F1 FIRST CHAMPION - Il Blog del Ring

Formula One’s first World Champion: Giuseppe Farina

As the clock turned into 1950, the world of what would be known as F1 was about to change. For the first time a champion would be crowned. To understand how we arrived at the first world championship, we have to go back to post-WW2.

After World War 2 ended and the world started to return to normalcy, one of the sports that restarted was motor racing. In 1946 the FIA would restart Grand Prix racing.

The structure was different from today. From 1946 until 1949 there was no champion in Grand Prix racing. Drivers simply won individual races. Also, until 1949 there were two race series, Grandes Apreuves and what were called “other races” which included the San Remo GP and the Jersey Road Race. The Grandes Apreuves would in 1950 form the basis on the F1 championship, while the “other races “would be removed from the championship.

The new race structure for 1950 was six Formula One races plus the Indy 500. No F1 teams would compete at Indy and no Indy teams would race in F1.

The 1950 F1 Season

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
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

Prior to the season starting the favorite was the Alfa 158. The Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta is considered one of the most successful racing cars ever produced. It was designed by Gioacchino Colombo in 1937 for the pre-World War II voiturette formula. The car was eligible for Formula One after World War II and dominated the first two seasons of the World Championship of Driver

Race 1

The 1950 F1 season was the first season in which a driver would be crowned champion. The first race was at Silverstone.

Qualifying

1	2	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	1:50.8	–
2	3	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	1:51.0	+ 0.2
3	1	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	1:51.2	+ 0.4
4	4	Reg Parnell	Alfa Romeo	1:52.2	+ 1.4
5	21	Prince Bira	Maserati	1:52.6	+ 1.8
6	14	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	1:53.4	+ 2.6
7	17	Eugène Martin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	1:55.4	+ 4.6
8	20	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	1:55.8	+ 5.0
9	15	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	1:56.0	+ 5.2
10	9	Peter Walker	ERA	1:56.6	+ 5.8
11	19	Louis Chiron	Maserati	1:56.6	+ 5.8
12	8	Leslie Johnson	ERA	1:57.4	+ 6.6
13	12	Bob Gerard	ERA	1:57.4	+ 6.6
14	16	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	1:57.8	+ 7.0
15	11	Cuth Harrison	ERA	1:58.4	+ 7.6
16	6	David Hampshire	Maserati	2:01.0	+ 10.2
17	24	Geoffrey Crossley	Alta	2:02.6	+ 11.8
18	5	David Murray	Maserati	2:05.6	+ 14.8
19	23	Joe Kelly	Alta	2:06.2	+ 15.4
20	10	Joe Fry	Maserati	2:07.0	+ 16.2
21	18	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:08.8	+ 18.0

The Race

On 13 May, 21 drivers from 9 countries were represented at the old Silverstone airport, 4 from France, 2 from Italy, 1 each from Belgium, Ireland, Monaco, Argentina, Thailand and Switzerland. The UK was represented by 9 drivers. The race drew 200,000 spectators. At the start of the race, Farina took the lead with Fagioli and Fangio in pursuit, while Cabantous got a poor start and lost 4 positions. In the early laps, they switched around between themselves several times to keep everyone amused. Fangio retired with engine troubles caused by a broken oil pipe and so Farina led Fagioli home by 2.5 seconds with Parnell a distant third, despite hitting a hare during the race. The nearest challenger was Giraud-Cabantous two laps down, with Bira having retired with a fuel problem. Crossley and Murray duelled at the back before retiring, de Graffenried had done so on lap 34, while Chiron was demoted to the role of the viewer 10 laps earlier.

Nino Farina led for 63 laps (1–9, 16–37 and 39–70). Luigi Fagioli led for 6 laps (10–15). Juan Manuel Fangio led for 1 lap (38).

