1950 Formula One season
Drivers' Champion: Giuseppe Farina Previous 1949 Next 1951

The 1950 Formula One season was the fourth season of the FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the inaugural FIA World Championship of Drivers, which was contested over seven races between 13 May and 3 September 1950. The only one outside of Europe was the Indianapolis 500, which was run to AAA National Championship regulations. No Formula One drivers competed in the Indy 500 or vice versa.[a] Finally, the season also included several non-championship races for Formula One cars.

Alfa Romeo entered a supercharged 158, a well-developed pre-war design that debuted in 1938, and managed to win all six races they competed in. Italian Giuseppe "Nino" Farina and Argentine teammate Juan Manuel Fangio both won three races and set three fastest laps each. But Fangio did not score points in the other three races, while Farina finished fourth in Belgium, handing him the championship.[1]

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1950 FIA World Championship of Drivers. The cars were entered by 30 teams; 4 works teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, and Talbot-Lago) and 26 privateer teams. The list does not include those that only contested the Indianapolis 500.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 158
159 		Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8 s P Juan Manuel Fangio 1–2, 4–7
Giuseppe Farina 1–2, 4–7
Luigi Fagioli 1–2, 4–7
Reg Parnell 1
Consalvo Sanesi 7
Piero Taruffi 7
Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s D David Murray 1, 7
David Hampshire 1, 6
Reg Parnell 5 8 4, 6-7
T.A.S.O. Mathieson ERA E ERA 1.5 L6 s D Leslie Johnson 1
Peter Walker ERA E ERA 1.5 L6 s D Peter Walker 1
Tony Rolt 1
Raymond Mays ERA D ERA 1.5 L6 s D Raymond Mays1

1
Joe Fry Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s D Joe Fry 1
Brian Shawe-Taylor
Duncan Hamilton Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s D Duncan Hamilton2 1
Cuth Harrison ERA B ERA 1.5 L6 s D Cuth Harrison 1–2, 7
Bob Gerard ERA B
A 		ERA 1.5 L6 s D Bob Gerard 1–2
Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago T26C-DA
T26C
T26C-GS 		Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Yves Giraud-Cabantous3 1-2, 4–6
Louis Rosier 1, 4–6
Philippe Étancelin 1, 5
Eugène Martin 1, 4
Raymond Sommer 6
Ecurie Belge Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Johnny Claes 1–2, 4–7
Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s P Louis Chiron 1–2, 4, 6–7
Franco Rol 5 2, 4, 6–7
Scuderia Milano Maserati-Speluzzi 4CLT/50 Speluzzi 1.5 L4 s[2] P Felice Bonetto2 1, 4, 6
Clemente Biondetti3 2
Franco Comotti 7
Milano-Speluzzi[3] 1[3] Felice Bonetto 7
Enrico Platé Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s P Toulo de Graffenried 1–2, 4, 7

Birabongse Bhanudej 		1–2, 4, 7
Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago 700 Talbot 700 1.5 L8s D Luigi Platé8 7
Franco Bordoni8 7
Joe Kelly Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4 s D Joe Kelly 1
Geoffrey Crossley Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4 s D Geoffrey Crossley 1, 5
Scuderia Achille Varzi Maserati 4CLT/48
4CL 		Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s
Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s 		P José Froilán González 2, 6
Alfredo Pián 2
Nello Pagani 4
Toni Branca 4
Franco Comotti 6 6
Horschell Racing Corporation Cooper-JAP T12 JAP 1.1 V2 D Harry Schell 2
Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s E Robert Manzon 2, 6–7
Maurice Trintignant 2, 7
André Simon4 2
Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago T26C
T26C-DA 		Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Philippe Étancelin 2, 4, 6-7
Eugène Chaboud 6
Ecurie Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C
T26C-GS 		Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Louis Rosier 2, 7
Charles Pozzi3 2
Henri Louveau 7
Pierre Levegh Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Pierre Levegh3 2, 5–7
Peter Whitehead Ferrari 125 Ferrari 125 F1 1.5 V12 s D
P 		Peter Whitehead5 2, 4, 6–7
Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 125
166F2-50
275
375 		Ferrari 125 F1 1.5 V12 s
Ferrari 166 F2 2.0 V12
Ferrari 275 F1 3.3 V12
Ferrari 375 F1 4.5 V12 		P Luigi Villoresi 2, 4–6
Alberto Ascari 2, 4–7
Raymond Sommer 2, 4
Giovanni Bracco8 7
Dorino Serafini 7
Ecurie Bleue Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Harry Schell 4
Ecurie Espadon SVA-Fiat SVA 1500 Fiat L4s P Rudi Fischer5 4
Raymond Sommer Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Raymond Sommer 5, 7
Ecurie Lutetia Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Eugène Chaboud7 5–6
Antonio Branca Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s P Toni Branca 5
Charles Pozzi Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Charles Pozzi 6
Louis Rosier 6
Clemente Biondetti Ferrari-Jaguar Biondetti/166 SC Jaguar XK 3.4 L6 P Clemente Biondetti 7
Paul Pietsch Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s P Paul Pietsch 7
Luigi de Filippis Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s P Luigi de Filippis8 7
Guy Mairesse Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D Guy Mairesse 7
^1 – Entry cancelled prior to the event.[4]
^2 – Did not attend on British Grand Prix[5][6]
^3 – Did not attend on Monaco Grand Prix[7][8]
^4 – Entry withdrawn prior to event.[7][8]
^5 – Did not attend on Swiss Grand Prix[9][10]
^6 – Did not attend on French Grand Prix[11][12]
^7 – Chaboud originally entered his own Talbot for the French Grand Prix but did not start the race, and instead co-drove with Philippe Étancelin.[13]
^8 – Did not attend on Italian Grand Prix

