The World Drivers' Championship 1947-49

[Bobby Doorknobs]

This is an attempt to address a question that I asked and the question is this: "What if Formula One started as a championship before 1950?" I took all of the Grandes Épreuves from 1947-49 and taking the results from these races organised them into a championship using the 8-6-4-3-2 points system. We start this with the first full season of Formula A (later Formula One) racing, 1947.

1947

The season started with the Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten which was curiously divided into two separate heats, with half the entrants racing in the first heat and the other half in the second. The results of the respective heats determined each driver's grid position for the final. Local drivers were exempt and advanced straight to the final (I can't seem to find their starting positions or how they were determined). The Alfa Romeos dominated both heats with Achille Varzi winning the first heat and Jean-Pierre Wimille winning the second. Alfa locked out the first four positions of the grid for the final, with Wimille on pole. He went on to dominate the race, setting the fastest lap and winning by three quarters of a minute from Varzi. Count Carlo Felice Trossi completed an Alfa Romeo lockout of the podium in third. Raymond Sommer was the only driver to beat one of the Alfas in a different car, beating Consalvo Sanesi to fourth in his Maserati 4CL.

Drivers' standings after round one

1. Jean-Pierre Wimille 9 pts.
2. Achille Varzi 6 pts.
3. Carlo Felice Trossi 4 pts.
4. Raymond Sommer 3 pts.
5. Consalvo Sanesi 2 pts.

Three weeks later came the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, which for this year was given the European Grand Prix title. This race had a more straightforward and familiar format than the system applied at Bremgarten, and once again the Alfas reigned supreme, but joining Wimille and Varzi on the front row was the Monégasque legend Louis Chiron in a Talbot-Lago. Unfortunately Chiron had engine trouble less than one third of the way in and once again Alfa Romeo locked out the podium, with Wimille dominating again, having lapped the whole field, Varzi second and Trossi and Giovanbattista Guidotti sharing the third place. Interestingly, Sanesi had a gearbox problem three laps from the end, and using modern rules he would have been classified fourth. However, at the time a driver had to complete a race to be classified and so Sanesi was shown as a retirement behind several drivers that completed less laps than he did.

Drivers' standings after round two

1. Jean-Pierre Wimille 18 pts.
2. Achille Varzi 12 pts.
3. Carlo Felice Trossi 6 pts.
4. Raymond Sommer 3 pts.
5. Giovanbattista Guidotti 2 pts.
6. Consalvo Sanesi 2 pts.
7. Maurice Trintignant 2 pts.
=8. Bob Gerard 1.5 pts.
=8. Cuth Harrison 1.5 pts.

It was nearly three months before Alfa Romeo's home race, the Italian Grand Prix in their home city of Milan. Wimille was not present, and in his place Alfa put Alessandro Gaboardi. The entire entry list, with the exception of four French cars, was made up of Italian machinery, more than half of which were Maseratis. Sanesi took pole, with Trossi second and Luigi Villoresi keeping Varzi off the front row in a new tubular chassis Maserati. Gaboardi was well off the pace, qualifying ninth, nearly eight seconds off pole. The race was one of attrition, with only nine of the 22 starters finishing. Only two Maseratis finished out of eleven starters, and an additional two non-starters. The Alfas took the first four positions, with Trossi only just edging out Varzi by a tenth of a second to win. The other pointscorer was 29-year-old Alberto Ascari in a Maserati entered by Scuderia Ambrosiana.

Drivers' standings after round three

1. Jean-Pierre Wimille 18 pts.
2. Achille Varzi 18 pts.
3. Carlo Felice Trossi 15 pts.
4. Consalvo Sanesi 6 pts.
5. Alessandro Gaboardi 3 pts.
6. Giovanbattista Guidotti 2 pts.
7. Maurice Trintignant 2 pts.
8. Alberto Ascari 2 pts.
=9. Bob Gerard 1.5 pts.
=9. Cuth Harrison 1.5 pts.

The last race of the 1947 season was the most prestigious of them all, the French Grand Prix, held at Lyon-Parilly. Alfa Romeo did not enter this race, turning it into a dead rubber with Jean-Pierre Wimille becoming the new World Champion by the narrowest possible margin from Varzi. Louis Chiron won in the Talbot-Lago by more than a minute and a half from Henri Louveau's Maserati. The fastest lap was shared between three drivers: Luigi Villoresi, his protégé Alberto Ascari and Comte George Raphaël Béthenod de Montbressieux, or "Raph" as he was known on the entry list.

