Ferrari’s first world champion: Alberto Ascari
The first back-to-back grand prix world champion, who duelled with Fangio. Alberto Ascari is unarguably one of motor racing’s all-time greats
Ascari during the 1952 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He started on equal pole after both he and Ferrari team-mate Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina set identical 1:50sec laps. He went on to win by a full lap in his 500
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Taken from Motor sport online, September 2020
Alberto Ascari drove racing cars as though born to it – which, of course, he had been. Father Antonio – much admired by the formative Enzo Ferrari – had until his fatal accident of 1925 fleetingly been the world’s best driver. His son, however, would outstrip him before he, too, was killed at the wheel.
Career delayed by World War II – he had, however, driven a Ferrari in all but name in the emasculated Mille Miglia of 1940 – Alberto was turning 32 by the time of the World Championship’s inauguration in 1950. Young in the context: Juan Fangio was seven years his senior.