1950 Formula 1.5 Season

The 1950 Formula 1.5 season was the 1st season of the Formula 1.5 World Championship. The season started with the British Grand Prix and ended with the Italian Grand Prix. Prince Bira was the 1st F1.5 World Champion, beating Bob Gerard to the title with 14 points.

## Entries

### Excluded teams

* Alfa Romeo SpA, Automobiles Talbot-Darracq, and Scuderia Ferrari

## Calendar

* The Indianapolis 500 is not considered a round of the F1.5 World Championship

## Season Review

### Busy Beginnings

The creation of the Formula 1.5 World Championship of Drivers in 1950 was expected to be a huge opportunity for the Italian Maserati marque to show the world the power and quality of their cars. But the inaugural race at Silverstone, which saw over a dozen entries by drivers with Alta, ERA, Maserati and Talbot-Lago machinery, saw the Italian marque be bested by the home heroes. Starting from the first two positions on the grid and in the most highly-regarded car, it was expected that Prince Bira and Toulo de Graffenried would set the pace. However, both retired allowing Bob Gerard's ERA B-Type to claim the first-ever race win.

At the second round in Monaco, there were even more drivers chasing a Grand Prix victory, but a huge number of them were taken out of the race by a freak wave coming onto the track at the harbour section of the Circuit de Monaco. Of the field that remained in the race, it proved to be the experience of 50-year-old Monegasque, Louis Chiron, that would come out on top for the Maserati factory team ahead of Bira and Gerard. Although again competitive with his ERA, and leading the championship table, Bob Gerard had no plans of racing at any further events that year, leaving the title race wide open.

### Numerical Difficulties

As the series headed inland into continental Europe, the field sizes dwindled. At Bremgarten, the only entries to arrive were six Maseratis and the Talbot-Lagos of Johnny Claes, Philippe Etancelin and Harry Schell; it was by some distance the smallest field so far, and one against which Prince Bira managed to win relatively unchallenged. This saw him overtake Bob Gerard at the top of the Championship by taking his tally to fourteen points. Next time out, at the Belgian Grand Prix, the field size dwindled again with only six drivers prepared to take on the fearsome Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Talbot-Lago took their first win and did it in style with a 1-2 finish, Pierre Levegh ahead of home favourite Johnny Claes.

### A Late Season Nailbiter

The season's final two races, the highly prestigious and fast French and Italian Grands Prix would also see two new winners added to the season's roll of honour. Peter Whitehead, who had arrived at Reims-Gueux in possession of a highly intimidating Ferrari car, took the chequered flag marginally ahead of the Simca-Gordini of Robert Manzon. Whitehead's eight points set up a thrilling title decider at Monza:

* **Prince Bira** - 14 points - the Championship leader
* **Bob Gerard** - 12 points - only two points back, but not expected to attend
* **Johnny Claes** - 11 points - yet to win a race, but consistent
* **Louis Chiron** - 9 points - needs a second place finish or higher to win
* **Peter Whitehead** - 8 points - still within reach despite only one previous start, driving the fastest car
* **Pierre Levegh** - 8 points - similar situation to Whitehead

As it turned out, Gerard did not make the trip to Italy, but none of Bira (P8), Whitehead (P11), Chiron (P12), Levegh (P13) or Claes (P15) exactly covered themselves in glory in Qualifying. The pre-race advantage belonged to Prince Bira, only for his engine to expire a single lap into the title decider. Louis Chiron gradually climbed his way through the field, reaching third place by lap 12, only for his car to start experiencing issues. After falling back through the field and beyond any hope of Championship contention, he retired from the race. Though circulating in last, Johnny Claes wasn't out of the Championship hunt, as attrition obliterated the field: if enough drivers retired and he snuck onto the podium, he'd be champion. Instead, attrition claimed him, eliminating yet another challenger to Bira's lead.

Two challengers remained: Pierre Levegh and Peter Whitehead. Victorious in the last two races, they both needed to do what no one else had all season, take a second win. On lap 29 it all came apart for Levegh as his gearbox came apart, but Whitehead's Ferrari continued to circulate, however not very competitively. Peter would reach the checkered flag, the only title contender to do so, but was only fourth (and Last) three laps behind eventual winner, Louis Rosier. Whitehead was climbing all over the back of Toulo de Graffenried towards the end, fighting for the final podium place, but as far as the championship was concerned, the outcome of their battle was irrelevant as Prince Bira of Siam was crowned 1950 F1.5 World Drivers' Champion.

## Results & standings

### World Championship of Drivers standings

Points were awarded on an 8-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers at each race. Only the best four results counted towards the championship standings.

Legend: **Bold** = Pole Position; \* = Position shared between more drivers of the same car

### (Unofficial) World Championship of Constructors standings\*

\*No F1.5 Constructors' Championship was officially implemented until 1958

Points are awarded on an 8-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers at each race, however only the best placed car from each manufacturer is eligible to score points. Only the best four results count towards the championship standings.

Legend: (Brackets) = Result/score did not count towards championship total

### Leader Progression

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