Few names in motoring carry as much weight as Ferrari. This Italian manufacturer has achieved global recognition that extends far beyond automotive enthusiasts.
Along the way, they have produced fantastic cars like the 250 GTO and Enzo Ferrari. They are among the most successful teams in Formula 1’s history.
Yet there might be one or two things about Ferrari you don’t know. These are not just facts that have slipped under the radar but valuable insights that this list aims to provide, expanding your knowledge of the world’s most famous automobile manufacturer.
Ferrari Hasn’t Won An F1 Title Since 2008
Despite its success, Ferrari last won a Formula 1 title in 2008. That was that year’s constructors championship, as driver Felipe Massa narrowly lost out on the driver’s title that year to Lewis Hamilton.
It has been longer since Ferrari won a driver’s title, with their last coming in 2007, thanks to Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2021, highlighting how long it’s been since Ferrari last took a driver to the top of the sport. Since 2007, Brawn, Red Bull, and Mercedes have dominated the sport, while Ferrari has endured some tough seasons.
Ferrari’s Launch Was Badly Delayed Thanks To World War 2
Founder Enzo Ferrari set up the company in 1939, which began the journey of the world’s most famous automotive manufacturer. However, things went downhill for Enzo as the advent of World War 2 delayed the launch of the brand due to hostilities.
However, this didn’t stop Mr Ferrari from producing some vehicles. 1940 he launched two 815 Auto Avio Costruzionis, but these have never officially been Ferraris due to the war. 1943, Ferrari could use the name, and the company moved into the Maranello factory. Sadly, Allied bombing destroyed it over the next two years, but the first Ferrari finally emerged in 1947.
Ferrari’s First Car Was Not Mass Produced
The first proper Ferrari to emerge from Maranello was the Ferrari 125 Sport. It would also be the first Ferrari to feature their famous V12 engine, but Enzo Ferrari didn’t mass-produce the 125 Sport. The company built just two examples of the 125, designed for the race track and driven by Nino Farina and Franco Cortese.
As expected with a first car, there were a few teething troubles. The 125 Sport had fuel pump issues, but the company was able to rectify them and turn the 125 Sport into a potent racer, taking a victory in the 1951 Rome Grand Prix. During its racing career, the Ferrari 125 Sport went on to win six motorsport championships.
Ferrari Halted McLaren’s Dominance In 1988
The 1988 Formula 1 season was dominated by McLaren, with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna winning 15 of the 16 races that year in the MP4/4. But it was the 1988 Italian Grand Prix where that dominance had a brief interlude.
Prost retired around lap 30 after a misfire caused his McLaren to break down. Two laps from the end, Senna attempted to lap Louis Schlesser in the Williams, but the latter lost control and slammed into the back of the McLaren. Senna was out, and Ferrari took the lead, with Gerhard Berger leading teammate Michele Albereto home for a Ferrari 1-2. As it was the first Italian Grand Prix held after Enzo Ferrari’s death, the victory was emotional.
The Prancing Horse Came From A World War I Fighter Pilot
One of the most famous aspects of every Ferrari is the iconic prancing horse logo that adorns all the cars. Mr Ferrari fought in World War I, and in 1923, he met Count and Countess Baracca, the parents of Francesco Barraca.
They suggested Ferrari adopt their son’s logo for good luck, a prancing horse seen on the fighter aircraft the Italian ace flew during the Great War before his death in 1918. Enzo duly did so, and the first time the logo appeared on any car was during the 19832 Spa 24 Hours. After World War II, it became the symbol that identified every car from Ferrari.
Red Was Not Ferrari’s First Choice
The iconic Rosso Corsa color is synonymous with Ferrari, and virtually all its vehicles have been available in that color. However, the Italian manufacturer didn’t choose the famous shade of red by choice, but it came due to racing regulations.
According to the International Automobile Federation, all cars raced in the Italian Grand Prix had to be red. Following the race, Ferrari decided to opt for the color on all of its subsequent production models, helping increase the cars’ popularity. Records state that in the 1990s, around 85 percent of Ferraris were in the iconic Rosso Corsa.
