1950 British Grand Prix

Formula One motor race held in 1950 January 2023 June 2013 F1 United Kingdom British Silverstone Circuit 1949 to 1951.png Silverstone Circuit in 1950–1951 configuration 13 May 1950 1950 Monaco Grand Prix The Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix d'Europe Incorporating The British Grand Prix Silverstone CircuitSilverstone, England Permanent racing facility 4.649 km mi onQuoted as 2 miles 1564 yards in the official program booklet (pp. 5, 29). 70 325.430 km mi on Sunny, mild, dry. 100,000World's Premier Motor Race Dundeee Evening Telegraph 13 May 1950 18 July 2020 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19500513/083/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 1:50.8Lang Mike Grand Prix! Vol 1 Haynes Publishing Group 1981 0-85429-276-4 14 Italy Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 1:50.6Lang Mike Grand Prix! Vol 1 Haynes Publishing Group 1981 0-85429-276-4 15 2 Italy Nino Farina Alfa Romeo Italy Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo Italy Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo United Kingdom GBR The 1950 British Grand Prix, formally known as The Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix d'Europe Incorporating The British Grand Prix,The Royal Automobile Club 1950-05-13 Silverstone Circuit https://www.progcovers.com/motor/silverstone.php live https://web.archive.org/web/20240822135226/https://www.progcovers.com/motor/silverstone.php 2024-08-22 2024-09-15 The Programme Covers Project was a Formula One motor race held on 13 May 1950 at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, England. It was the first World Championship Formula One race, as well as the fifth British Grand Prix, and the third to be held at Silverstone after motor racing resumed after World War II. It was the first race of seven in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers.13 May 1950 1950 BRITISH GRAND PRIX - RACE RESULT https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1950/races/94/great-britain/race-result live https://web.archive.org/web/20240911200429/https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1950/races/94/great-britain/race-result 2024-09-11 2024-09-15 Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website en The 70-lap race was won by Nino Farina for the Alfa Romeo team, after starting from pole position, with a race time of 2:13:23.6 and an average speed of 146.378 km/h (90.955 mph). Luigi Fagioli finished second in another Alfa Romeo, and Reg Parnell third in a third Alfa Romeo. The race followed the non-championship Pau Grand Prix and San Remo Grand Prix (both won by Juan Manuel Fangio), the Richmond Trophy (won by Reg Parnell), and the Paris Grand Prix (won by Georges Grignard). Background left|thumb|304x304px|RAF Silverstone airport in 1945 Early Formula One racing History of Formula One#Early years and continuation of pre-World War II supercharged engines (1946–1950) In 1946, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Commission Sportive Internationale first defined the "International Formula", a premier single-seater racing series to start in 1947. While the first Formula One race was the 1947 Pau Grand Prix, the 1950 British Grand Prix was the first Grand Prix of the new World Championship of Drivers. Four non-championship races were held all across Europe in 1950 prior to the Grand Prix: Juan Manuel Fangio won the races in Pau and San Remo, Reg Parnell won in Douglas, and Georges Grignard won in Paris. The first World Championship race The 1950 edition of the British Grand Prix was fifth held since 1926 and the third held at Silverstone Circuit since its first time in 1948.http://www.formula-one.pl/522/historia-toru-silverstone Historia toru Silverstone pl Ewa Zaborska 8 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160318014457/http://www.formula-one.pl/522/historia-toru-silverstone 18 March 2016 It was also the designated European Grand Prix for the year, making it the 11th time the circuit has held the title since the first race in 1923.15June 1950 1950 British Grand Prix race report – Farina wins Grand Prix d'Europe