1950 Italian Grand Prix

Championship standings

All three of Alfa Romeo’s regular drivers arrive at Monza in contention for the inaugural World Championship. Fangio leads with 26 points — two clear of Fagioli, who has finished second in four of his five starts, and four ahead of Farina. Fagioli has already completed four scoring finishes and cannot drop any results; Fangio and Farina have only three finishes each, meaning both have a result still to count.

Previous race

At Reims, Fangio won for the second consecutive race and took the championship lead for the first time. Fagioli finished second. Peter Whitehead, driving a privateer Ferrari in his first start of the season, took third despite a fractured head gasket in the closing laps. Farina suffered fuel pump trouble after leading the opening quarter of the race and ultimately retired.

Championship permutations

Fangio takes the title if he finishes first or second, regardless of where his teammates finish. Farina needs to score at least five points to remain in contention. Fagioli’s only path to the championship is to win the race and set the fastest lap — and even then he would need Farina to finish no higher than third and Fangio to score no points at all.

Entrants

Ferrari have produced a new unsupercharged 4½-litre engine for this race in an attempt to end Alfa Romeo’s monopoly. Alfa Romeo field five cars at Monza: the three regular entries for Farina, Fangio, and Fagioli, plus additional cars for Consalvo Sanesi and Piero Taruffi. Dorino Serafini drives the second Ferrari. Five drivers — Giovanni Bracco, Luigi de Filippis, Reg Parnell, Luigi Platé, and Franco Bordoni — withdrew before practice.