Current Ferrari

Ferrari

FIA Entry: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Drivers Car 5: Fernando Alonso
Car 6: Felipe Massa
Engine: Ferrari V8
Chairman: Luca di Montezemolo
Team Principal: Stefano Domenicali
Technical Director: Aldo Costa
Race Engineer Car 5: Andrea Stella
Race Engineer Car 6: Rob Smedley

Stats as of end 2010 Season

First Entered: 1950
Races Entered: 813
Race Wins: 215
Pole Positions: 205
Fastest Laps: 224
Driver World Championships: 15
Constructor World Championships: 16

Team History

Ferrari are the only team to have taken part in the F1 World Championship since it's inception in 1950. They are synonymous with F1 and, for many, the reason why they follow the sport. Ferrrai fans, or Tifosi, have clubs across the World and can be see supporting their beloved red cars from China to Brazil.

Pre-War

Enzo Ferrari founded Scuderia (Italian for Stable) Ferrari in 1929 as the race entrants for Alfa Romeo. In 1938 Alfa decided to create their own race team and Scuderia Ferrari became part of the Alfa Course team. Disagreeing with the decision Enzo Ferrari was dismissed. As part of his contract he wasn't allowed to enter motor sport under his own name for 4 years. Ferrari started to build his own car in 1939 but the start of WWII meant the Ferrari factory was used for other purposes

Before the World Championships

The first racing Ferrari was the Tipo 125 with a 12 cylinder 1.5 litre engine developed in 1947. This was the first car to bear the now legendary Ferrari name. In 1948 the 125 F1 was built with a supercharged version of the 12 cylinder engine which won 5 Grands Prix in 1949.

The 1950's

Ferrari missed the first race of the first World Championship season with their first entry being at Monaco with the 125 F1. The first V12 powered Ferrari appeared at the Belgian Grand Prix that year and Ascari finished 5th.

Ferrari's first F1 win came at the British Grand Prix in 1951 with the Tipo 375 in the hands of Froilan Gonzales. With F1 run to F2 regulations in 1952 and '53, causing the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo, Ferrari dominated and Alberto Ascari in the Tipo 500, with a 4 cylinder 2 litre engine, won the Drivers World Championship both years.

1954 saw the introduction of the 2.5 litre formula and Ferrari had new competition from Maserati, Lancia and Mercedes. The new Mercedes team were too strong and Ferrari could only manage two races wins.

Ferrari only won one race in 1955 and for 1956 used chassis bought from the now defunct Lancia team. With Mercedes withdrawal Fangio moved to Ferrari and duly won his 3rd consecutive championship. Still using the ageing Lancia chassis in in 1957 Ferrari failed to win a race. 1958 saw Mike Hawthorn win the Drivers Championship in the new 246 Dino, named after Enzo Ferrari's recently deceased son. Ferrari missed out to Vanwall in the inaugural year of the Constructors Championship.

1959 saw Tony Brooks, in the Top 246 just miss out on the Drivers Championship to Jack Brabham in a rear engined Cooper.

The 1960's

Slow to react the the obvious advantages of the rear engined cars Ferrari continued with the 246 in 1960 and only managed a single victory.

For 1961 engines sizes were limited to 1.5 litres and Ferrari entered their first rear engined car, the Tipo 156. Based on the previous years F2 car Phil Hill took the Drivers Championship and Ferrari their first Constructors title. With little development to the 156 Ferrari failed to win a race in 1962.

In a season dominated by Jim Clark and Lotus, John Surtees put Ferrari back in the winners circle in 1963 with a win Germany following the introduction of the "Aero" 156 semi-monocoque car. With 3 wins in 1964 Surtees won the Drivers titles by a single point from Graham Hill in the last race of the season and Ferrari took their 2nd constructors title.

Clark and Lotus dominated again in 1965 and Ferrari couldn't compete against the British Garagerists. The new 3 litre engine regulations for 1966 proved more successful and John Surtees won in Belgium and Mexico to take 2nd place in the Drivers Championship. The Tipo 312 didn't do well for Ferrari in 1967 with a highest position of 3rd. Jacky Ickx managed a single win for the Scuderia in 1968 at the French Grand Prix. Continuing with the 312 into 1969 Ferrari again had a barren year.