Final standings:

1. Jean-Pierre Wimille 18 pts.
2. Achille Varzi 18 pts.
3. Carlo Felice Trossi 15 pts.
4. Louis Chiron 8 pts.
5. Henri Louveau 6 pts.
6. Consalvo Sanesi 6 pts.
7. Eugène Chaboud 4 pts.
8. Louis Rosier 3 pts.
9. Alessandro Gaboardi 3 pts.
10. Alberto Ascari 2.33 pts.
11. Giovanbattista Guidotti 2 pts.
12. Charles Pozzi 2 pts.
13. Maurice Trintignant 2 pts.
=14. Bob Gerard 1.5 pts.
=14. Cuth Harrison 1.5 pts.
=16. Luigi Villoresi 0.33 pts.
=16. Raph 0.33 pts.

[dr-baker]

Ahh, I see you are not including the Indy 500s in this. Probably would not make much difference to the overall championship, as the Europeans probably were not competing much at this time.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

I honestly wonder just what Wimille could b available done in F1 had he lived longer.

[Bobby Doorknobs]

I accidentally posted this as a new topic earlier and then deleted the post, only to then realise that I no longer had the original draft. Well, here it is anyway.

1948

The first round of the new season was the return of the Monaco Grand Prix, having not been held since 1937. Like in France the previous year Alfa Romeo were not present, so reigning champion Wimille entered the race in a Gordini, taking second on the grid alongside the new Maserati 4CLTs driven by Nino Farina and Luigi Villoresi. This race also saw the debut of Ferrari, with the Russian Prince Igor Troubetzkoy driving a 166C. He crashed out 58 laps in. Wimille also retired with engine trouble. Farina took the win by over half a minute from local hero Louis Chiron, with Swiss Baron Toulo de Graffenried third in the old Maserati 4CL.

Drivers' standings after round one

1. Giuseppe Farina 9 pts.
2. Louis Chiron 6 pts.
3. Toulo de Graffenried 4 pts.
4. Maurice Trintignant 3 pts.
=5. Luigi Villoresi 1 pt.
=5. Alberto Ascari 1 pt.

Next up was the Swiss Grand Prix and Alfa Romeo were back with the same successful line-up that they used for most of the previous year. However, tragedy struck in practice. On a wet track Varzi lost control, flipped his car and was crushed to death. He was 43. Alfa continued, now down to three cars and Wimille took pole. He was joined by the tubular chassis Maseratis of Farina and Villoresi, showing that they had gained some competitiveness with the new 4CLT. The Maseratis were not so competitive in the race, with Trossi leading Wimille home by just two tenths of a second for an Alfa Romeo 1-2. Villoresi was over two and a half minutes down in third. There was another fatal crash during the race: Local privateer and former Auto Union driver Christian Kautz, aged 34.

Drivers' standings after round two

1. Giuseppe Farina 9 pts.
2. Carlo Felice Trossi 8 pts.
3. Jean-Pierre Wimille 7 pts.
4. Louis Chiron 6 pts.
5. Luigi Villoresi 5 pts.
6. Toulo de Graffenried 4 pts.
7. Maurice Trintignant 3 pts.
8. Consalvo Sanesi 3 pts.
9. Alberto Ascari 3 pts.

The French Grand Prix had been moved to Reims and was notable for being the Grand Prix debut of future multiple World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio, driving a Gordini. He would not finish the race. This race was also the only post-war Grande Épreuve appearance for the great Tazio Nuvolari, now 54 years old. He finished seventh in a Maserati that was shared with Villoresi. Up front the Alfas locked out the front row and the podium, Wimille taking a home victory and the championship lead.

Drivers' standings after round three

1. Jean-Pierre Wimille 16 pts.
2. Giuseppe Farina 9 pts.
3. Consalvo Sanesi 9 pts.
4. Carlo Felice Trossi 8 pts.
5. Alberto Ascari 7 pts.
6. Louis Chiron 6 pts.
7. Luigi Villoresi 5 pts.
8. Toulo de Graffenried 4 pts.
9. Maurice Trintignant 3 pts.
10. Franco Comotti 3 pts.
11. Raph 2 pts.