Nino Farina achieved the fastest lap of the race, with a 1:50.6 on Lap 2

Race Results

1	2	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	70	2:13:23.6	1	9¹
2	3	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	70	+ 2.6	2	6
3	4	Reg Parnell	Alfa Romeo	70	+ 52.0	4	4
4	14	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	68	+ 2 Laps	6	3
5	15	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	68	+ 2 Laps	9	2

Standing After Race 1

1	Nino Farina	9
2	Luigi Fagioli	6
3	Reg Parnell	4
4	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	3
5	Louis Rosier	2

Farina win the first ever F1 race, the 1950 British GP

Race 2 – Monaco

The 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, formally titled the Prix de Monte-Carlo et XI^e Grand Prix Automobile, was a Formula One motor race held on 21 May 1950 at Monaco. It was race two of seven in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers. The 100-lap race was held at an overall distance of 318.1 km (197.1 mi) and was won by Juan Manuel Fangio for the Alfa Romeo team after starting from pole position. Alberto Ascari finished second for Ferrari and Louis Chiron finished third for Maserati. It was also the first race for Ferrari in Formula One.

1	34	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	1:50.2	–
2	32	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	1:52.8	+ 2.6
3	2	José Froilán González	Maserati	1:53.7	+ 3.5
4	14	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	1:54.1	+ 3.9
5	36	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	1:54.2	+ 4.0
6	38	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	1:52.3	+ 2.1
7	40	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	1:53.8	+ 3.6
8	48	Louis Chiron	Maserati	1:56.3	+ 6.1
9	42	Raymond Sommer	Ferrari	1:56.6	+ 6.4
10	16	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	1:57.7	+ 7.5
11	10	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	2:00.4	+ 10.2
12	52	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	2:00.7	+ 10.5
13	12	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	2:01.4	+ 11.2
14	24	Cuth Harrison	ERA	2:01.6	+ 11.4
15	50	Prince Bira	Maserati	2:02.2	+ 12.0
16	26	Bob Gerard	ERA	2:03.4	+ 13.2
17	44	Franco Rol	Maserati	2:04.5	+ 14.3
18	4	Alfredo Piàn	Maserati	No time	–
19	6	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:12.0	+ 21.8
20	8	Harry Schell	Cooper–JAP	No time	–
21	28	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	No time	–
DNA	18	Charles Pozzi	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	–	–
DNA	20	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	–	–
DNA	22	Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	–	–
DNA	46	Clemente Biondetti	Maserati	–	–

The Race

After two qualifying sessions, on Thursday and Saturday, which Charles Pozzi, Yves Giraud-Cabantous, Pierre Levegh and Clemente Biondetti did not start, the race was dominated from start to finish by Juan Manuel Fangio, who scored his first ever victory in a World Championship event, driving an Alfa Romeo. The starting grid consisted of alternating rows of three and two, starting with three on the front row and continuing up to two on the 8th row. The first two rows of the grid (positions 1 to 5) were made up of the fastest five drivers from the Thursday qualifying session, with the remaining positions based on the other 16 drivers’ times in the second session on the Saturday. This format meant that Luigi Villoresi started 6th, despite his time being fast enough for 2nd place on the grid.

Due to an accident in practice, Alfredo Piàn did not start the race, with Peter Whitehead another non-starter. The race was marred by a large pile-up during the first lap, when a wave from the harbour flooded the track at Tabac Corner. Nino Farina in 2nd, spun and crashed while Fangio managed to escape the chaos. Those who were behind them tried to stop or avoid the carnage, but eight more drivers (from a field of 19 drivers) crashed and retired. None of them was injured, but José Froilán González, who damaged his Maserati in the pile-up but was subsequently running second, crashed during the second lap. His car caught fire and he suffered burns. The race went on with many cars going off at Tabac Corner, nearly causing other accidents. Ferrari driver Luigi Villoresi charged his way from the back of the field after being delayed by the pile-up, but did not finish.

Harry Schell’s Cooper was the first rear-engined car to start in a championship race. Chiron’s 3rd-place finish made him the only Monegasque driver to score points in Formula One until Charles Leclerc finished 6th in the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix some 68 years later.

