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Luigi Fagioli enjoyed a career of longevity. He raced pre and post-war and was F1’s oldest-ever Grand Prix winner.
The best drivers of the 1950s to never win an F1 title: Luigi Fagioli (Image Credit: @TheBishF1 on X)A promising start
Fagioli’s career spans back to 1928, when he competed in the Tripoli Grand Prix. Over the next few years, he only did the Tripoli Grand Prix until 1931.
In 1931, he finished second at the Monaco Grand Prix, won the Monza Grand Prix and finished second in the Tunis Grand Prix. In 1932, the Italian had a fantastic season, finishing third in Monaco and second at the Italian Grand Prix.
1933 to 1935 was prime Fagioli. In 1933, he won the Coppa Acerbo and the Italian Grand Prix and finished second in the Marseilles, Czech, and Spanish Grand Prix. However, because the championship was not held, his results did not count as part of a championship and were purely individual.
In 1934, there was no championship, but he won the Coppa Acerbo for the second time. He won in Spain after being the bridesmaid the previous year and retained his title of reigning Italian Grand Prix winner.
1935 was a return to the European Championship format, and Fagioli would shine, finishing second to Rudolf Caracciola in the standings after winning the Monaco Grand Prix.
He dominated the race, winning by 31.5 seconds from Rene Dreyfus, and thus putting his name among many distinguished drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. In non-championship events, Fagioli won at Avus and Montujic Park.
Post-war return to racing
Luigi Fagioli at the 1951 French GP (Image Credit: @Formula1_OTD on X)After World War II, he returned and drove for Alfa Romeo in the first-ever Formula One World Championship in 1950, alongside Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio.
At the British Grand Prix, the first F1 race, he would qualify second behind Farina and ahead of Fangio. These three went on to dominate the season. This was evidenced by Giuseppe Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Fagioli duelling for the win, with Fagioli coming home second after Fangio retired following a burst oil pipe.
The recurring theme of 1950 was that Fagioli would finish, one of his teammates would retire, and one would win. The only contrast was Monaco when Fagioli retired due to the first-lap melee that Farina caused.
Fagioli qualified third in Switzerland and would finish only four tenths behind Farina, with them duelling for the lead until the end. Fangio retired from engine trouble. After three rounds, Farina led with 18 points, six points ahead of Fagioli.
Third in Belgium qualifying and second in the race came, as he comfortably finished second behind Fangio while Farina finished fourth, helping Fagioli close two points on Farina. Now it was Farina on 22, Fagioli on 18 and Fangio on 17, with two rounds left in France and Italy.
France was an as-you-were case, as he once again finished second behind only Fangio, who won by an incredible 25 seconds from Fagioli. Now it was time for the finale at Monza, with the points as so: Fangio on 26, Fagioli on 24, and Farina on 22.
Final title push
For Fagioli to win the title, he needed to do something he had not achieved all season: win. Only their four best performances counted, and Fagioli had four second-place finishes, meaning he had to win.
It didn’t start well for him, only fifth on the grid, some 5.4 seconds behind Fangio and 3.8 behind Farina. Fangio now led, with Alberto Ascari, Farina, Consalvo Sanesi, and Fagioli following behind.
This proved not to be one of Fagioli’s best races, despite Monza being a happy hunting ground for him. He ran behind Taruffi, Fangio, Ascari and Farina, only gaining when someone retired from the race.
He banked on Fangio, Ascari and Farina hitting issues, as he did not keep up with their pace. Fangio broke down on lap 23 with a seized gearbox, meaning Fagioli needed just a bit more luck, as Fangio was taken care of. Sadly, luck did not come, and he finished third, which did not mean anything as it was not one of his four best results. He finished third in the championship.
With the modern points format, Fangio would have 77 points, Farina would have 96 points, and Fagioli would have scored 87 points. Fagioli was unlucky in terms of overall points; he beat Fangio and was penalised for being consistent.
His only win would come in his last F1 race in a shared drive with Fangio. Fagioli became the oldest F1 race winner at 53 years, 22 days, almost seven years older than Farina and Fangio. He died just a year later after an accident in Monaco, aged 54.
Feature Image Credit: @TheBishF1 on X