–	Toulo de Graffenried	Ret	Ret		6th			6th	0
–	Bob Gerard	6th	6th						0
–	Luigi Villoresi		Ret		Ret	6th			0
–	Lee Wallard			6th					0
–	Charles Pozzi							6th †	0
–	Johnny Claes	11th	7th		10th	8th	Ret	Ret	0
–	Cuth Harrison	7th	Ret					Ret	0
–	Pierre Levegh					7th	Ret	Ret	0
–	Walt Faulkner			7th					0
–	Nello Pagani				7th				0
–	Harry Schell		Ret		8th				0
–	George Connor			8th					0
–	Geoff Crossley	NC				9th			0
–	David Hampshire	9th					Ret		0
–	Paul Russo			9th					0
–	Toni Branca				11th	10th			0
–	Pat Flaherty			10th					0
–	Brian Shawe-Taylor	10th †							0
–	Joe Fry	10th †							0
–	Myron Fohr			11th					0
–	Duane Carter			12th					0
–	Mack Hellings			13th					0
–	Jack McGrath			14th					0
–	Troy Ruttman			15th					0
–	Gene Hartley			16th					0
–	Jimmy Davies			17th					0
–	Johnny McDowell			18th					0
–	Walt Brown			19th					0
–	Spider Webb			20th					0
–	Jerry Hoyt			21st					0
–	Walt Ader			22nd					0
–	Jackie Holmes			23rd					0
–	Jim Rathmann			24th					0
–	Joe Kelly	NC							0
–	Franco Rol		Ret	DNA			Ret	Ret	0
–	Eugène Martin	Ret			Ret				0
–	José Froilán González		Ret				Ret		0
–	David Murray	Ret						Ret	0
–	Maurice Trintignant		Ret					Ret	0
–	Leslie Johnson	Ret							0
–	Peter Walker	Ret †							0
–	Tony Rolt	Ret †							0
–	Henry Banks			Ret					0
–	Bill Schlinder			Ret					0
–	Fred Agabashian			Ret Ret †					0
–	Jimmy Jackson			Ret					0
–	Sam Hanks			Ret					0
–	Dick Rathmann			Ret					0
–	Duke Dinsmore			Ret					0
–	Bayliss Levrett			Ret †					0
–	Bill Cantrell			Ret †					0
–	Guy Mairesse							Ret	0
–	Paul Pietsch							Ret	0
–	Clemente Biondetti							Ret	0
–	Henri Louveau							Ret	0
–	Franco Comotti							Ret	0
–	Consalvo Sanesi							Ret	0
–	Piero Taruffi			DNA				Ret †	0
–	Alfredo Pián		DNS						0
Pos.	Driver

• * Fastest lap (1 point awarded)
• † Position shared between more drivers of the same car
• Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

NotesEdit

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-1946/18/motor-sport