Race Result

1	34	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	100	3:13:18.7	1	9
2	40	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	99	+ 1 lap	7	6
3	48	Louis Chiron	Maserati	98	+ 2 laps	8	4
4	42	Raymond Sommer	Ferrari	97	+ 3 laps	9	3
5	50	Prince Bira	Maserati	95	+ 5 laps	15	2

Standing After Race 2

	1	Nino Farina	9
11	2	Juan Manuel Fangio	9
1	3	Luigi Fagioli	6
18	4	Alberto Ascari	6
8	5	Louis Chiron	4

Picture of Tabac at the 1950 Monaco GP

Monaco GP, 1950

Race 3 – Indianapolis

While Indianapolis was part of the F1 championship it had no consequence on the championship.

Race 4 – Switzerland

1	14	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	2:42.1	–
2	16	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	2:42.8	+ 0.7
3	12	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	2:45.2	+ 3.1
4	22	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	2:46.1	+ 4.0
5	18	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:46.8	+ 4.7
6	42	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:51.1	+ 9.0
7	6	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:52.7	+ 10.6
8	30	Prince Bira	Maserati	2:53.2	+ 11.1
9	8	Eugène Martin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:53.7	+ 11.6
10	10	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:54.0	+ 11.9
11	32	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	2:54.2	+ 12.1
12	34	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	2:54.6	+ 12.5
13	20	Raymond Sommer	Ferrari	2:54.6	+ 12.5
14	4	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:59.0	+ 16.9
15	2	Nello Pagani	Maserati	3:06.8	+ 24.7
16	26	Louis Chiron	Maserati	3:06.8	+ 24.7
17	40	Toni Branca	Maserati	3:10.0	+ 27.9
18	44	Harry Schell	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	3:11.5	+ 29.4
DNA	24	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	–	–
DNA	28	Franco Rol	Maserati	–	–
DNA	36	Reg Parnell	Maserati	–	–
DNA	38	Rudi Fischer	SVA–Fiat	–	–

The 1950 Swiss Grand Prix, formally titled the Großer Preis der Schweiz für Automobile, was a Formula One motor race held on 4 June 1950 at Bremgarten. It was race four of seven in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers. The 42-lap race was won by Alfa Romeo driver Nino Farina after he started from second position. His teammate Luigi Fagioli finished second and Talbot-Lago driver Louis Rosier came in third.

Qualifying

1	14	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	2:42.1	–
2	16	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	2:42.8	+ 0.7
3	12	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	2:45.2	+ 3.1
4	22	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	2:46.1	+ 4.0
5	18	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:46.8	+ 4.7
6	42	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:51.1	+ 9.0
7	6	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:52.7	+ 10.6
8	30	Prince Bira	Maserati	2:53.2	+ 11.1
9	8	Eugène Martin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:53.7	+ 11.6
10	10	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:54.0	+ 11.9
11	32	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	2:54.2	+ 12.1
12	34	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	2:54.6	+ 12.5
13	20	Raymond Sommer	Ferrari	2:54.6	+ 12.5
14	4	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:59.0	+ 16.9
15	2	Nello Pagani	Maserati	3:06.8	+ 24.7
16	26	Louis Chiron	Maserati	3:06.8	+ 24.7
17	40	Toni Branca	Maserati	3:10.0	+ 27.9
18	44	Harry Schell	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	3:11.5	+ 29.4
DNA	24	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	–	–
DNA	28	Franco Rol	Maserati	–	–
DNA	36	Reg Parnell	Maserati	–	–
DNA	38	Rudi Fischer	SVA–Fiat	–	–

