• GP: British GP
• Date: 13 May 1950
• Winner: Nino Farina - Alfa Romeo
First F1 Grand Prix. First winner. First hat-trick. All down to one man, Giuseppe Emilio Farina. Known as Nino, born on 30 October 1906, nephew to bodywork design genius Battista “Pinin” Farina. Pole position, fastest lap, a “Made in Italy' triumph: the car, Alfa Romeo, the tyres, Pirelli. Also on the podium, Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell, all in Alfa 158s. Farina takes 9 points, including the one for the fastest lap. The perfect start to a journey in seven legs. The curtain comes down in Monza. Farina is world champion ahead of Fangio and Fagioli. Nino, fearless, nervy, never without a cigar, always pushing. Already retired, he died on 30 June 1966, going off the road in Aiguebelle, Savoie, at the wheel of a Lotus Cortina, heading for Reims to attend the French GP. At Silverstone, also competing in that maiden F1 race were Joe Fry in a Maserati and Leslie Johnson in an ERA (English Racing Automobiles). That first historic event would be their last. Fry was killed on 29 July 1950 at a hillclimb in Blandford. Johnson died of a heart attack on 8 June 1959. Two forgotten heroes, of which there are many in motor racing.
In 2025 Pirelli will hit the 500 F1® Grands Prix mark during the season.
Legacy of Speed series looks back at the fifty most significant Grands Prix from Pirelli's time on the F1 World Championship trail.
