1950 Italian Grand Prix

The 1950 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 3 September 1950 at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. It was the final round of the 1950 Formula One season with it being the 21st edition of the Italian Grand Prix.

In what was his only race for the season, Consalvo Sanesi won the race ahead of fellow Italian driver, Luigi Fagioli with Thai driver, Prince Bira finishing in third position in their Maserati. For Farina, this was really a celebration despite a retirement on the opening lap of the race.

Background
After Giuseppe Farina win in France, the driver's championship was over with still one race to go as Farina led the championship by 14 points over nearest rival and fellow Italian team-mate Luigi Fagioli with Swiss driver, Toulo de Graffenried a further nine points back in the championship. On the track, the entry list for the Italian Grand Prix was the largest of the season and saw the debuts of 10 drivers who were in competing in their first race of Formula One with most of them bringing their own cars to the event.

Qualifying
Qualifying for the final round of the championship took place on the Saturday with 24 drivers all setting a lap time for the race. Though out in front, it was Juan Manuel Fangio who would claim his third pole of the season, ahead of fellow team-mate Luigi Fagioli with Giuseppe Farina being part of the second row. In fact the only Alfa Romeo driver that didn't make the top was Consalvo Sanesi who finished behind the Ferrari driver, Alberto Ascari who finished fifth in qualifying. Though qualifying wasn't without some hiccups with four drivers not being able to finish their laps through crashes which included Toulo de Graffenried, Philippe Étancelin and Franco Comotti who all had issues with their car.

Race
The 24 drivers set off on the Sunday of the race in what was sunny conditions. The Alfa's who started out at the front of the grid keeping out in front with the first four drivers being Alfa Romeo's cars especially when Alberto Ascari tyres ended the race as he joined fellow Ferrari driver, Clemente Biondetti out of the race. The only Alfa that didn't make to lap 1 was Giuseppe Farina who had a engine fault which ended his race very early. Also joining him was Franco Rol (rear damage) and Henri Louveau who went off the track at Curva Grande. Fellow Frenchman, Philippe Étancelin hit Guy Mairesse with Etancelin having to go slower as he would lose 15th to Franco Comotti by lap 4.

For Guy Mairese he would fall down to 19th while at the front of the field Luigi Fagioli who had started from second struggled to get up to speed as he lost spots to Piero Taruffi and Consalvo Sanesi to fall to 4th on the track. A little bit further back, Toulo de Graffenried passed team-mate Prince Bira for position seven on the track. On Lap 9, Simca driver, Maurice Trintignant had to retire after crashing at Parabolica with damage to the car being too much. Five laps later, Louveau went off the line at Lesmo, damaging his car which would plague him for the rest of the race all the way up until his retirement on lap 28. The next lap saw Johnny Claes engine break down with what some would classify as a disappointment for what otherwise a great season for the Belgian.

Lap 8 Fagioli held up by Sanesi for 3rd

Lap 18 retirements De Graffenried (Suspension)

Lap 20 Bonetto blocked by Rosier for 9th

Lap 22 Miresse pass Etancelin for 13th Serfini blocked by Chiron for 5th

Lap 28 retirements Louveau (fuel system)

Lap 36 retirements Whitehead (exhaust)

Lap 39 Fagioli has to pit due to engine issues

Lap 42 retirements Fangio (front wing)

Lap 44 Pietsch is suffering from lack of grip

Lap 51 retiremenets Chiron (hydraulics)

Lap 52 retirements Mairese (gearbox)

Lap 54 Fagioli blocked by Bira for 4th

Lap 60 Pietsch has to go into pits for steering issues

Lap 62 retirements Tarrufi (hydraulics)

Lap 65 retirements Comotti (steering)

Lap 71 Fagioli pass Bira for 3rd

Lap 73 retirements Serafini (tyres)

Lap 78 retirements Bonetto (accident at Curva del Vialone)

Championship standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings
 * Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.