His plump physique, his characteristic superstitions and his amiable smile made Alberto Ascari one of the most loved champions in the history of the sport. Race fans from all over the world adored the Italian while his competitors admired him for his safe yet smooth driving genius. Winning two back-to-back world titles with Ferrari heralded his arrival in Formula One (F1) as the first great Ferrari driver and also awarded him the pedestal of being one of only two Italian F1 World Champions in the history of the sport. Ascari's mysterious death in 1955 plunged the entire racing world into a deep chasm of depression, as millions world over moaned the death of their favourite racer who died at the same age, on the same day of the month and in the same baffling conditions like his father Antonio Ascari, a former European Champion.

Alberto was born on the 13th of July, 1918 in the city of Milan in Italy. Born as a son to the greatest Italian driver of his day, Antonio Ascari, young Alberto couldn't help but follow the footsteps of his father. At the tender age of seven, Alberto lost his father in a crash at Montlhery when he was leading the French Grand Prix, which further strengthened his ambition to become a successful race car driver just like his father. Alberto first entered the racing world on two wheelers when he was hired to ride for the Bianchi motorcycle team. His first four-wheel racing venture came in the year 1940 when Ascari raced a Ferrari Tipo 815 Spyder in the Mille Miglia. The same year he married a Milan girl, Mietta who bore two children, Patrizia and Antonio, who was named after his grandfather.

A committed family man, Ascari wasn't too keen to race again but after being convinced otherwise by his close friend Luigi Villoresi, Ascari resumed racing in 1947. Racing along side Villoresi in his new 4CLT Maserati, Ascari conquered tracks of Northern Italy where his Milanese fans lovingly nicknamed him "Ciccio" meaning "Chubby". Ascari also triumphed in the following year driving the much-improved San Remo Maseratis.

Ascari then switched teams in 1949 now racing for his father's close friend, Enzo Ferrari and partnering his old teammate Villoresi. Ascari immediately kick-started his career with Ferrari in an impressive fashion taking six victories, which included a thrilling win at Buenos Aires in the Peron GP. In 1950, the inaugural year of the official F1 championships, Ascari continued his exciting run coming second in Ferrari's World Championship debut at Monte Carlo and also the first World Championship race at Monza. The succeeding year Ascari produced even better results taking his first F1 win in the 1951 German Grand Prix and following it up with another coup at Monza which placed him second behind Fangio in the overall driver's championships. However, it wasn't long before Ascari successfully stamped his authority in F1 as the ensuing years proved to be the highlight of his racing career.

Ascari went on to become F1 racing's first back-to-back champion by trouncing his competition in the 1952 and 1953 F1 seasons. In 1952 he drove his Ferrari 500 to victory in six of the seven championship races and defended his crown in a rather dominant fashion in the 1953 season by recording five wins in the eight championship races.

After securing two world titles with team Ferrari, Ascari then moved to Lancia in 1954 in the lure of a more lucrative deal. However, his switch turned to be a bad career move as the struggling Lancias failed Ascari in repeating his past glory. Every attempt by team Lancia in the entire 1954 season proved futile with Ascari failing to even finish a race in his four attempts at F1. Ascari then embarked on an ill-fated 1955 campaign in a similar manner as he was forced to retire in his first race of the 1955 season. Nonetheless, a determined Ascari took the lead on the 81st lap of his next race, the Monaco Grand Prix. What looked like a sure win and sensational comeback for the Italian quickly turned into a horrendous event as Ascari's Lancia D50 suddenly swerved out of control in the harbour chicane on the same lap and flew into the Mediterranean Sea. Half a minute later, Ascari's blue helmet surfaced between the scattered debris of his car and he was hauled aboard by the rescue team to the relief of the horrified spectators who had witnessed the accident. The crash left Ascari with a broken nose, severe bruises and in shock but at the same time grateful for his miraculous escape. However, it wasn't Ascari's accident that left the world completely bewildered. It was a bizarre incident, a few days after the crash that left Ascari's fans shattered.

Four days after the Monaco incident, Ascari was back on his feet, and paid a surprise visit to his friend Castellotti who was testing a Ferrari sports car at Monza for the forthcoming Supercortemaggiore race. Just before lunch, Ascari, dressed in shirt sleeves, tie and ordinary trousers donned Castellotti's helmet and suddenly set off in the Ferrari for a few laps. On the third lap, the Ferrari emerged from a fast curve skidding inexplicably before turning on its nose and somersaulting twice. This fierce accident threw Ascari flying from the car on the track to suffer multiple injuries that led to his death a few minutes later.

The eerie similarities between the deaths of Alberto and his father haunt his fans till date. Both were 36 years old, having won 13 championship Grand Prix apiece before being killed four days after surviving serious accidents on the exit of fast but easy left-hand corners. Fans from all across the globe moaned as Alberto Ascari was laid to rest next the grave of his father in the Milan cemetery, to be forever remembered as one of the greatest racers of all times.