The 1970's

With Ickx back at Ferrari for 1970 and a with B spec version of the 312 Ferrari won four races, three for Ickx and one for young Swiss driver Clay Regazzoni, in his début year in F1. Ickx finished 2nd in the Drivers Championship to Jochen Rindt, F1's first posthumous World Champion, and Ferrari managed the same position in the constructors title race.

Ickx and Mario Andretti won races in 1971 but the season was dominated by Jackie Stewart and his Tyrrell car. Ickx won a single race in 1972 but, as the team continued with the 312B, they were outpaced but Lotus and Tyrrell in 1973.

A young Austrian driver by the name of Niki Lauda was partnered with Regazzoni for 1974 and the team regrouped under the leader ship of Luca di Montezemolo. Lauda won his first race, and Ferrari’s first win since 1972, in Spain. Lauda won again in Holland and Regazzoni in Germany to place Ferrari 2nd in the constructors championship.

Ferrari’s decision to sign Lauda was justified in 1975 as he won the Drivers with some ease, taking 5 race wins. Regazzoni also won the Italian Grand Prix and Ferrari won the Constructors title.

Lauda missed out on the drivers title by a single point to James Hunt in 1976. His season was "interrupted" by an horrific crash at the German Grand Prix at Nurburgring which nearly cost the Austrian his life. Astonishingly Lauda only missed two races but retired at the last race of the season believing the soaking conditions to dangerous to race in. Ferrari won the constructors title.

Lauda was Champion again in 1977 but left the team before the end of the season unhappy at the team's decision to run a 3rd car for Gilles Villeneuve at the Canadian Grand Prix.

For 1978 Ferrari paired Villeneuve alongside Argentine driver Carlos Reutemann. The 312T3, with it's flat 12 engine, wasn't ideal for the new "wing" car technology but Reutemann still managed 4 race wins and Villeneuve took a début win at his home race in Canada.

Reutemann was replaced by Jody Scheckter for 1979 and with the 312 now in T4 guise won the Driver Championship with 4 wins. Villeneuve contributed a further 3 races victories and Ferrari ran away with the Constructors title.

The 1980's

Struggling on with their flat 12 engine for 1980 Ferrari had a dreadful season with 5th place being the best the could manage. Scheckter retired from F1 at the end of 1980 and was replaced by French driver Didier Pironi.

Ferrari moved into a new era in 1981 and introduced a V6 turbo powered car. Although the engine produced plenty of power the 126CK chassis was not quite as good but, in Villeneuve’s hands, Ferrari took two races wins including Monaco, the first for a turbo car in the modern era.

1982 saw a new car designed by Harvey Posthelthwaite which gave their drivers a chassis which could match the engine. However it proved to be a tragic season with Villeneuve losing his life in qualifying at the Belgium Grand Prix and Pironi having an accident which would end his career during practice in Germany. Finishing the season with replacement drivers Patrick Tambay and Mario Andretti, Ferrari won the constructors title.

For 1983 Ferrari had an all French driver line up with Rene Arnoux joining Tambay. Tambay won one race and Arnoux 3 giving Ferrari a 2nd consecutive Constructors title. Michele Alboreto joined Arnoux at Ferrari for 1984 and managed a solitary win at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Arnoux was dismissed from the team after only 1 race in 1985 and was replaced by Swede Stefan Johansson. Alboreto was leading the Drivers championship at the half way point of the season but unreliability cost him the title as he failed to finish the last 5 races of the season.

Ferrari failed to win a race in 1986. For 1987 Gerhard Berger took Johansson's seat and and proved his worth by winning the last two races of the season. Berger won the Italian Grand Prix in 1988 and was the only driver, other than Prost and Senna in McLaren's, to win a race that year.

Nigel Mansell was singed to partner Berger in 1989 and won the opening race of the season. He won again in Hungary and Berger won in Portugal but the Ferrari cars were outclassed by the McLaren machines.

The 90's

1989 World Champion joined Mansell at Ferrari for 1990. Prost and Senna diced for the drivers title through to the Japanese Grand Prix where his hoped were ended when Senna drove into him as they braked for the first corner on the first lap.