https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1950/7/the-royal-silverstone-meeting/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240414104936/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1950/7/the-royal-silverstone-meeting/ 2024-04-14 2024-09-15 Motor Sport The race was also supported by an international 500cc Formula Three race the same weekend, which was won by Stirling Moss driving a Cooper-JAP. There was also a demonstration run for the BRM P15, which was due to enter the sport later in the year.1950-05-13 1950 British Grand Prix Program https://online.fliphtml5.com/lngbd/iedy/?1589369250738#p=1 2020-10-07 online.fliphtml5.com The race was attended by George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and the Earl & Countess Mountbatten of Burma, which makes it the only motor race (and Formula 1 Grand Prix) in Britain attended by a reigning British monarch.10 Fascinating Facts about the very first F1 race held at Silverstone https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/10-fascinating-facts-about-the-very-first-f1-race-held-at-silverstone-on.31fH6fHiwjnE5eFpPERxwd 12 May 2025. formula1.com. Retrieved 16 August 2025.Silverstone the home of British Motor Racing https://automobilist.com/en-gb/blogs/stories/silverstone-the-home-of-british-motor-racing?srsltid=AfmBOoqtE_ev8aVqnHISulx0I0DSCzojH9NzH2gzLsc142InD43dlfvB 30 June 2022. automobilist.com. Retrieved 16 August 2025.All You Need to Know about the Home of British Grand Prix 20 October 2023 https://www.sportsbreaks.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-home-of-the-british-grand-prix-silverstone sportsbreaks.com. Retrieved 16 August 2025Recalling Elite Racing's Humble Start in Britain The New York Times 3 July 2015 https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/04/sports/autoracing/recalling-elite-racings-humble-start-in-britain.html 16 August 2025 Spurgeon Brad Entries thumb|Maserati 4CLT/48 thumb|Alfa Romeo Alfetta 158 thumb|Talbot-Lago T26C 24 drivers were entered for the first race with them competing in 22 different cars. The numbers 7 and 13 were not assigned.Nye Doug The British Grand Prix 1926-1976 B. T. Batsford 1977 9780713432831 39 The biggest absence was the Scuderia Ferrari who would not compete in the opening race with Enzo Ferrari not sending any cars to Britain with the team debuting at the next round in Monaco, due to the small amount of appearance money the organisers were willing to pay him to participate.Hope-Frost Henry Top 12: Ferrari‑free Grands Prix https://www.goodwood.com/grr/f1/exceptional-11-ferrari-free-grands-prix/ goodwood.com 25 October 2023 8 November 2017https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a33532048/f1-70th-british-grand-prix-how-we-got-1/ F1 Celebrates 70th Anniversary British Grand Prix—Here's How We Got to No. 1 Joe Saward 6 August 2020 14 June 2021 Autoweek This meant that Alfa Romeo were favourites with their four drivers Farina, Fangio, Fagioli, and British driver, Reg Parnell, while their main competition came from the Maseratis of the Scuderia Ambrosiana and Enrico Platé teams. Felice Bonetto also entered a Maserati but would not arrive for the race.https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1950/7/the-royal-silverstone-meeting 1950 British Grand Prix race report – Farina wins Grand Prix d'Europe June 1950 7 Motorsport Magazine Talbot-Lago sent over two factory cars in the traditional French pale blue colour to be driven by Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Eugène Martin. Other private Talbots were entered by Louis Rosier, Philippe Étancelin, and Belgian Johnny Claes in a car painted in Belgium's national yellow colour. The rest of the field was made up of local machinery, which included four ERAs and two Altas in British racing green. No Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre 1Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s Pirelli 2Italy Nino Farina Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s Pirelli 3Italy Luigi Fagioli1 1 Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s Pirelli 4UK Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s Pirelli 5UK David Murray Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s Dunlop 6UK David Hampshire Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s Dunlop7UK Duncan HamiltonDuncan