This was the first decade of the formula 1 championship, running in a format very different to what it is nowadays. The format back then was as follows: 7+ championship races (it changed through the seasons) throughout the season with points awarded to the top 5 finishers on an 8-6-4-3-2 basis, with an extra point for getting the fastest lap of the race. However, only the best 4 results counted toward the championship.
Below are the great champions and constructors (did not start until 1958) of this decade:
| Year | Driver's Champion | Constructor's Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Giuseppe "Nino" Farina | N/A |
| 1951 | Juan Manuel Fangio | N/A |
| 1952 | Alberto Ascari | N/A |
| 1953 | Alberto Ascari | N/A |
| 1954 | Juan Manuel Fangio | N/A |
| 1955 | Juan Manuel Fangio | N/A |
| 1956 | Juan Manuel Fangio | N/A |
| 1957 | Juan Manuel Fangio | N/A |
| 1958 | Mike Hawthorn | Vanwall |
| 1959 | Jack Brabham | Cooper-Climax |
Fun fact: Fangio's record of winning 5 championships would not be broken until Schumacher won his 6th in 2003, over 46 years later!
Below are some historic track layouts used in the 1950s:
