STORY OF THE DAY: Oil, tragedy and retirement in Geneva
The third Grand Prix des Nations, held on Geneva’s fast and unforgiving street circuit on 30 July 1950, was a non-championship Formula One race. Alberto Ascari drove Ferrari 340 F1 number 40 but retired near the end when its engine failed. The event carried no points toward the inaugural World Drivers’ Championship.

Ascari’s failure had grave consequences
oil from the Ferrari was deposited on the circuit, and teammate Luigi Villoresi lost control after reaching the affected section. His car broke through the protective barrier and entered a spectator area. Villoresi suffered serious injuries, while three spectators were killed and others were injured; the disaster brought the history of the Grand Prix des Nations to a tragic close.

The 340 F1 represented Ferrari’s search for greater power against Alfa Romeo’s dominant supercharged cars. Its defining feature was a naturally aspirated V12 enlarged to approximately 4.1 litres, an intermediate step between Ferrari’s earlier 1.5-litre supercharged design and the 4.5-litre 375 F1 that followed later in 1950.

Alberto Ascari was a Milanese driver and the son of pre-war Grand Prix star Antonio Ascari. He became one of Ferrari’s central figures during the marque’s formative years in Formula One, combining speed with notable precision. Although Geneva ended in retirement and tragedy, Ascari would soon lead Ferrari to consecutive World Drivers’ Championships in 1952 and 1953.