16.08.2004 Alberto Ascari, who drove for Scuderia Ferrari in the legendary F500 F2, claimed the record of six consecutive victories during 1952

Michael Schumacher’s runaway victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix yesterday provided Ferrari not only with their 14th Constructors Championship, but also a new record of seven consecutive wins in one season.

Alberto Ascari, who drove for Scuderia Ferrari in the legendary F500 F2, claimed the record of six consecutive victories during 1952, which later expanded to nine wins if his 1953 season is included (with the same car).

For 48 years this achievement has proved to be unbeatable, and now Michael Schumacher’s next challenge will be to beat Ascari’s still standing total of nine consecutive wins record.

Born on 13th July 1918, Ascari followed in the footsteps of his father, Antonio, who was the greatest Italian racing driver of his day and a close friend of Enzo Ferrari.

Antonio Ascari was killed while leading the 1925 French Grand Prix, when Alberto was just seven. However the youngster was determined to follow in his father's footsteps, even twice running away from school to help further his ambition.

Making his first podium finish in an Alfa Romeo, Alberto Ascari is certainly one of the most overlooked drivers in the history of Formula 1, achieving two World Championship titles for Scuderia Ferrari between 1952 and 1953.

As well as driving for both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, he also raced the famous Lancia D50 in F1, and crossed the Atlantic to compete in the Indianapolis 500 at the wheel of a Ferrari.

A famous incident, during the Monaco Grand Prix of 1955, from which the Milanese star emerged unscathed, saw his Lancia crash clean through the barriers and into the harbour.

His underrated talent can partially be blamed on what turned out to be a brief career in high-profile racing, ending prematurely with a tragic testing accident at Monza on 26 May 1955, just a week after his crash into the Monaco harbour.

by James Granger