The first Formula One World Championship season took place in 1950. The inaugural FIA World Championship of Drivers ran from 13 May to 3 September and consisted of seven events, including the Indianapolis 500.
The opening race was the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 13 May 1950. Giuseppe “Nino” Farina won for Alfa Romeo after starting from pole position, while teammates Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell completed the podium. Farina ultimately became the first world champion.
A common mix-up is confusing the 1950 championship with earlier Grand Prix racing. Formula-style races existed before 1950, including major events held between the world wars, but the formal FIA World Championship began that year. The 1950 season was officially the fourth season of FIA Formula One racing, yet it was the first to award a world championship title.
The championship used an unusual calendar by modern standards: only seven rounds counted, and the best four results determined each driver’s final score.