They’re the daredevils of the road, notorious for their reckless driving, causing havoc and writing off countless cars. They’re often the supporting cast, occasionally the victors, but rarely the champions. They’re timeless figures, even in the present day. They are the Bad Boys of F1. Today, we delve into the story of one such Bad Boy of Formula 1: Giuseppe Farina.
Giuseppe Farina made history in 1950 by becoming the first Formula 1 World Champion. At the age of 45, he had already earned a reputation as a fearless, sometimes reckless, driver. In the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, when Farina was active, this was not a commendation.
The cars of this era were so fragile that accidents often had fatal consequences. The controversial Italian was twice involved in deadly accidents and was held responsible. In 1936, Farina caused an accident at the Grand Prix of Deauville that claimed the life of the popular French driver Marcel Lehoux.
Struck by Fate
Two years later, he attempted to overtake Hungarian László Hartmann in Tripoli, but did so clumsily, hitting Hartmann’s front wheel with his rear one. The Hungarian driver flipped over and broke his back, dying a day later. Neither Hartmann’s nor Lehoux’s deaths had any consequences for Farina.
Giuseppe Farina continued racing and only retired in 1956. A decade later, Farina was en route to the French Grand Prix, which he intended to attend as a spectator, when he lost control of his car on a mountain road near Chambéry. This time, Farina could not escape fate. He died in the crash.
