GPBlog's Top 50 drivers in 50 days - #13 - Alberto Ascari

Hello and welcome back to the latter stages of GPBlog’s countdown to the beginning of the 2020 F1 season. We’re counting down our top 50 F1 drivers of all time and we’re nearly at the end! Yesterday we ranked triple world champion Nelson Piquet at number 14, but one space above Piquet is Alberto Ascari.

One of the greats of F1’s early days, the name Ascari is probably better known for the fast chicane at Monza, named after him, but he was one of the original superstars of F1.

One of Ferrari’s first drivers in F1, Ascari made his debut at the Monaco Grand Prix of 1950 and finished second, despite his Ferrari being off the pace of the famous Alfa Romeos.

Another second came in Italy as Ascari mixed it up with the Alfettas, and he would give them an even better run in 1951.

He recorded another P2 in Belgium and then shared second with Jose Froilan Gonzalez at the next race, before taking his maiden F1 victory at the fearsome Nürburgring, the first time F1 visited the Green Hell.

Ascari followed it up with another win, this time at Monza and he was in championship contention heading to the final round in Spain.

He trailed Juan Manuel Fangio by two points and took pole, but soon fell back and could only finish fourth a Fangio won the race and the title.

When Alfa Romeo left the sport after rule changes for 1952, Ascari came into his own. He missed the season opening Swiss Grand Prix to qualify at the Indy 500, but when F1 returned to Europe Ascari was dominant.

Of the remaining six races in the season, Ascari took five poles, six fastest laps and six victories, winning one of the most dominant titles of all time.

As only four results counted that season, Ascari scored the maximum 36 points available. His electric form continued into 1953, winning the first three European events, making it nine in a row if we discount the Indy 500, which was part of the calendar back in those days.

This record of nine in a row has never been beaten, only being equalled by Sebastian Vettel’s red hot run at the back end of 2013.

Ascari won further races that year in Britain and Switzerland to retain his title and become F1’s first double champion.

He left Ferrari at the end of that season to join the Lancia team for 1954. Unfortunately, their car was not ready until late in the season so Ascari raced twice for Maserati and once more for Ferrari, retiring from every race.

He did take pole in Spain when the Lancia was ready but retired again. 1955 started in a difficult way for Ascari, who retired from the season opening Argentinian Grand Prix.

At the next race at Monaco Ascari was leading until he lost concentration and veered through the barriers and into the sea, in one of the most bizarre retirements from an F1 race ever.

Just days after the Monaco crash Ascari was at Monza watching Eugenio Castellotti test a new Ferrari sports car. Ascari decided to have a go in the car and was sadly killed in a high speed crash.

The corner he crashed at was renamed Variante Ascari, the chicane we see today at Monza.

Ascari was one of the greats of F1’s early days, the sport’s first double champion and to this day, Italy’s only world champion.