The car's design made use of many innovative features, such as the use of the engine as a stressed chassis member, the off-centre positioning of the engine to allow a lower overall height, and pannier fuel cells for better weight distribution and aerodynamics.

[5] The D50 made its race debut toward the end of the 1954 Formula One season in the hands of two-time and reigning World Champion, Italian driver Alberto Ascari.

Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1956 World Championship of Drivers with this car modified by Ferrari.

[5] During their competition lifespan D50s were entered into 14 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, winning five.

The D50s lived on into the 1957 season, much modified as "Ferrari 801s" but were largely uncompetitive against the latest generation of Maserati 250Fs.