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.
Giuseppe Farina became the first Italian and the first World Drivers' Champion during the FIA's inaugural season of Formula One. 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.
==Regulations==
1950 would be the penultimate season that would use the original Formula One ruleset that was stipulated by the AIACR in 1947.http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-1946/18/motor-sport The rules were simply that no supercharged car could exceed 1.5 litre engines whilst non-supercharged cars were restricted to 3 litre engines.
==Season Review==
===Round 1-  1950 British Grand Prix - Silverstone.===
The British Royal family were present at the British Grand Prix to witness the dominant Alfa Romeos 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.===
The Alfa Romeos were joined on the front row of the grid by José Froilán González in his 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 rogue wave. Nino Farina spun from 2nd and caused a multi-car pile-up as Fangio got away. He would win from Alberto Ascari in a Ferrari and Louis Chiron in a Maserati. Luigi Villoresi, who stalled in the mele and then charged back to second place, retired his with a broken rear axle.
===Round 3 -  1950 Indianapolis 500 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway.===
None of the championship main runners attended this race, won by Johnnie Parsons in his Kurtis-Kraft.
===Round 4 - 1950 Swiss Grand Prix - Bremgarten.===
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-Francorchamps===
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 - Reims===
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 - Monza===
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 also 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 Summary==
===Overview===
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. 
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The little French squad scored points with Robert Manzon battling to a points finish at Reims in the Type 15.
=== and ===
 and 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.
==Races==
===Race Schedule===
Round	Race Title 	Grand Prix 	Circuit 	Date
1 	RAC British Grand Prix 	British GP 	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 	May 13
2 	Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco 	Monaco GP 	Circuit de Monaco, Monte-Carlo 	May 21
3 	Indianapolis InternationalMotor Sweepstakes	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	May 30
4 	Großer Preis der Schweiz 	Swiss GP 	Circuit Bremgarten, Bern 	June 4
5 	Grand Prix de Belgique 	Belgian GP 	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa 	June 18
6 	Grand Prix de l'ACF 	French GP 	Reims-Gueux, Reims 	July 2
7 	Gran Premio d'Italia 	Italian GP 	Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza 	September 3
===Results===
===Non-Championship Races===
Race Name 	Circuit 	Date 	Winning Driver 	Constructor
XI Pau Grand Prix 	Pau 	10 April 	Juan Manuel Fangio	
II Richmond Trophy 	Goodwood 	10 April 	Reg Parnell 	
V San Remo Grand Prix 	Sanremo 	16 April 	Juan Manuel Fangio	
IV Grand Prix de Paris 	Montlehery 	30 April 	Georges Grignard 	
XII British Empire Trophy 	Douglas 	15 June 	Bob Gerard 	
IV Gran Premio di Bari 	Bari 	9 July 	Giuseppe Farina 	
IV J.C.C Jersey Road Race 	Jersey 	13 July 	Peter Whitehead 	
XII Circuit de l'Albigeois 	Albi 	16 July 	Louis Rosier 	
I Grote Prijs van Nerderland	Zandvoort 	23 July 	Louis Rosier 	
III Grand Prix des Nations 	Geneve 	30 July 	Juan Manuel Fangio	
I Nottingham Trophy 	Gamston 	7 August 	David Hampshire 	
IV Ulster Trophy 	Dundrod 	12 August 	Peter Whitehead 	
XIX Copper Acerbo 	Pescara 	15 August 	Juan Manuel Fangio	
I Sheffield Telegraph Trophy	Gamston 	19 August 	Cuth Harrison 	
II BRDC International Trophy	Silverstone	26 August 	Giuseppe Farina 	
III Goodwood Trophy 	Goodwood 	30 September	Reg Parnell 	
X Gran Premio de Penya Rhin 	Pedralbes 	29 October 	Alberto Ascari 	
==Teams and Drivers==
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1950 FIA Formula One World Championship.
