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| Giuseppe Farina |
1950 Drivers Championship
1.Giuseppe Farina - 30
2.Juan Manuel Fangio - 27
3.Luigi Fagioli - 24
(Constructors title not introduced until 1958)
The first world championship in motor racing was inaugurated in February 1950. The sport's governing body, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, linked six Grand Prix in one competition. Points were to be awarded based on the results of these six, and the driver with the most would become the "World Champion".
"Fagiola, Farina and Fangio"
This new competition tempted Alfa Romeo to return to the sport - it had been out of racing for a year - and the year was dominated by three star Alfa drivers: Luigi Fagioli, Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio. Alberto Ascari, who drove for Ferrari, was their most notable contender; Ferrari was trying to get its new car up and running, a 4500cc V-12, but it came too late for the 1950 season.
"Seven-race championship"
Initially the new championship technically involved seven races: six in Europe and the Indianapolis 500. However, the latter was never really fully integrated and though it continued to provide championship points until 1960, only one Formula One driver competed in this US classic.
The first race was on 13 May at Silverstone. Farina won, with Fagioli coming second. Though Fangio had retired eight laps from the end, it was still a triumph for Alfa: third place went to their works driver Reg Parnell.
"Monte Carlo pile-up"
The next race was at Monte Carlo a week later. A multiple pile-up on the initial lap involved Farina, who had been lying second, and blocked the road. Fangio, who was in the lead and unaware of the incident, managed to weave through the wrecked cars when he came round again; he went on to win. Ascari came second, but a lap behind. This was followed by the Swiss Grand Prix, won by Farina with Fagioli second; Fangio had retired earlier. All three Ferraris had blown up and a Talbot, driven by Louis Rosier, came in third. Spa hosted the Belgian Grand Prix, and this time Fangio headed Fagioli home, followed again by Rosier. The French Grand Prix was won easily by Fangio, again with Fagioli second. Fangio had 26 points; Fagioli 24, overhauling Farina.
"Farina - first world champion"
The last race of the year was at Monza, and Alfa added two more cars, driven by Piero Taruffi and Consalvo Sanesi. On the 24th lap Fangio's gearbox failed and he was able to take over Taruffi's car; unfortunately it hen dropped a valve. His chance of the title was gone. Ascari, now driving the full 4500cc Ferrari, was lying second in the early part of the race, hoping to steal the lead from the Alfas which needed two refuelling stops; his Ferrari needed only one. He did manage to take the lead, but his car then failed. He too switched cars, taking over from Dorino Serafini, and managed to get back to second, ahead of Fagioli. He was still a minute behind Farina, whose win put him up to 30 points, ahead of Fangio, making him the first world champion.
1950 clearly belonged to Alfa Romeo. Alfa had won all six European races, and its "big three" occupied the top places in the Drivers championship. But there were encouraging signs for Ferrari.