Formula 1’s story as a world championship began not on a purpose-built track, but on a former bomber base. On May 13, 1950, 120,000 spectators gathered at Silverstone in England, including King George VI, the only reigning British monarch ever to attend a Grand Prix. They watched Italy’s Giuseppe 'Nino' Farina win the 70-lap race in an Alfa Romeo 158. His car, nicknamed the 'Alfetta', averaged 91 miles per hour. Farina’s team, Alfa Romeo, was so dominant that they swept the podium, taking the top three spots. The iconic Ferrari team was notably absent, skipping the inaugural event over a dispute about appearance money, leaving their rivals to make history on the repurposed military airfield.
The History of Formula 1
How Formula 1 grew from its first world championship race at Silverstone in 1950 into a global sport, through safety campaigns, ground-effect cars, TV deals, hybrid engines and Liberty Media's takeover.
Chapter 1
The King's Grand Prix
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was the first Formula 1 World Championship race?
The first official F1 World Championship race was the British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone on May 13, 1950. The event was watched by King George VI and won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo.
Why is Jackie Stewart famous for safety in F1?
After a near-fatal crash in 1966, Jackie Stewart launched a campaign that revolutionized motorsport safety. He pushed for mandatory full-face helmets, fire-resistant suits, and seatbelts, and led driver boycotts of unsafe tracks.
What is the Concorde Agreement?
The Concorde Agreement is a series of deals that govern Formula 1. The first one, signed in 1981, was brokered by Bernie Ecclestone. It required all teams to compete in every race in exchange for a share of collective television rights, turning F1 into a commercial powerhouse.
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