Mansell Left Ferrari in 1991 to be replaced by Jean Alesi. Ferrari failed to win a race and Prost's criticism of the team resulted in him being replaced for the last race of the season by Gianni Morbidelli.

1992 to 1995 were lean times for Ferrari win only two wins, Berger in Germany 1994 and Alesi Canada 1995 before double World Champion Michael Schumacher joined the team from Benetton for 1996.

The Schumacher Era

Schumacher won 3 races for Ferrari in 1996 and in 1997 was joined by ex-Benetton engineers Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn. It proved to be an astonishingly successful partnership. Between 1997 and 2006, when Schumacher retired, they dominated the sport. From 149 races Schumacher won 63, took 51 poles, 43 fastest laps and 98 podiums. Schumacher won 5 five successive Drivers Titles between 2000 and 2004 and the team took the Constructors Title from 1999 to 2004.

During his time at Ferrari he was partnered by Eddie Irvine, '96 to '99, Rubens Barrichello, 2000 to 2005, and Felipe Massa for his final season. The period wasn't without controversy as Schumacher had a clause in his contract classifying him as Number 1 driver and on a number of occasions his team mates were required by the team to move aside and let Schumacher gain a higher place resulting in a change to the regulations by the FIA outlawing team orders.

Schumacher retired at the end of 2006 having placed 3rd and 2nd in the Driver title race to Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006.

From 2006

Kimi Raikkonen took on the task of filling Schumacher's place in the team for 2007 and duly won the Drivers Title and Ferrari the Constructors. 2008 saw Felipe Massa lose out on the title to Lewis Hamilton as Hamilton took the 5th place he needed two corners from the end of the last race of the season. Ferrrai had the consolation of the Constructors Championship.

Raikkonen and Massa raced together in 2009 and Raikkonen took a single win at the Belgian Grand Prix. Massa was injured in a freak accident at the Hungarian race and his place was taken by Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fischella. The replacement drivers showed the short comings of the Ferrari 056 chassis and were some distance behind Raikkonen in the races they competed in.

Double World Champion Fernando Alonso took Raikkonen's place for 2010 and, like Mansell in 1989, won a place in the hearts of Ferrari supporters by winning his first race. With 5 wins through the season, including Ferrari’s home race in Italy, he was challenging for the title through to the final round but could only manage 7th in Abu Dhabi losing out on the title to Sebastien Vettel by 4 points.

2011 sees Ferrari continue with Alonso and Massa as their drivers and have named their car the F150th Italia to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italy's foundation as a nation.

 

[Il_leone]

I am trying to think of times when Ferrari have caught up gaps from slow starts

1997 Schumacher - well that was because Williams and especially Villeneuve made a real mess of things
1998 Schumacher - he could not touch the Mclaren's first few races and could have snatched the title
2006 Schumacher - Alonso had a 25pt lead and then the mass damper got banned. Then Alonso and Renault started panicking
2010 Alonso - Germany 2010 really proved crucial but then he kept up the pressure on Mclaren and Red Bull until he flunked the last race

 

[Bill Boddy]

.... Given that the task of catching up is down to the same team who designed the car in the first place....

This may not be entirely true. It is well known that there were a number of engineers moved from McLaren to Ferrari after the end of last season. They probably performed little of the basic design work on this year's car; they should by now be up to speed and could conceivably be making large contributions.

 

[Bill Boddy]

.... Then Alonso and Renault started panicking
....

Where did you get this from? According tohttp://www.formula1latest.com/category/mass-dampers/

"Autosport magazine has a brief interview with Bob Bell, Renault’s technical director, in which he mentions the effect of the tuned damper ban on the R26. It is clear that the ban had some effect on the performance of the Renault, even if only marginally (and F1 is a sport of small margins), but Bob says that the whole affair just made the team that much more determined to win the championship."

 

[Il_leone]

Where did you get this from? According tohttp://www.formula1latest.com/category/mass-dampers/

"Autosport magazine has a brief interview with Bob Bell, Renault’s technical director, in which he mentions the effect of the tuned damper ban on the R26. It is clear that the ban had some effect on the performance of the Renault, even if only marginally (and F1 is a sport of small margins), but Bob says that the whole affair just made the team that much more determined to win the championship."

