European Grand Prix

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Enzo Ferrari began his racing career in 1919 before founding Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 with a million-lira loan and backing from Mario Tadini, the Caniato brothers, and Pirelli. Initially an outfit for gentleman drivers using Alfa Romeo cars, the team secured its first logo use at the 1932 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. By the mid-1930s, after Alfa Romeo was state-controlled, Ferrari operated as the unofficial company team, engineering unique vehicles like the Bimotore, which featured two engines driving the rear wheels via a split differential. The 1950s marked their entry into the World Championship; they missed the inaugural British Grand Prix due to a dispute over start money but debuted in Monaco with drivers Alberto Ascari and Gigi Villoresi. The team broke Alfa Romeo's streak in 1951 when José Froilán González won at Silverstone, leading to Alfa's withdrawal and a temporary shift to Formula Two regulations where the Tipo 500 dominated.

In Their Own Story

The 1961 season remains a defining yet tragic chapter. With new 1500 cc rules, Ferrari introduced the dominant Chiti-designed Ferrari 156. Drivers Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips battled for the championship, joined mid-season by Giancarlo Baghetti, who became the first driver to win on his debut at the 1961 French Grand Prix. However, the season culminated in disaster at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix when von Trips crashed, killing himself and over a dozen spectators. Hill won the championship amidst the grief. The end of that year saw 'the walk-out,' where designer Carlo Chiti and manager Romolo Tavoni left to form ATS, forcing Enzo Ferrari to promote Mauro Forghieri as racing director and manage the team's internal turmoil while drivers were permitted to race elsewhere if sponsor contracts allowed.

Reader's Guide

Scuderia Ferrari's journey involves navigating both triumph and profound loss. In 1956, following Lancia's retirement, Ferrari purchased their D50 chassis; Juan Manuel Fangio won three races and the championship driving these cars alongside Peter Collins and Eugenio Castellotti. The following year, 1957, brought further tragedy when Castellotti died testing and Alfonso de Portago crashed during the Mille Miglia, killing twelve people and resulting in manslaughter charges against Ferrari. By 1962, the team struggled with a lack of development after Richie Ginther's departure to BRM, missing two races due to an Italian metalworkers' strike. The era was marked by volatility, including the firing of Jean Behra for punching manager Romolo Tavoni and Enzo Ferrari's absence from the final races of 1962, leaving his wife to represent him.

Did You Know?

• Scuderia Ferrari was founded in 1929 with a million-lira loan from a local bank.
• The Bimotore, an early Ferrari-engineered car, used two engines simultaneously to drive the rear wheels through a special split differential.
• Giancarlo Baghetti became the first driver in history to win a Grand Prix on his debut race at the 1961 French Grand Prix.
• In 1956, Ferrari won the Drivers' Championship using chassis originally designed by the Lancia team after they withdrew from racing.
• The Prancing Horse logo was first used at the 1932 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.