HamiltonMaseratiMaserati 4CLMaserati 4CL 1.5 L4sDunlop 8UK Leslie Johnson T.A.S.O. Mathieson ERA ERA E ERA 1.5 L6s Dunlop 9UK Peter Walker2 2 Peter Walker ERA ERA E ERA 1.5 L6s Dunlop 10UK Joe Fry3 3 Joe Fry Maserati Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4s Dunlop 11UK Cuth Harrison Cuth Harrison ERA ERA B ERA 1.5 L6s Dunlop 12UK Bob Gerard Bob Gerard ERA ERA B ERA 1.5 L6s Dunlop 14France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 Dunlop 15France Louis Rosier Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 Dunlop 16France Philippe Étancelin Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 Dunlop 17France Eugène Martin Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 Dunlop 18Belgium Johnny Claes Ecurie Belge Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 Dunlop 19Monaco Louis Chiron Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s Pirelli 20Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried Enrico Platé Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s Pirelli 21Thailand Prince Bira Enrico Platé Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s Pirelli 22Italy Felice Bonetto Scuderia Milano Maserati Maserati 4CLT/50 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s Pirelli 23Ireland Joe Kelly Joe Kelly Alta Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4s Dunlop 24UK Geoffrey Crossley Geoffrey Crossley Alta Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4s Dunlop 26 UK Raymond Mays4 4 Raymond Mays ERA ERA D ERA 1.5 L6s Dunlop Sources:http://www.manipef1.com/results/1950/britain/entries/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120519194713/http://www.manipef1.com/results/1950/britain/entries/ 19 May 2012 1950 British Grand Prix – Race Entries usurped 6 January 2016 manipef1.comhttp://chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1950&gp=British%20GP&r=1&type=ent 1950 British GP – Entry List 4 October 2013 chicanef1.com 1 1 – Luigi Fagioli qualified and drove all 70 laps of the race in the #3 Alfa Romeo. Gianbattista Guidotti, named substitute driver for the car, was not used at the Grand Prix.http://www.statsf1.com/en/1950/grande-bretagne/engages.aspx Britain 1950 – Race entrants 7 January 2014 statsf1.com 2 2 – Peter Walker qualified and drove 2 laps of the race in the #9 ERA. Tony Rolt took over the car for 3 laps of the race.http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/race/1389.html British Grand Prix 1950 – Results ESPN F1 7 January 2014 3 3 – Joe Fry qualified and drove 45 laps of the race in the #10 Maserati. Brian Shawe-Taylor took over the car for 19 laps of the race. 4 4 – Entry cancelled prior to the event.http://www.statsf1.com/en/1950/grande-bretagne/classement.aspx Britain 1950 – Result 4 October 2013 statsf1.com Qualifying Qualifying took place on Friday and saw the Alfa Romeos end up on the front row of the grid as Farina claimed the first pole position in the history of Formula One with a time of 1:50.8. Fagioli and Fangio and Parnell would fill the remaining spots on the front row of the grid. Prince Bira was the fastest non-Alfa, 1.8 seconds back with the two Talbot's cars filling in the second row.https://www.statsf1.com/en/1950/grande-bretagne/qualification.aspx# Britain 1950 14 June 2021 statsf1.com Qualifying classification Pos No Driver Constructor Time 1 2Italy Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 1:50.8 2 3Italy Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo 1:51.0 3 1Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 1:51.2 4 4UK Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo 1:52.2 5 21Thailand Prince Bira Maserati 1:52.6 6 14France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:53.4 7 17France Eugène Martin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:55.4 8 20Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried Maserati 1:55.8 9 15France Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:56.0 10 9UK Peter Walker ERA 1:56.6 11 19Monaco Louis Chiron Maserati 1:56.6 12 8UK Leslie Johnson ERA 1:57.4 13 12UK Bob Gerard ERA 1:57.4 14 16France Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:57.8 15 11UK Cuth Harrison ERA 1:58.4 16 6UK David Hampshire Maserati 2:01.0 17 24UK Geoffrey Crossley Alta 2:02.6 18 5UK David