The final round of the season was the Italian Grand Prix, held this time at Valentino Park in Turin, the site of the first Formula A race in 1946. Alfa Romeo were naturally present for their home Grand Prix, meaning a championship fight could take place, even if the odds were stacked in Wimille's favour. He dominated the race, lapping the whole field and becoming a double World Champion. Villoresi was second and Raymond Sommer took Ferrari's first podium in third, driving the first Ferrari purpose built for Formula One: the 125.

Final standings

1. Jean-Pierre Wimille 25 pts.
2. Luigi Villoresi 11 pts.
3. Alberto Ascari 10 pts.
4. Giuseppe Farina 9 pts.
5. Consalvo Sanesi 9 pts.
6. Carlo Felice Trossi 8 pts.
7. Louis Chiron 6 pts.
8. Toulo de Graffenried 4 pts.
9. Raymond Sommer 4 pts.
10. Franco Comotti 3 pts.
11. Maurice Trintignant 3 pts.
12. Reg Parnell 2 pts.
13. Raph 2 pts.

[dr-baker]

Who was 'Raph'? Obviously a pseudonym... Never heard of him before. Did he ever turn up in F1? Was he also a pre-war driver?

[Nessafox]

Who was 'Raph'? Obviously a pseudonym... Never heard of him before. Did he ever turn up in F1? Was he also a pre-war driver?

... and Comte George Raphaël Béthenod de Montbressieux, or "Raph" as he was known on the entry list

Apparently, he never turned up in F1, but i don't know about any pre-war career.

[Bobby Doorknobs]

Who was 'Raph'? Obviously a pseudonym... Never heard of him before. Did he ever turn up in F1? Was he also a pre-war driver?

The French Wikipedia article has some information on him. He was born in Buenos Aires and his racing career started in 1935 aged 25 when he and Raymond Sommer attempted to buy an Alfa Romeo Tipo B from Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari thought that they wanted a car each, rather than one car between them, so Raph had to pay 150,000 francs for a second car. In 1936 he traded it for a Maserati, but didn't achieve great results and sold it. Then he suffered a terrible accident at Le Mans in 1937, leaving him out of racing for six months with a broken leg. He returned to racing with Piero Dusio in 1938. After the war he won the 1946 Nantes Grand Prix in a Maserati. In 1948 he bought a new Talbot-Lago T26C and came second at the Comminges Grand Prix. Three weeks later he had a terrible crash at Albi which resulted in a fractured skull. He suffered from some form of amnesia for the rest of his life, but still occasionally raced until selling his Talbot in Brazil in 1950. After that he became the personal driver of his friend Maurice Chevalier.

[dr-baker]

Who was 'Raph'? Obviously a pseudonym... Never heard of him before. Did he ever turn up in F1? Was he also a pre-war driver?

The French Wikipedia article has some information on him. He was born in Buenos Aires and his racing career started in 1935 aged 25 when he and Raymond Sommer attempted to buy an Alfa Romeo Tipo B from Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari thought that they wanted a car each, rather than one car between them, so Raph had to pay 150,000 francs for a second car. In 1936 he traded it for a Maserati, but didn't achieve great results and sold it. Then he suffered a terrible accident at Le Mans in 1937, leaving him out of racing for six months with a broken leg. He returned to racing with Piero Dusio in 1938. After the war he won the 1946 Nantes Grand Prix in a Maserati. In 1948 he bought a new Talbot-Lago T26C and came second at the Comminges Grand Prix. Three weeks later he had a terrible crash at Albi which resulted in a fractured skull. He suffered from some form of amnesia for the rest of his life, but still occasionally raced until selling his Talbot in Brazil in 1950. After that he became the personal driver of his friend Maurice Chevalier.

Thanks. That was really interesting!

[Bobby Doorknobs]

1949

The 1949 pre-season was marred by the death of reigning double World Champion Jean-Pierre Wimille in practice for the Buenos Aires Grand Prix in January. Alfa Romeo was not taking part this season, leaving it to Ferrari and the privateer teams to scrap it out for the title. The season began with the return of the British Grand Prix to Grande Épreuve status after the success of the previous year's race. The new Silverstone circuit had a change to its layout, with the runways no longer being used and instead only used the perimeter roads. It was still a very fast circuit. Toulo de Graffenried took victory in a race of attrition that saw the three drivers that started ahead of him run into some sort of trouble as it unfolded. Second was the ERA of Bob Gerard, with Louis Rosier third in his Talbot.

