Formula One - Through the Year's
1950's
Formula One began in 1950, two years after the inauguration of a new governing body for motorsport, the FIA. Plans for two championships; Constructors and Drivers, were unveiled in a bid to provide some structure to the races that were going on around the world. The championship united six main European races; Britain, Monaco, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy, with the Indianapolis in the United States.
The first-ever race of the new Formula One World Championship took place at the converted airfield of Silverstone, in the heart of Great Britain. Ferrari failed to make it to the opening race, so Alfa filled the first three places on the grid, then went on to fill all three places on the podium in Monaco for the second race of the great new Championship. The Indianapolis race was only part of the Championship because of its status as one of the world's greatest races, but none of the European teams turned up and American Johnny Parsons took the victory for Wynn's Kurtis that secured him sixth in the Championship that year. Back in Europe, Alfa men Juan Manuel Fangio and Farina traded victories well ahead of the chasing pack and in a dramatic final race at Monza, a gearbox failure for Fangio gave Farina the win and Drivers title by three points.
In 1951, Ferrari were driving forward, but Alfa still set the early pace, with Fangio winning in rainy Switzerland. The first victory fo Ferrari finally came at Silverstone when Frolian Gonzalez capitalized on a mistake by fellow Argentine Fangio, later team-mate, Ascari claimed his first win, because the long straights of the Nurburgring, a new addition to the calender, suited his Ferrari.
In 1952, Alfa were no longer part of the sport, and Ferrari were now the dominant force in Formula One. The open rules allowed many new teams to join the Italian giants, Ferrari and Maserati, with the British Cooper-Bristol in the hands of Mike Hawthorn, and French Gordini machines the best of the rest. Ascari dominated the season with an amazing run of six consecutive race victories, with the fastest lap in every one. He mastered the wet in Spa then led a Ferrari 1-2-3 in France and a 1-2 in Britain, victories in Holland and Italy finished off a remarkable run of dominance and, with only the best four results counting, Ascari notched up a perfect season score.
In 1953, Ascari was the man to beat again, but the return of Juan Manuel Fangio with Maserati saw the Italian team's rivalry strengthen as the season progressed. The Championship expanded into new territory, going to South America for the first time with a race in Argentina. Ascari won again in Britain and probably would have taken victory in Germany had his wheel not fallen off, whick handed victory to Farina. However, Ascari secured the title in style at the last but one race in Switzerland, when an unscheduled stop forced him to fight through the field, past Farina and Hawthorn to claim victory. In the final race of the year, in Italy, a spectaculat slip-streaming battle saw Ascari assume the leadx, but he made a mistake on the last lap and spun-out, taking out team-mate Farina in the process, letting Fangio through to take Maserati's debut win.
1954 saw Mercedes-Benz make its Formula One debut. The uniquely attractive 'streamliner' machines drew Fangio away from Maserati, while Ascari was tempted by the promise of new arrival Lancia. The Mercedes struggled at Silverstone, leaving Gonzalez to claim victory for Ferrari. Sadly, Formula One was again hit by tragedy at the following race in Germany, when Argentine Maserati driver Onofre Marimon became the first driver to die at a Formula One event. Fangio fought back the tears for his countryman and raced to victory, then went from strength to stength, wining in Switzerland and Italy and going on to win his first Championship.
The 1955 season is remembered for tragedy rather than triumph. World motorsport was rocked by the deaths of more than 80 people at Le Mans as well as the loss of former champion Ascari, who crashed testing a sports car mid-season. But the F1 racing continued with Fangio and Mercedes firm favorites. Fangio and Moss took a 1-2 for Mercedes in Spa at Belgium and though the next weekend saw the tragedy at Le Mans, Formula One raced on, with Merc dominating to claim a 1-2 in Holland, a 1-2-3-4 in Britain; with Moss claiming his maiden win on home soil, and closing the season off with a 1-2 on the circuit of Monza, handing Fangio his second consecutive title.
The first-ever race of the new Formula One World Championship took place at the converted airfield of Silverstone, in the heart of Great Britain. Ferrari failed to make it to the opening race, so Alfa filled the first three places on the grid, then went on to fill all three places on the podium in Monaco for the second race of the great new Championship. The Indianapolis race was only part of the Championship because of its status as one of the world's greatest races, but none of the European teams turned up and American Johnny Parsons took the victory for Wynn's Kurtis that secured him sixth in the Championship that year. Back in Europe, Alfa men Juan Manuel Fangio and Farina traded victories well ahead of the chasing pack and in a dramatic final race at Monza, a gearbox failure for Fangio gave Farina the win and Drivers title by three points.
In 1951, Ferrari were driving forward, but Alfa still set the early pace, with Fangio winning in rainy Switzerland. The first victory fo Ferrari finally came at Silverstone when Frolian Gonzalez capitalized on a mistake by fellow Argentine Fangio, later team-mate, Ascari claimed his first win, because the long straights of the Nurburgring, a new addition to the calender, suited his Ferrari.
In 1952, Alfa were no longer part of the sport, and Ferrari were now the dominant force in Formula One. The open rules allowed many new teams to join the Italian giants, Ferrari and Maserati, with the British Cooper-Bristol in the hands of Mike Hawthorn, and French Gordini machines the best of the rest. Ascari dominated the season with an amazing run of six consecutive race victories, with the fastest lap in every one. He mastered the wet in Spa then led a Ferrari 1-2-3 in France and a 1-2 in Britain, victories in Holland and Italy finished off a remarkable run of dominance and, with only the best four results counting, Ascari notched up a perfect season score.
