From black-and-white to full colour: F1’s 75th anniversary honour includes restored footage

At 3pm on May 13, 1950, the cars roared off the line at Silverstone, UK, marking the start of the very first Formula 1 World Championship race. It was the opening round of a seven-race series that would go on to shape 75 years of speed, innovation, and unforgettable drama — building the global sporting phenomenon that Formula 1 is today.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of that landmark event, Formula 1 has released — restored and colourised — footage of the inaugural race, allowing fans to experience a pivotal moment in sporting history like never before.

Farina’s win in full colour

A team of experts at Formula 1 has painstakingly restored the original black-and-white footage and a historic newsreel, bringing the race to life in vibrant colour. Viewers can now witness Italy’s Giuseppe “Nino” Farina claim victory in his Alfa Romeo and become the first-ever Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion, in scenes that offer a new perspective on a defining moment in motorsport.

How the footage was transformed

The restoration combined advanced AI software, reference imagery, and manual painting techniques. Specific details — such as the sky, grass, cars, and faces — were digitally hand-painted using archive images and authentic colour references to ensure historical accuracy. The result is a striking recreation of the atmosphere at Silverstone that day, immersing fans in the people and the place that started it all.

A day of celebration for F1 fans

The colourised footage forms part of a wider day of celebrations from Formula 1. The sport is also hosting a 24-hour YouTube livestream featuring seven classic races in full, highlights from across the decades, and reflections from current F1 drivers and team principals on their earliest memories of the sport.

‘A tribute to 75 years of innovation’ – Domenicali

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “Seventy-five years ago today, our sport roared to life, and we are privileged to continue the incredible legacy of the brave drivers who raced for the ultimate prize on this day in 1950. It is fantastic to see this footage brought to life in full colour, and an amazing way to mark this historic moment.

“Today is a day when we can pay tribute to those who have come before us—drivers, engineers, team owners and of course, our fans, without whom we would not be in the position we are today. For 75 years we have innovated and driven the world forward, exciting our fans with feats of human endurance and speed that continue to amaze. Here is to the next 75 years and beyond for this incredible sport.”