Calendar

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1 British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 13 May
2 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 21 May
3 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[b]
4 Swiss Grand Prix Circuit Bremgarten, Bern 4 June
5 Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 18 June
6 French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 2 July
7 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 3 September

Championship summary

Round 1: Britain

The Alfa Romeo team dominated the British Grand Prix at the fast Silverstone circuit in England, locking out the four-car front row of the grid. With King George VI in attendance, Giuseppe Farina won the race from pole position, also setting the fastest lap. The podium was completed by his teammates Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell, while the remaining Alfa driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, was forced to retire after experiencing problems with his engine. The final points scorers were the works Talbot-Lagos of Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Louis Rosier, both two laps behind the leaders.[14]

Round 2: Monaco

Scuderia Ferrari made their World Championship debut around the streets of Monaco. Their leading drivers, Luigi Villoresi and Alberto Ascari had to settle for the third row of the grid, however, while the Alfa Romeos of Fangio and Farina again started from the front row, alongside the privateer Maserati of José Froilán González. Polesitter Fangio took a comfortable victory, setting the race's fastest lap, a whole lap ahead of Ascari, with the third-placed Louis Chiron a further lap back in the works Maserati. A first-lap accident caused by the damp track had eliminated nine of the nineteen starters—including Farina and Fagioli—while González, who had incurred damage in the pile-up, retired on the following lap. Villoresi, although delayed by the accident, had made his way through the field to second place but was forced to retire with an axle problem. Fangio's win brought him level with Farina in the points standings.[15]

Round 3: Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500, the third round of the inaugural World Championship of Drivers held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States, was won by the Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser of Johnnie Parsons, ahead of the Diedt-Offenhausers of Bill Holland and Mauri Rose. The race was stopped after 138 of the scheduled 200 laps due to rain.[16]

Round 4: Switzerland

Alfa Romeo's dominance continued when the World Championship returned to Europe for the Swiss Grand Prix at the tree-lined Bremgarten circuit outside Bern. Fangio, Farina, and Fagioli locked out the front row of the grid for Alfa, while the Ferraris of Villoresi and Ascari started from the second row. Fangio was the initial leader, starting from pole position, but Farina passed him on lap seven. Ascari and Villoresi were both able to compete with the third Alfa of Fagioli in the early stages, although both had retired by the ten-lap mark. Farina took the win and the fastest lap, finishing just ahead of Fagioli, while Rosier, in third place due to Fangio's retirement, took Talbot-Lago's first podium. Farina's second win of the season put him six points clear of the consistent Fagioli, while Fangio was a further three points behind, having only scored points in one race (in Monaco, where he won).[17]

Round 5: Belgium

Alfa Romeo took their third front row lockout of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix at the speedy 8.7 miles (14.0 km) Spa-Francorchamps circuit, while the Ferrari of Villoresi shared the second row with the privateer Talbot-Lago of Raymond Sommer. The Alfas were once again untouchable at the start of the race, but when they stopped for fuel, Sommer emerged as an unlikely race leader. His lead, however, was short-lived, and he was forced to retire when his engine blew up. Fangio ultimately took the victory, ahead of Fagioli, who again finished second. Rosier again made the podium in his Talbot-Lago. He had been able to pass the polesitter Farina when the Italian picked up transmission problems towards the end of the race. It was not all bad for Farina, however, as he picked up the point for fastest lap. Fagioli and Fangio closed the gap to Farina in the points standings—Fagioli was just four points adrift, while Fangio was a further point behind.[18]

