The 1950 F1 Season
Seven races were chosen to qualify towards the series, beginning with the British (and European) Grand Prix at
Silverstone on 15 May. Then followed the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, Swiss Grand Prix, Belgian Grand.Prix, French Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix. Claims were also made by Argentina, Holland and Spain, but it was considered seven events were sufficient to inaugurate the series. Points were to be awarded on the basis of eight to the winner, and then six, four, three, two for fifth and an extra point for fastest lap.
Only a driver's four best performances from the seven races would be considered, and if a car was shared by two or more drivers any points gained would have to be shared. The veteran Italian
Giuseppe Farina took the 1950 World Championship, but only after a tense and prolonged struggle with his new team-mate
Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio. The remarkable aspect of the 1950 season was the return of Alfa Romeo to the fray, with the revised Tipo 159 cars, which, once again, swept all before them. Indeed, they won all ten races in which they started, in spite of some notable setbacks. It is not always a good thing when one make of car dominates racing, except for the manufacturer and the drivers of that make, but no-one could challenge Alfa's superiority.
After Farina had been involved in an accident, Alfa Romeo used the services of the great Fangio at San Remo and the lone Alfa won, in wet weather, from Villoresi's two stage supercharged Ferrari, while Ascari spun and crashed his Ferrari. Next, it was to England, where for once the sun shone, and the Royal Family, led by HM King George VI, were present at Silverstone to watch the racing. This event, which was the British Grand Prix with the added status of the title of the European Grand Prix, was another entirely convincing triumph for the 'Alfettas', which would have arrived at the end of the race in 1-2-3-4, order, Briton Reg Parnell having been invited to drive one of them, had not Fangio's car developed valve trouble eight laps from the finish. So the result was first Farina, second Fagioli and third a very happy Parnell.