Monaco 1950: Ferrari's debut and Fangio's maiden triumph in F1

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The Monaco Grand Prix held on this day in 1950 was marked by two historical premieres for two of motorsport's most famous names: Ferrari and Fangio.

The Scuderia made its debut in the Formula 1 World Championship in the Principality, entering the event with Alberto Ascari, Luigi Villoresi (seen here above) and Raymond Sommer.

However, the horde of 1.5-litre supercharged V12 prancing horses wasn't enough to prevent Juan-Manuel Fangio from scoring his maiden F1 win, the great Argentine blitzing the field onboard his Alfa Romeo 158, never putting a foot wrong over the course of the 100-lap race that lasted a grueling 3 hours and 13 minutes!

Ascari nevertheless finished runner-up to Fangio (seen here-under), with local hero Louis Chiron coming home third at the wheel of his Maserati 4CLT/48.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.