1950 French Grand Prix

The 1950 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 2 July 1950 at Reims-Gueux. It was the fifth round of the 1950 Formula One season with it being the 37th edition of the French Grand Prix.

Background
Heading into the fifth round of the 1950 season, Giuseppe Farina led the overall championship but after retiring in the previous race, their margin towards the chasing pact had dropped to 11 points. This was led by previous winner and fellow team-mate Luigi Fagioli with Louis Rosier who finished third, a further four points back.

Qualifying
Hampshire Out in Min 22 (hydraulics) Giraud-Cabanto Out in Min 32 (off backstraight) Schell Out IN Min 36 (fUEL) Gonzalez Out in Min 39 (EXHAUST) Levegh Out in Min 50 (exhaust)

Race
Lap 1 retirements Bira (suspension) Parnell (front wing) Giraud-CABANTOUS (tyres) Hampshire (engine)

Rol passes Bonetto/Manzon/Rosier all up to 12th Pozzi also passes Rosier Comoti passes Whitehead for 6th Villoresi passes Ascari and later Fangio for 3rd Fagioli passes Fangio Gonzalez passes Bonetto/Manzon/Rosier for 13th Levegh passes Bonetto/Manzon for 15th

Lap 3 retirements Fangio (hydraulics) Gonzalez (accident at Geux)

Manzon passes Claes for 18th

Lap 5 Claes went off track at Thilois De Graffenried and Whitehead collided

Lap 9 Battle for 3rd between Villoresi/Ascari Battle for 5th between Comotti/De Graffenried

Etancellin passes Whitehead for 7th

Lap 14 retirements Rol had troubles with the engine and had to go into pits Chiron (suspension)

Lap 16 retirements Rosier (brakes)

Lap 19 Martin passes Whitehead for 8th

Lap 20 Rol had made another error, had to go into pits

Lap 30 Bonetto passes Manzon for 13th

Lap 32 Battle for 6th between Etancellin/De Graffenried

Lap 37 Levegh went off the line a little bit but held on

Lap 42 retirements Manzon (front wing)

Lap 48 retirements Villoresi (engine failure) Whitehead (engine)

Lap 50 retirements Schell (caught in collison) Levegh and Bonetto collide, only Bonetto had to go into pits Comotti and De Graffenried bumped wheels with Comotti losing time

Lap 54 Chaboud is being held up by Pozzi for 8th

Lap 59 retirements Comotti (engine)