Ferrari’s Headquarters Is In Maranello
It is easy to forget just where Ferrari is in Italy. However, the manufacturer is in Maranello after being initially based in Moderna before World War II. Maranello is the home of all Ferrari operations, including those of its racing teams in Formula 1 and sports cars, and it is where production takes place.
The factory recently received a massive upgrade, and there will be more work in the future as Ferrari slowly plans to electrify its range. The current Ferrari is far from the one Enzo Ferrari set up after World War II, but its spirit and ethos remain the same.
Ferrari Drivers Have Won Over 5,000 Races
Engines played a big part in Ferrari’s early success, and Enzo’s team molded the cars around the engines. Over the years, Ferraris has won over 5,000 races in various disciplines, such as Formula 1, sports cars, and other GT racing categories.
In 1990, Ferrari became the first team in Formula 1 history to win 100 races at the 1990 French Grand Prix, with Alain Prost winning in a closely contested season against arch-rival Ayrton Senna. At the time of writing, Ferrari has won 244 Formula 1 races, with the most recent coming thanks to Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.
Ferrari Has A Race Track
Alongside its racing activities, the Italian manufacturer also has its race track. The Fiorano circuit is next to its Maranello factory in Fiorano, Modenese. It is extensively used to test its road-going cars before they go on sale.
Ferrari also tests some of its race cars at the circuit. The 499P Le Mans Hypercar has been seen testing at the venue, and it also performs shakedowns of its new F1 challengers at the circuit at the start of each year. The circuit is only 1.9 miles long and is never used for racing, existing solely to allow Ferrari to test its vehicles before they go on sale or hit the race track.
Ferrari Has Its Own Theme Park
A brand and company as large as Ferrari will attract attention worldwide. That extends to the UAE, where, in 2010, Ferrari opened its theme park in Abu Dhabi, creating one of the most exciting and unique theme parks in the world.
Ferrari opened “Ferrari World” in 2010, and it has everything you would expect from a Ferrari theme park. This includes the exceptional roller coaster Formula Rossa. It is the world’s fastest roller coaster, able to accelerate from 0-150 mph in just 4.9 seconds, and the ride tops out at 4.8 G. The roof has the world’s biggest Ferrari logo, and a ride inside called “Flying Aces” honors Francesco Baracca, the man who gave Ferrari its logo.
Ford Nearly Bought Ferrari In The 1960s
The story of Ford nearly buying Ferrari is briefly shown in the film Le Mans 66. In the 1960s, Ford wanted to start its racing team, yet it still needed a sports car in its lineup. So, they decided to buy Ferrari and inherit Enzo’s work over the last few decades.
Before arriving, Ford believed the deal was all done and that it would require just the ironing out of the last few details. However, when Enzo Ferrari noticed a clause in the contract stating that Ford would control the budget and make all the decisions about his racing team, Mr Ferrari got up with his lawyer and walked off. The deal was over, leading Henry Ford II to say, “Build me a car that will crush Ferrari at Le Mans.”
The Most Expensive Car Sold at Auction is a Ferrari
Unsurprisingly, a Ferrari is the most expensive car ever sold at an auction. This is an example of the stunning 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most famous and valuable cars in the world.
The car sold in November 2023, a 250 GTO that raced at Le Mans. Fortune reported that the car sold in less than 20 minutes, with the bidding starting at $34 million before it rose and rose to $47 million. The 10 percent premium elevated the cost of the 250 GTO to $51.7 million, although RM Sotheby’s had started beforehand that they expected the car to sell for over $60 million.
Ferrari Offers Extensive Customization
It is no surprise that a premium company like Ferrari offers an extensive level of customization for its cars. Nearly every aspect of its products is open to some level of change by the owner to make the vehicle unique to them. This is one of the unique selling points of the Italian manufacturer.
The catalog of changes available is vast, and these are all viewable in the Ferrari car personalization program. The changes aren’t limited to one aspect of the car either, with the exterior and interior available for customization. Small details like the stitching across the seats often come as part of this program.