In 1953, Ascari was the man to beat again, but the return of Juan Manuel Fangio with Maserati saw the Italian team's rivalry strengthen as the season progressed. The Championship expanded into new territory, going to South America for the first time with a race in Argentina. Ascari won again in Britain and probably would have taken victory in Germany had his wheel not fallen off, whick handed victory to Farina. However, Ascari secured the title in style at the last but one race in Switzerland, when an unscheduled stop forced him to fight through the field, past Farina and Hawthorn to claim victory. In the final race of the year, in Italy, a spectaculat slip-streaming battle saw Ascari assume the leadx, but he made a mistake on the last lap and spun-out, taking out team-mate Farina in the process, letting Fangio through to take Maserati's debut win.
1954 saw Mercedes-Benz make its Formula One debut. The uniquely attractive 'streamliner' machines drew Fangio away from Maserati, while Ascari was tempted by the promise of new arrival Lancia. The Mercedes struggled at Silverstone, leaving Gonzalez to claim victory for Ferrari. Sadly, Formula One was again hit by tragedy at the following race in Germany, when Argentine Maserati driver Onofre Marimon became the first driver to die at a Formula One event. Fangio fought back the tears for his countryman and raced to victory, then went from strength to stength, wining in Switzerland and Italy and going on to win his first Championship.
The 1955 season is remembered for tragedy rather than triumph. World motorsport was rocked by the deaths of more than 80 people at Le Mans as well as the loss of former champion Ascari, who crashed testing a sports car mid-season. But the F1 racing continued with Fangio and Mercedes firm favorites. Fangio and Moss took a 1-2 for Mercedes in Spa at Belgium and though the next weekend saw the tragedy at Le Mans, Formula One raced on, with Merc dominating to claim a 1-2 in Holland, a 1-2-3-4 in Britain; with Moss claiming his maiden win on home soil, and closing the season off with a 1-2 on the circuit of Monza, handing Fangio his second consecutive title.
1956 brought a huge shock to the sport as Mercedes pulled out at the end of their second-title winning season, leaving Fangio fleeing to former enemy Ferrari, who decided to use the Lancia chassis. Meanwhile, Stirling Moss made a move to Maserati and Mike Hawthorn had another stab at fighting the British corner by moving across to BRM. The final round, at Monza saw a unique finish to the Championship when Fangio retired with a broken sterring arm. Behra also dropped out and Collins, who could have won the title, pulled into the pits and gave the car over to Fangio to hand the Argentine another World Championship crown.
In 1957 Argentine Fangio made it four wins in a row at home with victory in Buenos Aires as Maserati finished 1-2-3-4 and Ferrari faltered with mechanical problems. Fangio also dominated the French GP, though the two Vanwall drivers, Sterling Moss and Tony Brooks, were notably missing from the grid. Fangio put on his best-ever display in Germany, and secured his fifth and final title when he was second to Moss in the penultimate race of the season at Pescara. The pair then finished the season in style, with Moss taking the win after spectacular battle at Monza.
1958 saw the end of an era when Fangio and Maserati retired from Formula One. In the longest Formula One season to date, Vanwall seemed to be Ferrari's only real rivals, but it was a rear-engined Cooper-Climax 43 that claimed the first victory of the season, with Stirling Moss at the wheel. The season was not going to plan for Ferrari, and although they achieved victory in France, with Hawthorn taking his only victory of the year, tragedy struck as Musso was killed in the race. Briton, Collins won for Ferrari at Silverstone but, just two weeks later, he was also killed!. Becoming the second Ferrari driver to lose his life in a month.
The 1959 season, and the end of the decade marked a true phase shift in Formula One as the rear-engined Cooper-Climax, with a new 2.5 litre engine, came to the forefront. Vanwall had quit the sport, and Brooks had joined Ferrari, along with Behra and American driver Phil Hill, but the front-engined car failed to perform and a new grid order was created.
In 1957 Argentine Fangio made it four wins in a row at home with victory in Buenos Aires as Maserati finished 1-2-3-4 and Ferrari faltered with mechanical problems. Fangio also dominated the French GP, though the two Vanwall drivers, Sterling Moss and Tony Brooks, were notably missing from the grid. Fangio put on his best-ever display in Germany, and secured his fifth and final title when he was second to Moss in the penultimate race of the season at Pescara. The pair then finished the season in style, with Moss taking the win after spectacular battle at Monza.
1958 saw the end of an era when Fangio and Maserati retired from Formula One. In the longest Formula One season to date, Vanwall seemed to be Ferrari's only real rivals, but it was a rear-engined Cooper-Climax 43 that claimed the first victory of the season, with Stirling Moss at the wheel. The season was not going to plan for Ferrari, and although they achieved victory in France, with Hawthorn taking his only victory of the year, tragedy struck as Musso was killed in the race. Briton, Collins won for Ferrari at Silverstone but, just two weeks later, he was also killed!. Becoming the second Ferrari driver to lose his life in a month.
The 1959 season, and the end of the decade marked a true phase shift in Formula One as the rear-engined Cooper-Climax, with a new 2.5 litre engine, came to the forefront. Vanwall had quit the sport, and Brooks had joined Ferrari, along with Behra and American driver Phil Hill, but the front-engined car failed to perform and a new grid order was created.
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