Remember Alonso's outburst in China when Renault put him on the wrong tyres and he lost the lead and the championship began to swing towards Ferrari
" The team aint doing enough to help me " this was after the red mist of chopping Doornbos in Hungary getting himself a penalty and a five place grid drop in Monza - supposedly for blocking

Certainly Alonso panicked / felt the pressure then

 

[teabagyokel]

I don't think that five-place grid drop at Monza can be put down to Alonso, Renault, Briatore or anyone else panicking; it was just plain wrong.

The Doornbos incident was as stupid as Schumi's determination to join him 2 seconds back!

 

[Kewee]

Completely agree that McLaren and Red Bull will still develop, and find gains, based on their ability over the past few seasons and that Ferrari have greater room for improvement. It's Ferrari's ability to catch up that i'm not agreeing with, again based purely on their development skills of the past few years, certainly when compared with McLaren and Red Bull. This leaves Ferrari essentially needing to find 2 or 3 times the gains in order to get and stay level and I can't see it. There's a difference between knowing you have to catch up, and knowing what you have to do to catch up. Given that the task of catching up is down to the same team who designed the car in the first place, you can see (hopefully now) why i'm not optimistic.

Your bracketed comment (hopefully now) changes nothing, we're both guessing based on our own beliefs. I've always said I'll form an opinion on whose likely to be in the fight for the title after the Spanish GP. This year, compared to the two previous years is very different. As Whitmarsh said last week, you always worry that someone might have a eureka moment and get a jump on everyone. McLaren had it with the F-duct, Red Bull had it with the Hot Blown off throttle Diffuser and maybe Mercedes with have it this year with their ducted rear wing. When this happens the other teams often find it difficult to play catch up. Their cars aren't designed around someone else's innovation and have to be adapted which is never ideal, which is why last year none of the teams were able to make their double blown diffusers work as well as Red Bulls and therefore were never able to catch up entirely. The difference this year are far tighter regulations leaving far less wriggle room for designers.
All I know so far is after two away races, Alonso is leading the Championship in a Ferrari that should have taken him no higher than fifth. This means that a certain little Spaniard is a hell of a lot better than some would like to admit, or the Ferrari is nowhere near as bad as some are saying. I suspect a little of both. I know others will say that they were unusual circumstances that played into Ferraris hands. True, but the two teams that should have beaten him have the car, drivers, and experience, so had an equal opportunity to make the same conditions work for them but they didn't. They had a golden opportunity to drive home an advantage but they dropped the ball, without doubt.

 

[Bill Boddy]

....All I know so far is after two away races, Alonso is leading the Championship in a Ferrari that should have taken him no higher than fifth. This means that a certain little Spaniard is a hell of a lot better than some would like to admit, or the Ferrari is nowhere near as bad as some are saying....

It's not that long ago when people were saying that Alonso had never won a wet race. However, they ignored the races where he had won because of wet conditions (Germany 2007 for example) or had a problem not of his own making (Hungary 2006 for example). Now he has done it conclusively, so maybe they will change their tune.

 

[Il_leone]

Just what has this to do with whether or not Alonso and Kubica would have got on well in the same team? Don't come out with the "Alonso chooses who races with him", di Montezemolo decides and he has his own way. Look at his record.

Alas this also renders the rest of your post invalid.

Since when have two friends managed to get on the same team when their competitive instincts take over . The only way friends would get on in the same team nowadays would be if one was No 1 and the other was No 2 ...if that is what he wants.

 

[Il_leone]

I don't think Alonso has a say on who his team mate will be but I do think he has signed as number one status and any driver wishing to join Ferrari will be asked to sign as number two and if they don't accept then they don't get signed up.

From my point of view this is not the best way to run a team, and is probably why we are seeing lack luster drives from Massa and anyone who replaces Massa will go the same way, joining Ferrari as a number two driver is not a good career move for a driver unless he is just in it for the money...

