Comparing Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes car to 1950 F1 race-winning Alfa Romeo
Silverstone staged its first Formula One World Championship race in 1950.
Formula One returns to Silverstone this weekend for its 70th Anniversary race.
The first World Championship race was held at the circuit in 1950 and won by Italian Giuseppe Farina.
Here, the PA news agency compares the Mercedes car driven by reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to Farina’s Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta.
Weight
With a sturdy tubular steel chassis, the Alfa Romeo driven by F1’s maiden world champion Farina was more than a tonne heavier than Mercedes’ AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance model. Hamilton’s car, constructed of moulded carbon fibre, weighs just 746kg, in comparison to the 1,786kg of the Alfa Romeo.
Design
Farina’s Alfetta was shorter than the Mercedes and featured an open cockpit, while he sat on corduroy seat covers. In contrast, Hamilton races beneath a Halo safety device. The Briton’s seat is removable and made of “anatomically formed carbon composite”. Both cars use tyres manufactured by Pirelli.
Power
Maximum speed
