Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari is the racing division of Italian luxury auto manufacturer Ferrari and is the oldest, most successful, and most iconic factory racing team in the history of the Formula 1 (F1) World Championship.

Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 initially to manage amateur drivers using Alfa Romeo cars, the team later began producing its own racing cars in 1947. Scuderia Ferrari holds the record as the only constructor to have competed continuously since the inaugural season of the F1 World Championship in 1950 to the present day.

Based in Maranello, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Ferrari has become a symbol of tradition, prestige, and technical excellence in global motorsport. Its distinctive red color (Rosso Corsa) and Prancing Horse logo (Cavallino Rampante) are recognized worldwide. Beyond Formula 1, Ferrari also has a long and successful history in the World Endurance Championship and Sportscar racing.

Profile and Current Status (2026 Season)

Entering the era of new technical and engine regulations in 2026, Scuderia Ferrari is under the command of French Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur. The 2026 season marks the second year of one of the most formidable driver pairings in modern Ferrari history:

• Charles Leclerc (#16): The pride of Monaco, a genuine product of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and widely regarded as Maranello's golden boy.
• Lewis Hamilton (#44): The legendary seven-time world champion who made a sensational move from Mercedes to Ferrari at the beginning of 2025, fulfilling his childhood dream of racing in red.

In 2026, Ferrari fully manufactures their own power units and chassis in Maranello, adapting to the new hybrid regulations that feature a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, along with revolutionary active aerodynamics systems.

The Complete History of the Prancing Horse

1. Origins and Foundation (1929 - 1949) Enzo Ferrari founded Società Anonima Scuderia Ferrari on November 16, 1929, in Modena. Initially, Ferrari was not a car manufacturer, but rather a racing team that bought, prepared, and fielded Alfa Romeo racing cars for amateur drivers. In 1938, Alfa Romeo brought its racing operations in-house, prompting Enzo Ferrari to eventually leave to build his own cars. The first car to fully bear the Ferrari name was the Ferrari 125 S, which debuted in 1947.

2. F1 Debut and First Victories (1950 - 1960s) Ferrari made its Formula 1 debut at the second race in the history of the world championship, the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. The team's first victory was achieved by Argentine driver Froilán González at the 1951 British Grand Prix, breaking Alfa Romeo's dominance. A year later, Alberto Ascari delivered Ferrari's first Drivers' World Championship in 1952 and repeated the feat in 1953. The 1960s were highlighted by John Surtees' victory in 1964, making him the only person to win world championships on both two wheels (MotoGP) and four wheels (F1).

3. The Niki Lauda and Jody Scheckter Era (1970s) After a title drought in the early '70s, Ferrari bounced back under the leadership of Luca di Montezemolo and the technical brilliance of Mauro Forghieri. With Austrian driver Niki Lauda, Ferrari dominated the mid-70s, winning the championships in 1975 and 1977. Jody Scheckter then won the world title in 1979. Surprisingly, this would be Ferrari's last drivers' title for the next 21 years.

4. The Michael Schumacher Golden Era (1996 - 2006) This was the most dominant period in Ferrari's history. In 1996, Ferrari signed double world champion Michael Schumacher and brought in the architects of Benetton's success: Jean Todt (Team Principal), Ross Brawn (Technical Director), and Rory Byrne (Chief Designer). After several years of laying the foundations, this "Dream Team" created an unprecedented era of dominance. Schumacher won five consecutive Drivers' World Championships from 2000 to 2004, while Ferrari won six consecutive Constructors' titles (1999-2004).

5. Kimi Räikkönen's Title and Transition Period (2007 - 2014) Following Schumacher's (first) retirement, Kimi Räikkönen joined in 2007 and immediately won the Drivers' World Championship at the final race in Brazil. Ferrari also won the Constructors' titles in 2007 and 2008. Unfortunately, Räikkönen's 2007 title remains Ferrari's last Drivers' World Championship to this day. This era was also marked by the dramatic heartbreaks of Felipe Massa (2008) and Fernando Alonso (2010, 2012), who narrowly missed the title in the season finales.

6. The V6 Hybrid Era and Revival Efforts (2015 - 2023) Entering the V6 turbo-hybrid era, Ferrari struggled against Mercedes' absolute dominance. The arrival of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (2015-2020) briefly brought hope, leading to intense title fights in 2017 and 2018, but ultimately ending in defeat during the second half of the seasons. Internal restructuring continued, moving from the leadership of Maurizio Arrivabene to Mattia Binotto, until it was finally taken over by Frédéric Vasseur in 2023, who sought to overhaul Maranello's work culture to be less reactive and free from the blame culture.

7. The Superstar Era and 2026 Ambitions (2024 - Present) Under Vasseur, Ferrari pulled off the biggest coup in the modern F1 transfer market by signing Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season and beyond. Combining Hamilton and Charles Leclerc created one of the most formidable lineups on the grid. Now, in the 2026 season, with entirely new chassis and power unit regulations in effect, Ferrari is channeling all of its resources, history, and ambitions to end a world title drought that has lasted for nearly two decades.

Key Records and Achievements (As of 2026)

As the most historic team in F1, Ferrari holds almost all the absolute records in the history books:

• Constructors' World Championships: 16 times (Most in history)
• Drivers' World Championships: 15 times (Most in history)
• Race Victories (Grand Prix): Over 240 wins
• Pole Positions: Over 250 poles
• Fastest Laps: Over 260 times
• Most Races: The only team to have competed in more than 1,000 Grands Prix