Round 6: France

Alfa Romeo was largely unchallenged at the French Grand Prix, held at the high-speed Reims-Gueux circuit, due to the withdrawal of the works Ferraris of Ascari and Villoresi. The Alfas produced yet another lockout of the front row of the grid, with Fangio taking pole for the third time in six races. The power of the Alfas suited this public road circuit- made up entirely of long straights, and Farina, starting from second, led for the first quarter of the race before fuel problems put him to the back of the field. He fought back to third before he was forced to retire (he was ultimately classified seventh). Fangio picked up the fastest lap on his way to his second consecutive victory. Fagioli finished second for the fourth time out of five starts, while Peter Whitehead, in a privateer Ferrari, took a maiden podium in his first start of the season. Fangio took the championship lead as a result of his victory. Fagioli remained in second, while Farina dropped to third, four points behind his Argentinian teammate.[19]

Round 7: Italy

The final championship round of the season was the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza Autodrome near Milan, and all three of the regular Alfa Romeo drivers were in contention for the title. If Fangio finished first or second, he would win the title, regardless of where his teammates finished. If Farina failed to score at least five points, he would be unable to take the title. Fagioli's only chance of becoming World Champion was if he won the race and set the fastest lap; even then, he would need Farina to finish no higher than third, and Fangio would have to score no points at all.

Fangio again took pole position, but Alfa Romeo could not make it a fifth front-row lockout of the season, as Ascari qualified second for Ferrari. Farina started from third, while Consalvo Sanesi completed the front row in an additional Alfa Romeo. Fagioli could only manage fifth on the grid, alongside the fifth Alfa of Piero Taruffi, the second Ferrari of Dorino Serafini, and Sommer in a Talbot-Lago. Farina took the lead early on, with Ascari and Fangio not far behind. Ascari briefly held the lead but was forced to retire when his engine overheated. Two laps later, Fangio also retired due to problems with his gearbox. Taruffi's car, which was now running in second, was taken over by Fangio, although the Argentinian was forced to retire for the second time in the race, this time with engine problems. Ascari took over Serafini's car and ultimately finished second behind Farina, whose victory clinched the title by taking him three points clear of Fangio. Fagioli finished third in the race, and clinched the same position in the Drivers' Championship standings.[20]

Results and standings

Grands Prix

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1 British Grand Prix Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo P Report
2 Monaco Grand Prix Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo P Report
3 Indianapolis 500 Walt Faulkner Johnnie Parsons Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser F Report
4 Swiss Grand Prix Juan Manuel Fangio Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo P Report
5 Belgian Grand Prix Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo P Report
6 French Grand Prix Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo P Report
7 Italian Grand Prix Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo P Report

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top five classified finishers, with an additional point awarded for setting the fastest lap, regardless of finishing position or even classification. Only the best four results counted towards the championship. Shared drives result in half points for each driver if they finished in a points-scoring position. If more than one driver set the same fastest lap time, the fastest lap point would be divided equally between the drivers. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored. Points were awarded in the following system:

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th  FL
Race 8 6 4 3 2 1
Source:[21]

World Championship of Drivers standings

Pos. Driver GBR
 MON
 500
 SUI
 BEL
 FRA
 ITA
 Pts.
1 Giuseppe Farina 1PF Ret 1F 4PF 7 1 30
2 Juan Manuel Fangio Ret 1PF RetP 1 1PF RetPF/(Ret†) 27
3 Luigi Fagioli 2 Ret 2 2 2 (3) 24 (28)
4 Louis Rosier 5 Ret 3 3 6† 4 13
5 Alberto Ascari 2 Ret 5 DNS (Ret)/2† 11
6 Johnnie Parsons 1F 9
7 Bill Holland 2 6
8 Prince Bira Ret 5 4 Ret 5
9 Peter Whitehead DNS DNA 3 7 4
= Louis Chiron Ret 3 9 Ret Ret 4
= Reg Parnell 3 DNA Ret DNA 4
= Mauri Rose 3 4
13 Dorino Serafini 2† 3
= Yves Giraud-Cabantous 4 DNA Ret Ret 8 3
= Raymond Sommer 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3
= Robert Manzon Ret 4 Ret 3
= Cecil Green 4 3
= Philippe Étancelin 8 Ret Ret Ret 5† 5 3
19 Felice Bonetto DNA 5 Ret DNS 2
20 Eugène Chaboud Ret 5† 1
= Joie Chitwood 5† 1
= Tony Bettenhausen 5† 1
— Toulo de Graffenried Ret Ret 6 6 0
— Bob Gerard 6 6 0
— Luigi Villoresi Ret Ret 6 DNS 0
— Lee Wallard 6 0
— Charles Pozzi DNA 6† 0
— Johnny Claes 11 7 10 8 Ret Ret 0
— Cuth Harrison 7 Ret Ret 0
— Pierre Levegh DNA 7 Ret Ret 0
— Walt Faulkner 7P 0
— Nello Pagani 7 0
— Harry Schell Ret 8 0
— George Connor 8 0
— Geoffrey Crossley Ret 9 0
— David Hampshire 9 Ret 0
— Paul Russo 9 0
— Toni Branca 11 10 0
— Pat Flaherty 10 0
— Brian Shawe-Taylor 10† 0
— Joe Fry 10† 0
— Myron Fohr 11 0
— Duane Carter 12 0
— Mack Hellings 13 0
— Jack McGrath 14 0
— Troy Ruttman 15 0
— Gene Hartley 16 0
— Jimmy Davies 17 0
— Johnny McDowell 18 0
— Walt Brown 19 0
— Spider Webb 20 0
— Jerry Hoyt 21 0
— Walt Ader 22 0
— Jackie Holmes 23 0
— Jim Rathmann 24 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
— Clemente Biondetti DNA Ret 0
— Franco Comotti DNA Ret 0
— Leslie Johnson Ret 0
— Bill Schindler Ret 0
— Jimmy Jackson Ret 0
— Sam Hanks Ret 0
— Dick Rathmann Ret 0
— Duke Dinsmore Ret 0
— Guy Mairesse Ret 0
— Paul Pietsch Ret 0
— Henri Louveau Ret 0
— Consalvo Sanesi Ret 0
— Peter Walker Ret† 0
— Tony Rolt Ret† 0
— Henry Banks Ret† 0
— Fred Agabashian Ret† 0
— Bayliss Levrett Ret† 0
— Bill Cantrell Ret† 0
— Piero Taruffi Ret† 0
— Alfredo Pián DNS 0
— Raymond Mays DNA 0
— Duncan Hamilton DNA 0
— André Simon DNA 0
— Rudi Fischer DNA 0
— Luigi Platé DNA 0
— Franco Bordoni DNA 0
— Giovanni Bracco DNA 0
— Luigi de Filippis DNA 0
Pos. Driver GBR
 MON
 500
 SUI
 BEL
 FRA
 ITA
 Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap


Non-championship races

The following Formula One races, which did not count towards the World Championship of Drivers, were also held in 1950.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
XI Pau Grand Prix Pau 10 April Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati Report
II Richmond Trophy Goodwood 10 April Reg Parnell Maserati Report
V San Remo Grand Prix Ospedaletti 16 April Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo Report
IV Grand Prix de Paris Montlhéry 30 April Georges Grignard Talbot-Lago Report
XII British Empire Trophy Douglas 15 June Bob Gerard ERA Report
IV Gran Premio di Bari Lungomare 9 July Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo Report
IV J.C.C. Jersey Road Race Saint Helier 13 July Peter Whitehead Ferrari Report
XII Circuit de l'Albigeois Albi (Les Planques) 16 July Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago Report
I Grote Prijs van Nederland Zandvoort 23 July Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago Report
III Grand Prix des Nations Geneva 30 July Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo Report
I Nottingham Trophy Gamston 7 August David Hampshire Maserati Report
IV Ulster Trophy Dundrod 12 August Peter Whitehead Ferrari Report
XIX Coppa Acerbo Pescara 15 August Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo Report
I Sheffield Telegraph Trophy Gamston 19 August Cuth Harrison ERA Report
II BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 26 August Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo Report
III Goodwood Trophy Goodwood 30 September Reg Parnell BRM Report
X Gran Premio de Penya Rhin Pedralbes 29 October Alberto Ascari Ferrari Report
Grand Prix of Chile Pedro de Valdivia Norte 17 December Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati Report

Notes

  1. Three European cars, two Maseratis and one Alfa Romeo, were entered in the Indianapolis 500, including one for Giuseppe Farina, however due to shipping issues none of them reached Indianapolis.
  2. The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1950 AAA Championship Car season, and was run for AAA Championship cars.

References

  1. "1950 Driver Standings". Formula1.
  2. "Formula 1 1950". OldRacingCars.
  3. "Data Search Results". ChicaneF1.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015.
  4. "Britain 1950 – Result". statsf1.com.
  5. "Britain 1950 - Result • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com.
  6. "1950 British Grand Prix", Wikipedia, 15 March 2026
  7. "1950 Monaco Grand Prix", Wikipedia, 17 January 2026
  8. "Monaco 1950 - Result • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com.
  9. "1950 Swiss GP". www.silhouet.com.
  10. "1950 Swiss Grand Prix", Wikipedia, 17 January 2026
  11. "France 1950 - Result • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com.
  12. "1950 French Grand Prix", Wikipedia, 17 January 2026
  13. Brown, Allen. "Reims, 2 Jul 1950 « Formula 1 (1948-1953)". OldRacingCars.com.
  14. "British GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  15. "Monaco GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  16. "United States GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  17. "Swiss GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  18. "Belgian GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  19. "French GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  20. "Italian GP, 1950 Race Report". grandprix.com.
  21. "World Championship points systems". 8W. Forix. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.
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