Alberto Ascari's success played a crucial role in Ferrari’s early days and he was not only the first Ferrari driver to become a Formula 1 Champion, but also one of Formula One’s earliest greats.
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What shaped Alberto Ascari before he ever stepped into a Ferrari?
Antonio Ascari
Alberto Ascari was born on 13 July 1918 in Milan, Italy. He was the son of Antonio Ascari, a prominent Grand Prix driver for Alfa Romeo who tragically died in a crash during the 1925 French Grand Prix. Alberto remained drawn to motorsport from an early age, though the loss deeply affected him
At just 19 years old, he began his professional racing journey on two wheels, signing with the Bianchi motorcycle team. However, his transition to car racing came shortly after. In 1940, Ascari entered the Mille Miglia, one of Italy’s most prestigious road races. He drove an Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, a car developed by Enzo Ferrari before the official founding of Ferrari.
During World War II, rather than serving in a military role, Ascari ran a fuel transport business for the Italian army alongside fellow racer Luigi Villoresi, supplying fuel to army depots in North Africa.
How did Ascari’s relationship with Ferrari really begin?
As mentioned before, Ascari drove the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 for the 1940 Mille Miglia. The car was supplied to Ascari as a personal favour, reflecting Ferrari’s long-standing friendship with his late father. Though the race ended prematurely due to mechanical issues, it marked the beginning of Ascari’s link to Ferrari.
After World War II, Ascari resumed his career, initially racing for Maserati in 1947 and 1948 alongside his close friend Luigi Villoresi. Their strong performances caught Enzo Ferrari’s attention again. By 1949, Ascari officially joined Scuderia Ferrari, which had just begun building its own cars for Formula 1 and sports car competition.
Ascari quickly delivered results. In 1949, he secured five major victories driving for Ferrari: Bremgarten in Switzerland, Monza in Italy, Palermo in Argentina, Silverstone in England and Palermo in Argentina once more. Ascari's calm, analytical driving style and technical feedback made him an ideal fit for Ferrari’s racing program. He quickly became one of the team’s leading drivers during the its formative years in Formula 1.
How did Ascari rise to become Ferrari’s first Formula 1 Champion?
Alberto Ascari driving the Ferrari 125 F1 at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix
Alberto Ascari made an early mark in Formula 1 when he finished second at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver at the time to score both championship points and a podium, at 31 years and 312 days old. His performances during the early seasons of Formula 1 helped establish Scuderia Ferrari as a competitive stable. Notably, he played a key role in the development of Ferrari’s early Grand Prix cars, particularly the Ferrari 375 F1.
In 1952, the Formula 1 switched to Formula 2 regulations, limiting engines to 2.0 litres. Ferrari introduced the Ferrari 500, which Ascari drove to great success. He missed the season opener (the Swiss Grand Prix) while qualifying for the 1952 Indianapolis 500, a race that was part of the Formula 1 Championship calendar at the time. After returning to Europe, Ascari dominated the season by winning the remaining six rounds, setting the fastest lap in each, and also securing five additional victories in non-championship events. This performance earned him his first Formula 1 Championship title.
Alberto Ascari and Piero Taruffi at the 1952 British Grand Prix
Photo: Motorsport.com
He continued his dominance into 1953, winning the first three races of the season. This extended his streak to nine consecutive Formula 1 Championship victories (excluding Indianapolis), a record that would stand for decades. His run came to an end with a fourth-place finish at the 1953 French Grand Prix. However, Ascari went on to win two more races that year, securing his second consecutive Formula 1 Championship and becoming Formula 1 first two-time Champion.
At the end of 1953, following a salary dispute with Ferrari, Ascari left the team and signed with Lancia for the 1954 season. The move proved challenging. Lancia’s new Formula 1 car was not ready in time for most of the season, and Mercedes emerged as the dominant force that year. As a result, Gianni Lancia allowed Ascari to make occasional appearances with other teams. He drove twice for Maserati and once again for Ferrari. The 1954 season marked a difficult and largely unproductive period in Ascari’s racing career, despite these temporary outings.
Ascari entered two more races with Lancia in 1955 but retired in both.
Alberto Ascari during the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix behind the wheel of the Lancia D50
During his Formula 1 career from 1950 to 1955, Alberto Ascari competed for Ferrari, Maserati, and later Lancia. He started 33 World Championship Grands Prix, winning 13 races, securing 17 podiums, 14 pole positions, and setting 12 fastest laps. His back-to-back Formula 1 Championships in 1952 and 1953 made him the dominant driver of his era and Ferrari’s first Formula 1 Champion. Ascari’s record of seven consecutive Grand Prix victories (set across the 1952 and 1953 seasons) remained unmatched for decades.
What did Ascari leave behind at Ferrari and in racing history?
Curva del Vialone at the Monza circuit
Ascari's success marked Ferrari's first major breakthrough in Formula 1 and helped establish the team's long-term presence in the sport. He was notable for being the only Italian driver to win the Formula 1 Championship for an Italian team, a record he still holds as of today.
Ascari died on 26 May 1955, at age 36, after crashing during a test at Monza in the Curva del Vialone corner. The incident eerily mirrored his father’s fate: both died at the age of 36, both in racing crashes, and both near Milan. His name lives on in Formula 1 history, and the Ascari chicane at Monza is named in his honour.
5 fun facts about Alberto Ascari
Photo: roomiccube
- Ascari was the only European driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 during the eleven years when it counted toward the Formula 1 World Championship.
- He never allowed anyone to touch the briefcase that carried his racing gear. It held his signature blue helmet, goggles, gloves and a lucky blue T-shirt.
- Until Michael Schumacher repeated the feat in 2000 and 2001, Ascari was the only Ferrari driver to win back-to-back Formula 1 Championships.
- During his time with Ferrari (1949–1953), Ascari claimed 13 victories in 27 races, achieving a 48% win rate, the highest for any Ferrari Formula One driver as of 2025.
- Ascari still holds the distinction of being the Formula 1 Champion with the fewest career Grand Prix starts, further highlighting his efficiency and dominance in a relatively brief F1 career.
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