The Formula One series traces its origins to the Grand Prix motor racing European Championship from the 1920s to the 1930s. Formula One had a new set of rules agreed upon in 1946. The first batch of Formula One races took place that year, but they were not championship races. Several Grand Prix racing organizations had already laid out the rules for a world championship before World War II. Unfortunately, World War II resulted in the suspension of all races, and the World Driver's Championship was postponed.
Following the end of the World War, the first World Championship race was in 1950, in Silverstone, UK. This historic event saw Giuseppe Farina win the first Formula One World Championship for drivers. In 1951, Juan Manuel Fangio won the title, the first of the five he had won by 1957 to set the record of the most championship titles for a driver. His record remained unbroken for 45 years until 2003 when Michael Schumacher won six titles.
Formula One World Championship for constructors
The first constructors' championship took place in 1958. In the acclaimed Alfa Roméo 158/159, Fangio won a record 24 wins in the 52 races he entered. The record has never been broken to date. The UK's Stirling Moss was also considered one of the best drivers despite never winning. He clinched the second or third positions in all the races he entered. The Championships were held in the UK and South Africa until the 1970s. Promoters also ran non-championship events for several years. The last of such events occurred in 1983 due to the increasing cost of the competition, which made the Formula One World Championship stand out and become even more popular.
The British dominance
The historical accounts of the Formula One World Championship usually include the era of British dominance. This ran between 1958 and 1974, ushered in by Vanwall and Mike Hawthorn's championship wins in 1958, strengthened by the outstanding performances of Stirling Moss despite him never winning the world title. British teams won 14 Constructor's Championships, and drivers won nine Driver's Championships during the British dominance era.