1951 Italian Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Ferrari driver Alberto Ascari won the 1951 Italian Grand Prix, beating championship contender and Alfa Romeo driver Juan Manuel Fangio, who retired on lap 39 due to engine issues. This victory cut Fangio’s lead in the 1951 Drivers’ Championship to two points.

Ascari faced a setback when his car caught fire during a pit stop, but the fire was quickly extinguished, allowing him to continue. Fangio eventually secured the first of his five world titles at the season finale in Spain. Ascari’s teammate Jose Froilan Gonzalez finished second, while Alfa Romeo driven by both Felice Bonetto and Nino Farina secured third.

It was the first Ferrari 1-2 finish.

Which F1 Team Has the Most 1-2 Finishes in Formula 1 History?

Qualifying

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Time
1	38	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	1:53.200
2	34	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	1:53.900
3	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	1:55.100
4	6	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Talbot-Lago	1:55.900
5	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	1:57.900
6	8	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	1:58.200
7	40	Felice Bonetto	Alfa Romeo	1:58.300
8	30	Reg Parnell	BRM	2:02.200
9	36	Toulo de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo	2:05.200
10	32	Ken Richardson	BRM	2:05.600
11	48	Andre Simon	Simca-Gordini	2:08.000
12	50	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	2:08.900
13	46	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	2:09.000
14	24	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago	2:09.300
15	18	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago	2:10.800
16	12	Chico Landi	Ferrari	2:11.200
17	20	Louis Chiron	Talbot-Lago	2:12.100
18	44	Franco Rol	OSCA	2:13.400
19	16	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	2:16.200
20	22	Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago	2:16.500
21	26	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago	2:18.600
22	28	Jacques Swaters	Talbot-Lago	2:18.800

1951 Italian Grand Starting Grid

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Time
1	38	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	1:53.200
2	34	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	1:53.900
3	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	1:55.100
4	6	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Talbot-Lago	1:55.900
5	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	1:57.900
6	8	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	1:58.200
7	40	Felice Bonetto	Alfa Romeo	1:58.300
8	30	Reg Parnell	BRM	2:02.200
9	36	Toulo de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo	2:05.200
10	32	Ken Richardson	BRM	2:05.600
11	48	Andre Simon	Simca-Gordini	2:08.000
12	50	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	2:08.900
13	46	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	2:09.000
14	24	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago	2:09.300
15	18	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago	2:10.800
16	12	Chico Landi	Ferrari	2:11.200
17	20	Louis Chiron	Talbot-Lago	2:12.100
18	44	Franco Rol	OSCA	2:13.400
19	16	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	2:16.200
20	22	Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago	2:16.500
21	26	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago	2:18.600
22	28	Jacques Swaters	Talbot-Lago	2:18.800

1951 Italian Grand Race Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/retired	Pts
1	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	80	2:42:39.300	8
2	6	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Ferrari	80	+44.600s	6
3	40	Felice Bonetto	Alfa Romeo		SHC	2
3	40	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	79	+1 lap	3
4	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	79	+1 lap	3
5	8	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	78	+2 laps	2
6	48	Andre Simon	Simca-Gordini	74	+6 laps	0
7	18	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago	73	+7 laps	0
8	24	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago	72	+8 laps	0
9	44	Franco Rol	OSCA	67	+13 laps	0
NC	38	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	39	DNF	0
NC	50	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	29	DNF	0
NC	46	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	29	DNF	0
NC	20	Louis Chiron	Talbot-Lago	23	DNF	0
NC	22	Pierre Levegh	Talbot-Lago	9	DNF	0
NC	28	Jacques Swaters	Talbot-Lago	7	DNF	0
NC	34	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	6	DNF	0
NC	26	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago	4	DNF	0
NC	36	Toulo de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo	1	DNF	0
NC	16	Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	1	DNF	0
NC	12	Chico Landi	Ferrari	1	DNF	0

1951 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Pos	Driver	Points
1	Juan Manuel Fangio	27 (28)
2	Alberto Ascari	25
3	José Froilán González	21
4	Nino Farina	17 (18)
5	Luigi Villoresi	15 (18)

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Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.