Ferrari History

The Founding of Ferrari

Ferrari was founded in 1947 by the great Enzo Ferrari, but its roots go all the way back to 1929; when Enzo created the Scuderia Ferrari racing team. In 1939, Enzo established Auto Avio Costruzioni, producing the 815 before WWII halted development. In 1947. The first true Ferrari was the 125 S. A car powered by a V12 engine designed by Gioachino Colombo. From the very start, Ferrari’s mission was clear: build road cars in order to fund racing, not the other way around.

Ferrari’s Rise to Fame and Success

Ferrari quickly earned a reputation for performance and exclusivity. Success in racing gave the brand prestige, while collaborations with design house Pininfarina produced some of the fastest and most beautiful cars ever made — the 212 Inter, 288 GTO, F40, F50, 275 GTB and the Daytona, to name a few. 

Enzo's uncompromising focus on racing shaped the company’s identity. He inspired generations and created a remarkable racing and automobile heritage through truly emotional engineering and most importantly: Passion.

Formula One: The Beating Heart of Ferrari

Ferrari has raced in Formula One since the beginning of the sport and secured early championships with Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953. Over the decades, legends like Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, and Michael Schumacher defined eras of Ferrari's success. Jean Todt ushered in a golden period winning 8 constructor's and 6 driver's titles, 5 of which were won famously by Michael Schumacher.

In 2007, Kimi Räikkönen claimed Ferrari’s most recent driver's title. More recently, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have led the team’s resurgence under principal Fred Vasseur. 

With 16 Constructor's Championships and 15 Driver's Championships, Ferrari remains the most successful team in Formula One history.

Key Figures in Ferrari’s History

Enzo Ferrari remains the brand’s soul — a passionate driven, visionary founder who placed racing above all else.

After he died in 1988, Luca di Montezemolo, known as the man who saved Ferrari, led the company into a new era, reviving its struggling road car division and restoring pride in Formula One.

In racing, Jean Todt was crucial. Appointed team principal in 1993, he built a legendary team, leading Ferrari to an era of dominance in the early 2000s. Drivers like Alberto Ascari, Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, Kimi Räikkönen, and Charles Leclerc have all shaped Ferrari’s legacy on track.

Design house Pininfarina, along with brilliant and innovative designers like Flavio Manzoni have continued to produce beautiful and fast supercars — Shaping Ferrari's legacy on the road.