As the oldest Formula 1 team on the grid, Ferrari has almost become synonymous with the sport. From its early dominance to its record-breaking run with Michael Schumacher, Ferrari is one of the most loved brands in motorsport.
While many people may not realize it, Ferrari is the only Formula 1 team to have competed in every single Formula 1 season. Although some teams, like Mercedes and Aston Martin, entered early in the 50s and 60s, these teams left the sport only to return decades later.
Although Ferrari has not won any Championships for a number of years now, the 2022 Formula 1 season has propelled them back to the top of the table. The Formula 1 team has made a complete shift, taking in young drivers to help create the next chapter of the brand’s heritage. If you want to learn more about the oldest Formula 1 team in the world, here are 10 fast facts about Scuderia Ferrari.
10 Oldest Formula 1 Team
Scuderia Ferrari is the official racing division of Ferrari. Created by Enzo Ferrari himself, the team is the oldest and most successful Formula 1 team in history. Competing in every season of Formula 1 from 1950, Ferrari managed to attract some of the biggest names in the sport. This includes the likes of Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, and Juan Manuel Fangio.
Ferrari took its first win in 1951, with its first Championship Title coming the following year in 1952. The Formula 1 team managed to accumulate over 240 race wins and over 790 podium finishes over the years.
9 Team Records
As a Formula 1 team, Ferrari is by far the most successful. The Italian team has won the Constructors’ Championship 16 times and the Drivers’ Championship 15 times. In addition to this, Ferrari has won 239 of the 1038 Grand Prix that they have started.
Ferrari also holds a number of other Formula 1 records that include the greatest number of 1-2 finishes (84), the greatest number of podium finishes (780), and the most pole positions (234).
8 Schumacher Dominance
Although Ferrari is the most decorated team in Formula 1 history, nothing comes close to the dominance the team had with Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn. This stint of success lasted 5 straight years, with Schumacher winning the Championship from 2000 through to 2004.
This dominance helped make Michael Schumacher a 7-time World Champion of the sport. Out of the 91 Grand Prix wins he has in his career, 72 of them were with the Italian team. While they did have their fair share of controversial moments, Schumacher always found himself on the top step of the podium.
7 Marlboro Sponsorship
One of the most controversial aspects of the Ferrari team was their long-term sponsorship agreement with Marlboro. While various laws came into effect to ban tobacco advertising, Marlboro and Ferrari continued their relationship in various forms.
Marlboro and Ferrari were incredibly creative with their marketing, but were ultimately stopped a few years ago. This is when Marlboro decided to remain a sponsor under a new name, Mission Winnow.
6 Sebastian Vettel
Vettel moved from Red Bull to Ferrari in 2015 during the Turbo-Hybrid era of the sport. Red Bull did not manage to build a competitive car, which made the decision a lot easier for the German. Following in the footsteps of his idol, Vettel moved to Ferrari to win another Championship.
Sebastian Vettel drove brilliantly for the Italian legends, but was unable to secure a 5th World Championship with them. Vettel got close in both 2017 and 2018, before Lewis Hamilton managed to find his form and take the Championship back to Mercedes.
5 Ferrari Driver Academy
Ferrari has invested millions of dollars into Formula 1 through its Drivers Academy. Spearheaded by Felipe Massa, the Ferrari Drivers Academy is dedicated to finding and nurturing talent from all over the world.
This program has already produced a few Formula 1 drivers over the last few years, including the likes of Antonio Giovinazzi and Mick Schumacher. These drivers have been retained by Ferrari as their official reserve drivers for the 2022 season.
4 The Next Generation
Although Ferrari has a long and rich history, they have decided to go all-in on the next generation of drivers. This controversial decision saw the team part ways with the 4-time World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, at the end of the 2020 season.
Ferrari decided to sign another young driver in Carlos Sainz, partnering with their prodigy, Charles LeClerc. While Sainz was new to the team, he managed to outperform Charles throughout the entire season, finishing above him in the Drivers’ Championship.
3 Engine Supplier
Ferrari is not just a Formula 1 team but is also a manufacturer and supplier. This means that they do their own research to develop parts and components for their race cars from scratch. To help offset these costs, Ferrari offers various components to other Formula 1 teams on the grid.
The most notable component offered for sale is the Ferrari power unit. For the last decade, Ferrari has manufactured and supplied power units to both Sauber (now Alfa Romeo) and Haas. This makes Ferrari 1 of the 4 engine providers for the entire grid.
2 2022 Regulations
The 2021 season was a tough year for the Italian team. After having to change their engine significantly in 2019, the team was slowly trying to make their way back to the top. This saw them fight all season with McLaren for 3rd place in the Championship.
Ferrari managed to master their power unit in the closing stages of the season, easily clearing McLaren in the Championship. These power unit gains have allowed them to be at the front of the grid for the start of the 2022 season. Capitalizing on Mercedes’ lack of performance, Ferrari has started the 2022 season competing directly with Red Bull Racing.
1 Ferrari’s Special Payment
When it comes to finances, Ferrari is one of the most financially successful teams in the Paddock. Despite not being very successful over the last few seasons, the brand has still managed to grow significantly.
In addition to the sponsorship and merchandise income that the brand takes in, Ferrari also received a special bonus from Formula 1 every year. This is known as a legacy payment and is given only to Ferrari and Williams for their rich history and ongoing commitment to the sport. While Williams gets around $10 million, Ferrari gets over $80 million extra every year.