Murray Maserati 2:05.6 19 23Ireland Joe Kelly Alta 2:06.2 20 10UK Joe Fry Maserati 2:07.0 21 18Belgium Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:08.8DNA Did not attend7UK Duncan HamiltonMaserati–DNA Did not attend 22Italy Felice Bonetto Maserati–Source:Britain 1950 - Qualifications https://www.statsf1.com/en/1950/grande-bretagne/qualification.aspx 2025-07-25 statsf1.comBritain 1950 - Result • STATS F1 https://www.statsf1.com/en/1950/grande-bretagne/classement.aspx 2026-03-15 statsf1.com Race On 13 May, 21 drivers from nine countries were represented at the old Silverstone airport, four from France, two from Italy, and one each from Belgium, Ireland, Monaco, Argentina, Thailand and Switzerland. The UK was represented by 9 drivers. The race drew 200,000 spectators. The cars drew up in a 4-3-4 formation. At the start of the race, Farina took the lead with Fagioli and Fangio in pursuit, while Cabantous got a poor start and lost four 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 (possibly due to clipping a straw bale)"10 Fascinating Facts About the Very First F1 Race – Held at Silverstone on This Day 75 Years Ago". 12 May 2025. formula1.com. Retrieved 15 August 2025 and so Farina led Fagioli home by 2.5 seconds with Parnell a distant third, despite hitting a hare during the race which caused a significant dent in the cowling of the British driver’s car. 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 classification Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points 1 2Italy Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 70 2:13:23.6 1 95 1 2 3Italy Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo 70 +2.6 2 6 3 4UK Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo 70 +52.0 4 4 4 14France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 68 +2 laps 6 3 5 15France Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 68 +2 laps 9 2 6 12UK Bob Gerard ERA 67 +3 laps 13   7 11UK Cuth Harrison ERA 67 +3 laps 15   8 16France Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 65 +5 laps 14   9 6UK David Hampshire Maserati 64 +6 laps 16   10 10UK Joe Fry6 2 Maserati 64 +6 laps 20  UK Brian Shawe-Taylor6 2 11 18Belgium Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot 64 +6 laps 21   Ret Retired 1Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 62 Oil pipe 3   NC Not classified 23Ireland Joe Kelly Alta 57 Not classified 19   Ret Retired 21Thailand Prince Bira Maserati 49 Out of fuel 5   Ret Retired 5UK David Murray Maserati 44 Engine 18   Ret Retired 24UK Geoffrey Crossley Alta 43 Transmission 17   Ret Retired 20Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried Maserati 36 Engine 8   Ret Retired 19Monaco Louis Chiron Maserati 24 Clutch 11   Ret Retired 17France Eugène Martin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 8 Oil pressure 7   Ret Retired 9UK Peter Walker7 3 ERA 5 Gearbox 10  UK Tony Rolt7 3 Ret Retired 8UK Leslie Johnson ERA 2 Compressor 12  Source:http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1950/379/ 1950 British Grand Prix formula1.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150118022216/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1950/379/ 18 January 2015 25 December 2015 Notes 5 1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lap 6 2 – Joe Fry drove car #10 for the first 45 laps, then Brian Shawe-Taylor took over for 19 laps for a total of 64 laps. 7 3 – Peter Walker drove car #9 for 2 laps, then Tony Rolt drove for an additional 3 laps, totaling 5 laps. Championship standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Italy Nino Farina 9 2 Italy Luigi Fagioli 6 3 UK Reg Parnell 4 4 France Yves Giraud-Cabantous 3 5 France Louis Rosier 2Source:https://www.statsf1.com/en/1950/grande-bretagne/championnat.aspx Britain 1950 – Championship statsf1.com 1 March 2019 Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. References External links BBC newsreel of the event Digital scan of programme British Grand Prix 1950 N/A 1950 Monaco Grand Prix 1949 British Grand Prix 1951 British Grand Prix 1949 Italian Grand Prix 1951 French Grand Prix British Category:British Grand Prix Category:European Grand Prix Grand Prix Category:May 1950 sports events in the United Kingdom British Grand Prix