===Driver line-ups===
Team 	Constructor 	Chasis 	Engine 	Tyre	Drivers 	Non-Championship Drivers
Alfa Romeo SpA 	
Alfa Romeo	158159 	Alfa Romeo 	 	Giuseppe Farina Juan Manuel Fangio Luigi Fagioli Reg Parnell Consalvo Sanesi Piero Taruffi	
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari 	125275375 	Ferrari 	 	Alberto Ascari Luigi Villoresi Raymond Sommer Dorino Serafini 	
Automobile Talbot-Darracq 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Yves Giraud-Cabantous Eugène Martin Louis Rosier Philippe Étancelin Raymond Sommer 	
Officine Alfieri Maserati 	Maserati 	4CLT/484CL 	Maserati 	 	Louis Chiron Franco Rol 	Juan Manuel Fangio Enrico Platé
Equipe Simca-Gordini 	Simca-Gordini 	Type 15 	Gordini 	 	Maurice Trintignant Robert Manzon 	
English Racing Automobiles 	ERA 	E-Type 	ERA 	 	Leslie Johnson 	
Scuderia Ambrosiana 	Maserati 	4CLT/48 	Maserati 	 	David Murray David Hampshire Reg Parnell 	
Peter Walker 	ERA 	E-Type 	ERA 	 	Peter Walker Tony Rolt 	
Joe Fry 	Maserati 	4CL 	Maserati 	 	Joe Fry Brian-Shawe Taylor 	
TC Harrison 	ERA 	C-Type 	ERA 	 	Cuth Harrison 	
FR Gerard 	ERA 	A-TypeB-Type 	ERA 	 	Bob Gerard 	
Ecurie Rosier 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Louis Rosier Henri Louveau 	
Philippe Étancelin 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Philippe Étancelin 	
Ecurie Belge 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Johnny Claes 	
Enrico Plate 	Maserati 	4CLT/48 	Maserati 	 	Toulo de Graffenried B Bira 	
Scuderia Milano 	MaseratiMilano	4CLT/50Milano 1	Maserati 	 	Felice Bonetto Franco Comotti 	
Joe Kelly 	Alta 	Alta GP 	Alta 	 	Joe Kelly 	
Geoffrey Crossley 	Alta 	Alta GP 	Alta 	 	Geoffrey Crossley 	
Raymond Mays 	ERA 	D-Type 	ERA 	 	Raymond Mays 	
Scuderia Achille Varzi 	Maserati 	4CLT/484CL 	Maserati 	 	José Froilán González Antonio Branca Nello Pagani 	
 Horschell Racing Corporation	Cooper 	T12 	JAP 	 	Harry Schell 	
Ecurie Espadon 	SVA 	1500 	FIAT 	 	Rudi Fischer 	
 Ecurie Bleue 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Harry Schell 	
Ecurie Letita 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Eugène Chaboud 	
Pierre Levegh 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Pierre Levegh 	
Peter Whitehead 	 	
125 	Ferrari 	 	Peter Whitehead 	Graham Whitehead
Peter Whitehead 	 	B-Type 	 	 	Peter Whitehead 	Graham Whitehead
Raymond Sommer 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Raymond Sommer 	
Antonio Branca 	Maserati 	4CL 	Maserati 	 	Antonio Branca 	
Charles Pozzi 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Charles Pozzi 	
Clemente Biondetti 	Ferrari 	166S 	Jaguar 	 	Clemente Biondetti 	
Paul Pietsch 	Maserati 	4CLT/48 	Maserati 	 	Paul Pietsch 	
Guy Mairesse 	Talbot-Lago 	T26C 	Talbot-Lago	 	Guy Mairesse 	
Archie J. Butterworth 	AJB 	? 	Duesenberg 	 	Archie J. Butterworth 	Archie J. Butterworth
Brian-Shawe Taylor 	 	B-Type 	 	 	Brian-Shawe Taylor 	Brian-Shawe Taylor
John Heath 	 	? 	 	 	George Abecassis 	George Abecassis
Charles Murray 	 	4CL 	 	 	Colin Murray 	Colin Murray
Rob Walker Racing Team 	Delage 	15S8 	Delage 	 	Tony Rolt 	Tony Rolt
Gordon Watson 	 	F2 	 	 	Gordon Watson 	Gordon Watson
==1950 Drivers Championship final standings==
|- 
| || align=left | Giuseppe Farina || || || || || || 7th || || 30
|- 
| || align=left | Juan Manuel Fangio || || || || || || || || 27
|- 
| || align=left | Luigi Fagioli || || || || || || || || 24 (28)
|- 
| 4th || align=left | Louis Rosier || || || || || || 6th || || 13
|- 
| 5th || align=left | Alberto Ascari || || || || || || || || 11
|- 
| 6th || align=left | Johnnie Parsons || || || || || || || || 9
|- 
| 7th || align=left | Bill Holland || || || || || || || || 6
|- 
| 8th || align=left | Prince Bira || || || || || || || || 5
|- 
| 9th || align=left | Peter Whitehead || || || || || || || 7th || 4
|- 
| = || align=left | Louis Chiron || || || || 9th || || || || 4
|- 
| = || align=left | Reg Parnell || || || || || || || || 4
|- 
| = || align=left | Mauri Rose || || || || || || || || 4
|- 
| 13th || align=left | Dorino Serafini || || || || || || || || 3
|- 
| 14th || align=left | Yves Giraud-Cabantous || || || || || || 8th || || 3
|- 
| = || align=left | Raymond Sommer || || || || || || || || 3
|- 
| = || align=left | Robert Manzon || || || || || || || || 3
|- 
| = || align=left | Cecil Green || || || || || || || || 3
|- 
| 18th || align=left | Philippe Étancelin || 8th || || || || || || || 3
|- 
| 19th || align=left | Felice Bonetto || || || || || || || || 2
|- 
| 20th || align=left | Eugène Chaboud || || || || || || || || 1
|- 
| 21st || align=left | Joie Chitwood || || || || || || || || 1
|- 
| = || align=left | Tony Bettenhausen || || ||      || || || || || 1
|- 