The Race

The fourth round of the Championship took place just three weeks after the series began at Silverstone (with Monaco and Indianapolis having taken place on consecutive weekends). Once again the event proved to be a battle between the Alfa Romeo factory 158s of Giuseppe Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli and the Scuderia Ferraris of Alberto Ascari, Luigi Villoresi (who had the latest model with de Dion rear suspension, twin overhead camshaft engine and 4-speed gearbox), Raymond Sommer and Peter Whitehead. There were a number of uncompetitive Talbot-Lagos and Maseratis as usual. José Froilán González was out of action as a result of burns he had received after the first lap accident at Monaco Grand Prix. Also, out of action as a result of the crash was Maserati factory driver Franco Rol. This was the last race to be entered by pre-war racer Eugène Martin. It was also the first and only World Championship Grand Prix for Nello Pagani, better known for his exploits in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

In qualifying Fangio and Farina were well clear of Fagioli with Villoresi and Ascari sharing the second row of the 3-2-3 grid. Peter Whitehead, Franco Rol, Reg Parnell and Rudi Fischer failed to qualify. In the race, on the first lap Ascari managed to get among the Alfa Romeos but he quickly slipped back and it was left to the Alfas to battle. Fangio led early on but then Farina went ahead through a faster refuelling stop. Fagioli was unable to keep up and after both Villoresi and Ascari retired. It was left to Prince Bira to run fourth. He had to refuel and so Philippe Étancelin in a Talbot-Lago was able to move into fourth place. Shortly afterwards, factory Talbot-Lago driver Eugène Martin crashed heavily and was seriously hurt when he was thrown from the car. Étancelin later went out with gearbox trouble and so Talbot-Lago factory driver Louis Rosier moved into fourth. He was promoted to third when Fangio retired on lap 33 with an electrical problem. Farina became the first driver to win multiples Grands Prix, after winning the inaugural World Championship Grand Prix.

Race Results

1	16	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	42	2:02:53.7	2	9
2	12	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	42	+ 0.4	3	6
3	10	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	41	+ 1 Lap	10	4
4	30	Prince Bira	Maserati	40	+ 2 Laps	8	3
5	34	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	40	+ 2 Laps	12	2

Standing After Race 4

1		Nino Farina 18
2	2	Luigi Fagioli	12
1	3	Juan Manuel Fangio	9

	5	Alberto Ascari	6

The 1950 Swiss GP

Race 5 – Belgian

The 1950 Belgian Grand Prix, formally titled the Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique, was a Formula One motor race held on 18 June 1950 at Spa-Francorchamps. It was race five of seven in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers. The 35-lap race was won by Alfa Romeo driver Juan Manuel Fangio after he started from second position. His teammate Luigi Fagioli finished second and Talbot-Lago driver Louis Rosier came in third.

Qualifying

1 8 Italy Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 4:37 –

2 10 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 4:37 + 0

3 12 Italy Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo 4:41 + 4

4 2 Italy Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 4:47 + 10

5 6 France Raymond Sommer Talbot-Lago-Talbot 4:47 + 10

6 16 France Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 4:49 + 12

7 4 Italy Alberto Ascari Ferrari 4:52 + 15

8 14 France Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 4:53 + 16

9 18 France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 4:56 + 19

10 22 France Pierre Levegh Talbot-Lago-Talbot 5:01 + 24

11 20 France Eugène Chaboud Talbot-Lago-Talbot 5:13 + 36

12 26 United Kingdom Geoffrey Crossley Alta 5:44 + 1:07

13 30 Switzerland Toni Branca Maserati 5:45 + 1:08

14 24 Belgium Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot No time –

By the time of the Belgian Grand Prix, the pace of the season was beginning to tell, with only 14 cars arriving at the Spa circuit. These included the dominant Alfa Romeos of Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli. Scuderia Ferrari was down to two 125s for Luigi Villoresi and Alberto Ascari, although Ascari had a new V12 engine to try out. The factory Talbot-Lago team had three cars for Louis Rosier, Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Philippe Étancelin (standing in for the injured Eugène Martin). The rest of the field was made up of Talbot-Lagos (notably one for Raymond Sommer), a single Alta and one Maserati for Toni Branca. This race was the final entry for Geoffrey Crossley, the sport’s high costs forcing him, like many privateers, to retire after just a handful of races.