Standings after round one

1. Toulo de Graffenried 8 pts.
2. Bob Gerard 6 pts.
3. Louis Rosier 4 pts.
4. Philippe Étancelin 2 pts.
=5. David Hampshire 1.5 pts.
=5. Billy Cotton 1.5 pts.
7. Prince Bira 1 pt.

Spa was back after its absence from the 1948 calendar and saw Ferrari make its first serious entry of the season with Ascari and Villoresi. Villoresi took pole. Alongside him were Fangio in a Maserati and 52-year-old Philippe Étancelin third in the works Talbot-Lago, the only time they would enter this year as a works outfit. Ultimately it was Rosier that took victory and the championship lead. Ascari and Villoresi followed him home. For the second race in a row the fastest lap was set by a driver who retired, Nino Farina with a 5:19, before crashing out ten laps in.

Standings after round two

1. Louis Rosier 12 pts.
2. Toulo de Graffenried 8 pts.
3. Luigi Villoresi 6 pts.
4. Bob Gerard 6 pts.
5. Alberto Ascari 4 pts.
6. Peter Whitehead 3 pts.
7. Johnny Claes 2 pts.
8. Philippe Étancelin 2 pts.
=9. David Hampshire 1.5 pts.
=9. Billy Cotton 1.5 pts.
10. Prince Bira 1 pt.
11. Giuseppe Farina 1 pt.

Bremgarten was next and the Maseratis were quick in qualifying, pole position going to Farina with Prince Bira of Thailand second. Ascari led the Ferrari charge in third. Farina took fastest lap followed by retirement again in a race where there were only three DNFs. Ascari capitalised, leading Villoresi in a Ferrari 1-2. Bira only managed fifth, two minutes down. There was now a three-way tie for the championship lead.

Standings after round three

1. Louis Rosier 12 pts.
2. Alberto Ascari 12 pts.
3. Luigi Villoresi 12 pts.
4. Toulo de Graffenried 8 pts.
5. Bob Gerard 6 pts.
6. Philippe Étancelin 5 pts.
7. Raymond Sommer 4 pts.
8. Peter Whitehead 3 pts.
9. Prince Bira 3 pts.
10. Johnny Claes 2 pts.
11. Giuseppe Farina 2 pts.
=12. David Hampshire 1.5 pts.
=12. Billy Cotton 1.5 pts.

Fangio was back for the French Grand Prix, and promptly qualified second, just as he had done at Spa. Villoresi took another pole, and his championship rival Rosier was third. In contrast to the previous race in Switzerland, the high-speed nature of Reims really took its toll on the cars, with only seven crossing the finish line. All the retirements were mechanical. Crucially for Rosier, none of his rivals made it to the finish. Louis Chiron won, with Bira second and Whitehead third. Rosier himself picked up three points in fourth. Whitehead became the first driver of 1949 to finish a race and set fastest lap, ironically in the one that had the least finishers.

Standings after round four

1. Louis Rosier 15 pts.
2. Alberto Ascari 12 pts.
3. Luigi Villoresi 12 pts.
4. Prince Bira 9 pts.
5. Toulo de Graffenried 8 pts.
6. Louis Chiron 8 pts.
7. Peter Whitehead 8 pts.
8. Raymond Sommer 6 pts.
9. Bob Gerard 6 pts.
10. Philippe Étancelin 5 pts.
11. Johnny Claes 2 pts.
12. Giuseppe Farina 2 pts.
=13. David Hampshire 1.5 pts.
=13. Billy Cotton 1.5 pts.

Monza was the host of a title showdown that had seven drivers in with a mathematical chance of winning the championship. Chiron was not present, already ruling himself out. Realistically though, it was between Rosier, Villoresi and Ascari. The Italian master and pupil shared the front row. Rosier, the championship leader was way down in tenth. Both Rosier and Villoresi went out during the race. Ascari had no such problems and dominated, going on to win on home soil, taking his and Ferrari's first World Championship.

Final standings:

1. Alberto Ascari 21 pts.
2. Louis Rosier 15 pts.
3. Prince Bira 13 pts.
4. Luigi Villoresi 12 pts.
5. Toulo de Graffenried 11 pts.
6. Philippe Étancelin 11 pts.
7. Louis Chiron 8 pts.
8. Peter Whitehead 8 pts.
9. Raymond Sommer 8 pts.
10. Bob Gerard 6 pts.
11. Johnny Claes 2 pts.
12. Giuseppe Farina 2 pts.
=13. David Hampshire 1.5 pts.
=13. Billy Cotton 1.5 pts.