| – || align=left | Toulo de Graffenried || || || || 6th || || || 6th || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Bob Gerard || 6th || 6th || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Luigi Villoresi || || || || || 6th || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Lee Wallard || || || 6th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Charles Pozzi || || || || || || || 6th || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Johnny Claes || 11th || 7th || || 10th || 8th || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Cuth Harrison || 7th || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Pierre Levegh || || || || || 7th || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Walt Faulkner || || || 7th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Nello Pagani || || || || 7th || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Harry Schell || || || || 8th || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | George Connor || || || 8th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Geoff Crossley || || || || || 9th || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | David Hampshire || 9th || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Paul Russo|| || || 9th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Toni Branca || || || || 11th || 10th || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Pat Flaherty || || || 10th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Brian Shawe-Taylor || 10th || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Joe Fry || 10th || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Myron Fohr || || || 11th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Duane Carter || || || 12th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Mack Hellings || || || 13th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Jack McGrath || || || 14th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Troy Ruttman || || || 15th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Gene Hartley || || || 16th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Jimmy Davies || || || 17th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Johnny McDowell || || || 18th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Walt Brown || || || 19th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Spider Webb || || || 20th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Jerry Hoyt || || || 21st || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Walt Ader || || || 22nd || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Jackie Holmes || || || 23rd || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Jim Rathmann || || || 24th || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Joe Kelly || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Franco Rol || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Eugène Martin || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | José Froilán González || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | David Murray || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Maurice Trintignant || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Leslie Johnson || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Peter Walker || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Tony Rolt || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Henry Banks || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Bill Schlinder || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Fred Agabashian || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Jimmy Jackson || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Sam Hanks || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Dick Rathmann || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Duke Dinsmore || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Bayliss Levrett || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Bill Cantrell || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Guy Mairesse || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Paul Pietsch || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Clemente Biondetti || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Henri Louveau || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Franco Comotti || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Consalvo Sanesi || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Piero Taruffi || || || || || || || || 0
|- 
| – || align=left | Alfredo Pián || || || || || || || || 0
|}
* Position shared between multiple drivers of the same car
* Fastest lap earns 1 point
* Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.
==Notes==
Category:Formula One Seasons
de:1950
es:Temporada 1950 de Fórmula 1