That 1951 British Grand Prix was rich in emotions for Enzo Ferrari and his troops: it was the scene of the first pole position and the first victory in Formula 1 for Ferrari as a team and engine manufacturer, as well as the first success in the category for one of its pilots, the Argentine José Froilán González .
That year, the Alfa Romeo 159s had shown a clear advantage since the start of the season, but the Ferrari 375s were on the prowl. Two weeks after the French Grand Prix, Formula 1 pitched its tent at the speedy Silverstone, a former military airfield converted into a racing circuit.
It was González who, at the controls of his Ferrari, achieved the best time in qualifying with a mark of 1:43.4 at an average speed of 161.861 km/h. He beat the two big Alfa Romeo stars, Juan Manuel Fangio and Giuseppe Farina, by more than a second.
Surprise at the start of the 1951 Silverstone race
However, it was Italian Felice Bonetto , starting from seventh on the grid at the wheel of the fourth Alfa Romeo, who took the lead on the first lap. But González quickly overtook him and regained the lead. However, Fangio would later overtake José Froilán González and lead between the 10th and 38th laps.
The two rivals switched positions during pit stops for refueling, but González, whose Ferrari was more fuel efficient, regained the lead over Fangio and held on to lead until the checkered flag, which was waved as the cars finished lap 90.
González thus secured Ferrari’s first victory, finishing with a comfortable 51-second lead over Fangio and two laps over Luigi Villoresi , third at the wheel of another Ferrari.
That was the first triumph of the most successful team in history, after which more than 240 first places would come over the decades, led by 40 different drivers. In addition, a year later, with Alberto Ascari, those of the Cavallino would reach the first of the 15 world championships of pilots that they treasure.
Another July 14, this time in 1956, also in the British GP, Alfonso de Portago would achieve his first and only podium in Formula 1, the first for a Spanish driver in the highest category.
Enjoy the official poster of that 1951 Formula 1 British GP race at Silverstone, which went down in history for hosting Ferrari’s first victory.
