Formula One Driver Profile: Alberto Ascari, The Italian F1 Legend
Born on July 13th, 1918, in the Italian city of Milan, Alberto Ascari was only seven when his renowned dad Antonio, the prevailing Formula One European champion, lost his life in an accident at the 1924 French Grand Prix. Yet in spite of having lost his dear father to such a tragically heartbreaking fate, little Alberto could not help but be drawn by the thrill and passion of the ruthlessly relentless world of motor racing.
The Italian’s well-known surname helped spring board his motor sporting career, when at the age of 19, Alberto was enlisted with the Bianchi motorcycle squad. It was 1940 when Ascari made the transition to single-seaters following his stint at the two-wheel drive, when Enzo Ferrari, his father’s intimate acquaintance, offered him an outing in a Tipo 815 Spyder for the Mille Miglia event. When Italy became embroiled in the World War II struggle, the Ascari Fiat warehouse in Milan (an enterprise initiated by Antonio Ascari, which his son was now managing) was drafted into military service. During the war era, Ascari also set up a transport firm in partnership with Luigi Villoresi, a motor racer who became a confidential friend of the future Formula One World Champion.
When peace returned to the continent, Ascari was willing to give up his motor racing pursuits in view of his family obligations (Alberto had by now married and was the proud father of two children), yet Villoresi encouraged him otherwise. In 1949, the two friends were paired side-by-side in Enzo Ferrari’s squad- the side with whom Ascari would go on to win the World Championship title twice. In 1952, Alberto steered his Ferrari 500 to six wins from seven events en route to his first drivers’ title. The Italian emulated the feat in 1953, when he won the World Championship title for the second successive season after beating his rivals to seal five spectacular Grand Prix victories.
Following his consecutive driver’s titles, Ascari left Ferrari for Lancia, a move motivated by financial factors. After a fruitless 1954 run which came down to Lancias dearth of race- winning acumen, the Italian proceeded to inaugurate the ill-omened 1955 campaign. At the year’s Monaco Grand Prix, Ascari’s race commanding Lancia D50 unexpectedly veered out of check before plunging into the Mediterranean. Horrified onlookers ran to the drowning man’s aid, and Alberto soon recovered by a party of frogmen. The Italian’s injured nose and few other minor wounds were attended to at a Monaco hospital, where Alberto appeared to be as relieved over his amazing getaway as he was abashed.
It was just four days after the Monaco incident that Ascari made an unscheduled appearance at Monza to observe a preparatory run. His friend Eugenio Castellotti was taking a Ferrari 750 sports make, which both men were to ride in an upcoming contest- on an assessment run. The Italian astonished onlookers by deciding he would lap the Monza circuit for a little while to ensure the recent Monaco debacle had not compromised his confidence. Donned in casual trousers and a jacket, and unaccompanied by his traditional blue-coloured helmet, Alberto took to the Monza tracks wearing Castellotti’s white headgear. Midway through the third lap, Ascari’s Ferrari 750 skidded unfathomably as he appeared from a swift turn, plunging him out on the grid. The Italian’s numerous wounds caused him to die almost instantly.
Had Ascari temporarily fainted; a consequence of his mishap at Monaco? Had an abrupt rush of wind impaired his view for an instant? Did he turn his Ferrari aside on spur of moment to dodge an ambling track assistant, or maybe an animal?
The exact cause of Ascari’s death remains a mystery to this day. Yet the bizarre facts remain that the Italian died on May 26, 1955, aged 36, and his father had died at the same age on July 26, 1925. Both men had triumphed at 13 championships Grand Prix’s and both had died four days subsequent to having braved critical misadventures. The whole of Italy agonized over the death of one of Formula One’s finest ever drivers as Alberto Ascari was buried next to his father Antonio’s grave in Milan.
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