1950s Formula 1 Grand Prix racing was dominated for years by Italian teams, notably Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. In 1952 Alberto Ascari became the first Italian Formula 1 world champion. Ascari won again in 1953, only to be killed testing Eugenio Castellotti’s Ferrari sports car at Monza two years later.
Castellotti and Musso in Formula 1
In the wake of Ascari’s death Castellotti and Musso looked the most likely to fill the great man’s shoes. At the 1955 Belgian Grand Prix Castellotti was in scintillating form, claiming pole position in his Lancia D50. Although Juan-Manuel Fangio jumped him in the race Castellotti stayed in touch until a gearbox failure forced him out.
Castellotti came from the town of Lodi and looked every inch the archetypal Italian Grand Prix driver. Ruggedly handsome, he was photographed throughout his career with a variety of famous Italian women. His most notable relationship was with the opera singer Delia Scala, who was Castellotti’s fiancée at the time of his death.
Luigi Musso began his Formula 1 career with Maserati, but by 1956 was a Ferrari driver alongside Castellotti. Musso was a Roman and came from a racing family (both of his brothers raced). At the opening race of that 1956 season Musso achieved the highlight of his career, sharing a car with Fangio to win the Argentine Grand Prix.
Castellotti and Musso Fatal Accidents
Later in the 1956 season Musso was far less willing to share a car with Fangio. In the early laps of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza Musso and Castellotti raced into the distance, engaged in a private duel for home glory. Castellotti experienced serious tyre problems and eventually crashed out. Fangio also retired but when Musso pulled into the pits he was expecting to be given the younger man’s car to complete the race and claim vital championship points. Instead, Musso stayed in the Ferrari and rejoined the race. He looked set for a memorable win until his steering failed with three laps to go.
Musso enjoyed a successful 1957 Formula 1 season, finishing third overall. Castellotti wasn’t around to see it. On March 14th he was testing the Ferrari 801 Formula 1 car at Modena when he lost control and crashed into a concrete stand, with fatal consequences.
Musso himself had little more than a year to live after Castellotti’s demise. He started 1958 brightly and led the championship after consecutive second places. His season then went into decline and he was keen for a victory by the time of the French Grand Prix at Reims.
Mike Hawthorn led at Reims from his Ferrari team-mate Musso, but the the latter seemed intent on passing. On the very high speed circuit the leaders came upon two slower cars. A misunderstanding saw Musso take to the outside line on a curve, where he lost control and crashed. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Although Castellotti and Musso recorded just one Formula 1 World Championship victory between them they were consistently fighting at the front throughout their short careers. It would be difficult to overstate the pressure felt by an Italian driver at Ferrari during the 1950s. Castellotti’s death was the start of a tragic period for the team. The Spaniard Alfonso de Portago crashed to his death in that year’s Mille Miglia (his co-driver also died, along with nine spectators) and in 1958 the English Ferrari driver Peter Collins was killed during the German Grand Prix.
Eugenio Castellotti is buried in the family crypt in the Cimitero Maggiore, Lodi. Luigi Musso lies in the Cimitero Monumentale del Verano, Rome.
Kevin Guthrie - Kevin is based in Fife, Scotland, where he works as a music teacher, professional drummer and freelance writer. At an early age he ...