He brings with him backing from Santander and one other Spanish backer and the way Alonso operates much in the same vein as Michael Schumacher has an influence who they pick as his teammate

Certainly now that Alonso's signed up until 2016 ! That's a message to anyone who wants to join him to be prepared to get use to him being No 1

The No 1 and No 2 system has always been the Ferrari way to do things given their spaghetti culture of mad house politics. Look at the successes recently it has always been No 1 and No2 Prost, Schumacher , Alonso..okay Raikkonen and Massa apart

even in the 1970's Lauda was leading the team

 

[Kewee]

He brings with him backing from Santander and one other Spanish backer and the way Alonso operates much in the same vein as Michael Schumacher has an influence who they pick as his teammate

Certainly now that Alonso's signed up until 2016 ! That's a message to anyone who wants to join him to be prepared to get use to him being No 1

The No 1 and No 2 system has always been the Ferrari way to do things given their spaghetti culture of mad house politics. Look at the successes recently it has always been No 1 and No2 Prost, Schumacher , Alonso..okay Raikkonen and Massa apart

even in the 1970's Lauda was leading the team

Alonso believes he's the best driver on the grid and therefore believes he capable of earning the right to be treated as number one. Ferrari start each season treating their drivers equally. Alonso then earns the right to be treated as number one by achieving far better results than his teammate. Simple as that. One other point. Alonso has said in past interviews he's never asked for number one status at any team he's driven for, just to be treated equally. When you believe your the best and can back it up with results you don't need to ask for preferential treatment, your given it without question. Teams want results, Ferrari are no different.

 

[Il_leone]

Alonso believes he's the best driver on the grid and therefore believes he capable of earning the right to be treated as number one. Ferrari start each season treating their drivers equally. Alonso then earns the right to be treated as number one by achieving far better results than his teammate. Simple as that. One other point. Alonso has said in past interviews he's never asked for number one status at any team he's driven for, just to be treated equally. When you believe your the best and can back it up with results you don't need to ask for preferential treatment, your given it without question. Teams want results, Ferrari are no different.

to Alonso he needs to be seen as the favoured son of the team. Yes he backs up with his relentless and formidable work ethic but seeing his teammate get attention ahead of him riles him.

Ferrari may say both drivers are treated equally but they would not dare to upset Alonso and would order Massa to get out of his way at first moment... Mark Hughes did mention in 2010 that after Melbourne Massa not moving over for Alonso even though was race 2 was going to spell trouble and it sure did with his engine blow out frustrations in Malaysia when he simply floored the smoky engine when it went

Even in china when Alonso sneakily cut the grass to pass Massa in the pits

 

[The Artist.....]

Alonso believes he's the best driver on the grid and therefore believes he capable of earning the right to be treated as number one. Ferrari start each season treating their drivers equally. Alonso then earns the right to be treated as number one by achieving far better results than his teammate. Simple as that. One other point. Alonso has said in past interviews he's never asked for number one status at any team he's driven for, just to be treated equally. When you believe your the best and can back it up with results you don't need to ask for preferential treatment, your given it without question. Teams want results, Ferrari are no different.

It's not entirely true that Ferrari begins the season with equal treatment.... There have been occasions in the past when Ferrari have needlessly employed team orders and the like- or at least not given as much support to 1 driver than the other... This of course bit them in 1999, when Irvine could have been in a better position post silversTone, but (probably rightly) they had put more emphasis behind schumacher....

 

[Il_leone]

It's not entirely true that Ferrari begins the season with equal treatment.... There have been occasions in the past when Ferrari have needlessly employed team orders and the like- or at least not given as much support to 1 driver than the other... This of course bit them in 1999, when Irvine could have been in a better position post silversTone, but (probably rightly) they had put more emphasis behind schumacher....

Ferrari still could have but neither Todt or Brawn were too endorsing about Irvine and the missing tyre debacle forced Luca to act and recall Schumacher after finding out from his daughter he was busy at home playing football in the garden recovering from his broken leg

Ferrari could have helped Irvine in Monza had they simply got Salo to pit or let everyone through then IRvine would have got 1 more point but then Ferrari did get Salo to give up a win in Germany and block Ralf Schumacher in Spa

 

[Kewee]

It's not entirely true that Ferrari begins the season with equal treatment.... There have been occasions in the past when Ferrari have needlessly employed team orders and the like- or at least not given as much support to 1 driver than the other... This of course bit them in 1999, when Irvine could have been in a better position post silversTone, but (probably rightly) they had put more emphasis behind schumacher....