Farina and Fangio were fastest as usual in qualifying with Fagioli unable to match them. Sommer split the Ferraris in his old Talbot-Lago. The race would be a similar story. The Alfas went off on their own and Sommer battled with the two Ferraris. When the Alfa stopped for fuel, Sommer found himself in the unlikely position of being race leader. Unfortunately his engine blew up. Ascari took the lead but he had to stop for fuel and that meant that the Alfas went ahead again with Fangio leading Farina and Fagioli. Farina suffered transmission trouble in the closing laps and dropped to fourth behind the best of the surviving Talbot-Lagos being driven by Rosier. Ascari finished fifth.

Race Results

1	10	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	35	2:47:26	2	8
2	12	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	35	+ 14	3	6
3	14	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	35	+ 2:19	8	4
4	8	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	35	+ 4:05	1	4¹
5	4	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	34	+ 1 Lap	7	2

Standing

	1	Nino Farina	22
	2	Luigi Fagioli	18
	3	Juan Manuel Fangio	17
2	4	Louis Rosier	10
1	5	Johnnie Parsons	9

Farina leading the 1950 Belgian GP

Race 6 – France

The 1950 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 2 July 1950 at Reims-Gueux. It was race 6 of 7 in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers. The 64-lap race was won by Alfa Romeo driver Juan Manuel Fangio after he started from pole position. His teammate Luigi Fagioli finished second and Peter Whitehead took third in a privateer Ferrari

Qualifying

1	6	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	2:30.6	–
2	2	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	2:32.5	+ 1.9
3	4	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	2:34.7	+ 4.1
4	16	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:39.0	+ 8.4
5	18	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:42.7	+ 12.1
6	20	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:46.0	+ 15.4
7	28	Franco Rol	Maserati	2:46.7	+ 16.1
8	36	José Froilán González	Maserati	2:48.0	+ 17.4
9	22	Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:49.0	+ 18.4
10	24	Eugène Chaboud	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	Unknown	–
11	40	Felice Bonetto	Maserati–Milano	2:51.0	+ 20.4
12	32	Reg Parnell	Maserati	2:54.0	+ 23.4
13	44	Robert Manzon	Simca–Gordini	2:55.5	+ 24.9
14	30	Louis Chiron	Maserati	2:55.9	+ 25.3
15	42	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:57.4	+ 26.8
16	26	Charles Pozzi	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:58.0	+ 27.4
17	12	Raymond Sommer	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:59.3	+ 28.7
18	34	David Hampshire	Maserati	2:59.5	+ 28.9
19	14	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	3:01.0	+ 30.4
WD	8	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	–	–
WD	10	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	–	–
DNA	38	Franco Comotti	Maserati	–	–

Race Result

A total of 22 cars entered the event, four of which did not start the race. Franco Comotti did not attend the event; Eugène Chaboud did not start in his own car, instead sharing Philippe Étancelin‘s Talbot-Lago; and the two Scuderia Ferrari entries of Luigi Villoresi and Alberto Ascari withdrew in practice.

Fangio put in a stunning display with a 187 km/h (116 mph) practice lap. With Ferrari not starting their 3-litre cars, the main opposition was to come from the Talbots, complete with dual ignition engines with 12 spark plugs. However, they suffered from radiator problems and overheated, allowing Fangio and Fagioli to lead home another Alfa demonstration run, whilst Farina succumbed to fuel pump trouble. Peter Whitehead finished third despite a fractured head gasket in the last two laps.

1	6	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	64	2:57:52.8	1	9¹
2	4	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	64	+ 25.7	3	6
3	14	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	61	+ 3 Laps	18	4
4	44	Robert Manzon	Simca–Gordini	61	+ 3 Laps	12	3
5	16	Philippe Étancelin Eugène Chaboud	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	59	+ 5 Laps	4	1 1

Standing

2	1	Juan Manuel Fangio	26
	2	Luigi Fagioli	24
2	3	Giuseppe Farina	22
	4	Louis Rosier	10
	5	Johnnie Parsons	9

Fangio at the finish line

Whitehead in the Ferrari 125

Race 7 – Italy

The 1950 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 3 September 1950 at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. It was race 7 of 7 in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers. In this race, Nino Farina became the first World Drivers’ Champion, and the only driver to win the title in his home country.

