The Ferrari 'madman' who pioneered dirty F1 driving
As part of Formula 1's 70th birthday celebrations, it is time to look back at Giuseppe Farina's most memorable feat, winning the first F1 world championship race at Silverstone in 1950 and taking the inaugural title that same year. But, as NIGEL ROEBUCK explains, he had a fearsome reputation for his driving antics both on and off the track, which, in a motorsport era infamous for its lack of safety, put his fellow racers on edge
While there had been grand prix racing for nearly half a century, it was not until 1950 that Formula 1 was born, and with it the world championship. Silverstone in May started it all, and the man on pole position also won the race and set the fastest lap. Giuseppe Farina went on to become the first world champion.
Born into a wealthy Turin family in 1906, Farina won several major races in the 1930s, driving Maseratis and Alfa Romeos, but it may be said that, as with Hermann Lang, his greatest years were surely lost to the Second World War.
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