Ferrari knew, and so should we, Irvine was never going to be a match for Schumacher. Yes of course Ferrari have always had a No.1 and 2 but a driver has always had to earn it at Ferrari. Kimi played back up to Massa if you remember when Massa was the driver with a chance for the title. That situation wouldn't repeat itself with Alonso and Massa because Alonso wouldn't let it happen.

 

[Il_leone]

Ferrari knew, and so should we, Irvine was never going to be a match for Schumacher. Yes of course Ferrari have always had a No.1 and 2 but a driver has always had to earn it at Ferrari. Kimi played back up to Massa if you remember when Massa was the driver with a chance for the title. That situation wouldn't repeat itself with Alonso and Massa because Alonso wouldn't let it happen.

NO Irvine was never a match for Schumacher because he was bought in to be No 2 and he did not care. It was only when he realised winning a GP is actually a great feeling and wanted more of it which did not go with the Ferrari script. Todt had to remind him that he was under contract for the next race Brazil.

The cracks really appeared in Imola when Irvine just said the race is not over yet having just retired and possibly lost the championship lead with Schumacher leading the race

Further to this was France when clearly Schumacher had a problem and Irvine was not allowed passed and Ralf came by and took both of them

Had Irvine been allowed to overtake he might have gotten on the podium


a few other niggly comments from Todt and BRawn came along after that iRvine need to do it by himself

Whilst I do blame IRvine for not applying himself more and just taking Ferrari money and prestige...Todt and BRawn did not come out of it well and lucky for them Schumacher got the title in 2000 otherwise then there might have been questioning if he failed

Kimi 's attitude did not suit Ferrari who got use to the workman like approach of Schumacher and that is what they saw in Alonso.

At Ferrari you earn No 1 by playing politics they've all done it Mansell on Berger, Prost on Mansell, Schumacher on Barrichello and Irvine, now Alonso on Massa

 

[Kewee]

snipped

Surely you don't believe Alonso's stamped his mark at Ferrari by playing politics. He's done it on ability, nothing else. I've always liked Massa but in truth he's outclassed by Alonso pure and simple.

 

[Il_leone]

Surely you don't believe Alonso's stamped his mark at Ferrari by playing politics. He's done it on ability, nothing else. I've always liked Massa but in truth he's outclassed by Alonso pure and simple.

Yes but it does not help if Alonso is using politics for the garage to side with him

Germany 2010 was a good example where Massa did all the hard work to get into the lead and then was told to move over

Alonso would not be the best driver if he did not know how to do the team politics as well

 

[FB]

There is no doubt Fernando knows how to play the team politics game but, apart from at Mclaren, the benefits that has brought the team have been proven to be worthwhile.

 

[Kewee]

Yes but it does not help if Alonso is using politics for the garage to side with him

Germany 2010 was a good example where Massa did all the hard work to get into the lead and then was told to move over

Alonso would not be the best driver if he did not know how to do the team politics as well

The team will side with the driver giving them results. Germany 2010 has been done to death. Alonso had been outperforming Massa all season and had been faster all weekend in Germany. Alonso got boxed in at the start enabling Massa to get a run round the outside of him. Alonso passed him early in the race but due to the line into the next corner Massa was able to repass him despite the fact that Alonso was faster. When Smedley told Massa "Alonso's faster than you" all Massa need to do was increase his pace. He couldn't and he was holding Alonso up. When he freed Alonso he was unable to stay with him despite the fact that Vettel was closing on him. I'm not quite sure what all the hard work is you mention. Alonso was the driver that worked his guts out in 2010 and put Ferrari in a championship winning position. It was the team that let him down.

 

[teabagyokel]

Personally, I'm inclined to agree with Kewee; Alonso wins himself №1 status at Ferrari by blowing Massa out of the water early on. I think at times the whole №1 status thing with Alonso is a desparate attempt to discredit his remarkable achievements in Formula One; you can only expect №1 status if you're fast enough to deserve it and Alonso emphatically is.