Qualifying

1	18	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	1:58.6	–
2	16	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	1:58.8	+ 0.2
3	10	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	2:00.2	+ 1.6
4	46	Consalvo Sanesi	Alfa Romeo	2:00.4	+ 1.8
5	36	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	2:04.0	+ 5.4
6	48	Dorino Serafini	Ferrari	2:05.6	+ 7.0
7	60	Piero Taruffi	Alfa Romeo	2:05.8	+ 7.2
8	12	Raymond Sommer	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:08.6	+ 10.0
9	4	Franco Rol	Maserati	2:10.0	+ 11.4
10	44	Robert Manzon	Simca–Gordini	2:12.4	+ 13.8
11	40	Guy Mairesse	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:13.2	+ 14.6
12	42	Maurice Trintignant	Simca–Gordini	2:13.4	+ 14.8
13	58	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:13.4	+ 14.8
14	64	Henri Louveau	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:13.8	+ 15.2
15	30	Prince Bira	Maserati	2:14.0	+ 15.4
16	24	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:14.4	+ 15.8
17	38	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	2:14.4	+ 15.8
18	8	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	2:16.2	+ 17.6
19	6	Louis Chiron	Maserati	2:17.2	+ 18.6
20	56	Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:17.2	+ 18.6
21	32	Cuth Harrison	ERA	2:18.4	+ 19.8
22	2	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	2:18.6	+ 20.0
23	52	Felice Bonetto	Milano-Speluzzi	2:19.8	+ 21.2
24	50	David Murray	Maserati	2:22.0	+ 23.4
25	22	Clemente Biondetti	Ferrari–Jaguar	2:30.6	+ 32.0
26	62	Franco Comotti	Maserati–Milano	2:33.6	+ 35.0
27	28	Paul Pietsch	Maserati	3:00.2	+ 61.9
DNA	14	Giovanni Bracco	Ferrari	–	–
DNA	26	Reg Parnell	Maserati	–	–
DNA	34	Luigi Platé	Talbot	–	–

Race Result

Ferrari pulled out all the stops to impress at their home circuit, producing a new unsupercharged 4½ litre engine to try to end the Alfa Romeo monopoly. Alberto Ascari used it to achieve second place on the grid to Juan Manuel Fangio‘s Alfa Romeo 158 and then in the race behind the fast starting Nino Farina (Alfa Romeo 158) before briefly leading. The pace was too punishing for the new car and a porous block broke on lap 20 and the battle returned as usual to the Alfas. Fangio retired twice; once in his own Alfa Romeo 158 and a second time after taking over Piero Taruffi‘s. Farina led to the finish from Ascari who was now in teammate Dorino Serafini‘s Ferrari 375 with Luigi Fagioli finishing third in his Alfa Romeo 158. Louis Rosier finish fourth in his Talbot-Lago T26C with Philippe Étancelin fifth in his Lago-Talbot. Étancelin would become the oldest driver to ever score a world championship point with that finish. Only seven cars finished out of the 27 starters and with Farina’s win and Fangio’s failure to score and Fagioli’s third place points removed as his worst scoring finish, Farina became the first recipient of the World Driver’s Championship crown.

Race Results

1	10	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	80	2:51:17.4	3	8
2	48	Dorino Serafini Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	80	+ 1:18.6	6	3 3
3	36	Luigi Fagioli	Alfa Romeo	80	+ 1:35.6	5	4
4	58	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	75	+ 5 Laps	13	3
5	24	Philippe Étancelin	Talbot-Lago–Talbot	75	+ 5 Laps	16	2