Alberto Ascari was a two time Formula 1 world champion in a time when the sport was incredibly dangerous. Amazingly there are only two Italian world champions and Ascari has the distinction of winning both his championships driving a Ferrari.

Alberto Ascari was born to race, the son of a motor sport star of the 1920's, Antonio Ascari. His father's was killed in 1925 when leading in the French GP and Alberto's death 30 years later was to echo his father's passing.


 

Nationality & DoB - DoD	Italian , 13-07-1918,  26-05-1955
Team	Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia
Active years	1950-1955
Championships	2 (1952, 1953)
Races	33 (32 starts)
Wins	13
Podiums	17
Pole Positions	14
Fastest Laps	12
First Race	1950 Monaco Grand Prix
First Win	1951 German Grand Prix
Last Win	1953 Swiss Grand Prix
Last Race	1955 Monaco Grand Prix

As a boy Alberto knew many of the greats of racing, his father's fame living on in Italy well after his death. Enzo Ferrari was a family friend, and after Alberto's experimenting with motorbikes it was Enzo who gave him an opportunity to drive in a Ferrari in the 1940 Mille Miglia.
 
During World War II Ascari continued to operate the family garage in Milan supplying the Italian army. After the War Ascari raced in Grands Prix with Maserati, and in the years immediately preceding the introduction of the drivers' championship Ascari won numerous races.

Ferrari and Ascari debuted in the first Formula 1 World Championship at the 1950 Monaco GP, Ascari finishing in 2nd place. He was a disappointing fifth in the championship standings. He won his first World Championship F1 race the following season on the Nürburgring circuit and added a win at Monza, finishing runner up in the championship to Juan Manuel Fangio.

In 1952 Ascari dominated F1 in his Ferrari Tipo 500, he won all six European races and recorded the fastest lap in each race. He nearly scored the maximum amount of points a driver could earn, but drivers were given points for fastest laps at the time, and he had to share a half point with another driver in one race.

He won three more consecutive races to start the 1953 season, giving him nine straight wins (not counting Indy) before his streak ended when he finished 4th in France. He earned two more wins later in the year to win a second consecutive World Championship.
 
Following his runaway championships he moved to Lancia for more money than Ferrari was prepared to pay him. He was sidelined for most of 1954 because the Lancias' were not yet race-worthy.

Alberto Ascari was known for his conservative driving style, always strictly observing self-imposed safety margins, he studiously avoided exceeding the limits of his car or his ability, and whose relaxed and smooth style looked so effortless as to suggest he would have plenty of skill in reserve to correct any rare mistake and always conscious of to avoid silly mistakes that could cause serious accidents.
 
He was extremely superstitious and had developed many habits; he avoided black cats and 'unlucky' numbers and never allowed anyone else to handle the briefcase that contained his racing apparel: the lucky blue helmet and T-shirt, the goggles and gloves. Such makes the circumstances of his death even stranger.

Alberto Ascari's death in 1955 still perplexes: In the Monaco GP Ascari's Lancia swerved out of control in the harbour chicane and crashed off the road into the Mediterranean waters. The car sunk quickly and Ascari disappeared below the surface only to emerge about 30 seconds later. The outward injuries just a broken nose and a few bruises. Four days after his accident Ascari unexpectedly was in Monza watching at a test session. He said he wanted to do a few laps; he drove in a jacket and tie and without his 'lucky' blue helmet. On the third lap as he emerged from a fast curve the Ferrari unaccountably skidded, turned on its nose and somersaulted twice. Thrown out on the track, Ascari suffered multiple injuries and died a few minutes later.

The similarities between the deaths of Alberto and his father are incredible: Alberto Ascari died on May 26, 1955, at the age of 36. Antonio Ascari was also 36 when he died, on July 26, 1925 (Alberto was only 4 days older). Both father and son had won 13 championship Grand Prix and drove car number 26. Both were killed four days after surviving serious accidents and on the 26th day of the month. Both had crashed fatally at the exit of fast but easy left-hand corners and both left behind a wife and two children.
 
The record set by Ascari during the 1952 and 1953 World Championship seasons of recording the fastest lap in 7 successive races has not been matched to date.
 
Alberto Ascari was a great driver much admired by his peers. He is remembered as a charming man idolised by a legion of admirers.