Sunday Throwback: a BLUE Ferrari F1 challenger

“Ask a child to draw a car and he will undoubtedly make it red”. These iconic statement (coming from none other than Enzo Ferrari) will be forever etched in the tifosi ’s hearts. If there is one thing that has defined Scuderia Ferrari’s oustanding achievements in motorsports is their peculiar red paint, Rosso Corsa. However, there was a time when Enzo himself had a Blue Ferrari F1 out on track, eventually bringing John Surtees to the Drivers’ Championship and the team to the Constructors’ Championship in 1964.

The Ferrari 158

The 1964 season saw Ferrari bringing V8 engines back and introducing a monocoque chassis for the first time. The Ferrari 158 driven by Lorenzo Bandini and John Surtees collected a total of 7 podiums, 2 pole positions and 2 wins, an inpressive result for a total of 10 races. The original chassis design, which was used until the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, was painted in the traditional Rosso Corsa and was equipped with beautiful turquoise rims. At the time, F1 teams raced in national colours: Italian colours are sky blue for traditional sports and bright red for motorsports. Right before the last two rounds of the season, however, FIA and the Italian Automobile Club (ACI) made a decision which would cause Enzo to completely lose the red for the rest of the Championship.

The original 158 chassis, with its turquoise rims.

Enzo’s anger

The story begins in 1962. Enzo wanted to homologate his 250 GTO to compete in GT racing. However, the ACI and FIA regulations at the time required a minimum of 100 road models of a car to be produced before obtaining homologation for racing. Ferrari wasn’t able to produce this many models, but managed to trick the FIA and the ACI into believing that requirements were met. Fast forward 1964, and Ferrari wanted to homologate a new racecar, the 250 LM: however, this time the FIA wasn’t easily fooled, and the Scuderia saw their request denied.

ACI failed to back Enzo Ferrari in his discussion with FIA (having been fooled themselves), and Enzo was so angered that he decided to sever all ties between Ferrari and Italy. He gave up on his competitor’s licence, and both the American and the Mexican rounds of the Championship were raced in particular conditions. On the grid, Ferrari was represented by the satellite constructor NART (it might sound absurd to today’s audiences, but it was perfectly regular back in the day) and raced in a white and blue outfit. John Surtees finished second in both races and, after both Championship wins, Enzo’s threat never to race in Italian colours again was very short-lived.

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa: what it means to drive for Ferrari

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are two of the best-known Ferrari drivers of all time. Although failing to win a WDC for the Scuderia in some of the toughest years for the Prancing Horse, they are regarded as two of the brightest stars in Maranello history. Both have now left the F1 paddock, challenging themselves in Formula E (Massa) and WEC among many other championships (Alonso). However, fate would have it that they both released two separate interviews on the challenges of driving for the guys in red at the same time. Let’s see what they had to say.

“It’s never easy when you’re under pressure”

In an exclusive interview for the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, Fernando Alonso was asked to comment on Sebastian Vettel’s performance this year and his difficulties in beating Hamilton’s Mercedes. In the past few months, many commentators argued that Alonso would have won at least another WDC for Ferrari had he had as competitive a car as Vettel. Fernando, however, knows all too well what Sebastian’s been through.

It’s way too easy to talk about this stuff from an outside perspective. Who is at the top of their game always fights for the win and always has everything to lose. And we all make mistakes. Maybe Sebastian has lost some valuable points this season, but so did Hamilton, and he still did better than Kimi Raikkonen. He fought until the very end, and he’s a true champion. When he won four WDC everybody praised him as a superstar and know they do the same with Hamilton. Truth is, it’s never easy when you’re under pressure as much as he is now.

“Ferrari’s obligation to win is a problem”

At the same time, Felipe Massa had another exclusive interview, this time for Autosport.com. In the piece, he highlighted the historical relevance of the Prancing Horse in motorsport and the burden that comes with it.

“A lot of things happen in a difficult way inside Ferrari in terms of pressure. They feel this a lot. The inside of the team was always like this. There was a time that they felt less because they had more results, in the time of Jean Todt. […] After this, things happened in a very different way. Ferrari now is always feeling the pressure and the obligation to win, and this is a problem.”

The future of Scuderia Ferrari

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa shared a quite controversial and at times tense relationship in the team. Felipe never settled as a #2 driver, and the never ending chase to Red Bull Racing in their years for Ferrari took a toll on everybody. However, they tend to agree when describing team dynamics and when speaking their minds on Ferrari’s future. Namely, they were both very positive when commenting Charles Leclerc and Mattia Binotto’s new roles in Maranello. They knew Binotto in his technical roles during their time as teammates, and they both believe he has the composure and the authority to run the team efficiently without falling victim to the pressure. They’ve also praised Maranello’s choice in nurturing Leclerc and giving him an early chance in the main team. That comes as no surprise, though, since they both aren’t very fond of Kimi Raikkonen…

Having said all that, Fernando and Felipe will always have a special place in the tifosi’s hearts, and we’re all very eager to see their certain success in the new endeavours they’re taking upon.

The Ferrari Monza SP2 Is The Most Beautiful Supercar Of 2018

The Ferrari Monza SP2 has been named ‘Most Beautiful Supercar of The Year 2018’ at the Paris Festival Automobile International and I’m quite frankly not surprised. I would call it a car but to simply call it a car, just wouldn’t do it justice. Perhaps ‘Art on Wheels’ would be more suitable?

Photography: Ferrari

New Design Language

Designed by the Ferrari Centre Stilo under Flavio Manzoni, the masterpiece that is the Monza SP2 is perhaps one of the sleekest, most elegant and cleanest Prancing Horses to come out of Maranello in recent years. In a time where Ferrari’s design language has been leaning towards a more aggressive track focused approach, the new Icona series (Monza SP1 & SP2) is certainly a breath of fresh air. If you’d like to get more insight on the design of both cars, make sure to read Christian’s article with input from Flavio Manzoni.

Not that the current aggressive design isn’t gorgeous in its own right but the elegance of the SP2 Monza is a true ode to the past single seater legends such as the Ferrari 166MM Barchetta, 250 Testarossa and 750 Monza. Described as a form so pure and minimalistic, it has been compared to a single pencil stroke.

The Monza SP1 and SP2

The Monza SP1 and SP2 are both open air vehicles meaning they are truly intended for very special use, the difference between the two being that the SP1 is a purpose built single seater and the SP2 is a dedicated 2 seater.

The design of the two models blends futuristic technology and sleekness with glorious timeless style, evident by the single bar which acts as the tail light and side lights, as well as the extensive use of carbon fibre all over the body and chassis. Both of the cars feature small scissor doors and don’t have windshields, instead relying on a patented system Ferrari calls the ‘Virtual Windshield’, which is supposed to deviate airflow away from the driver.

810 bhp Without Windscreen

However the Monza SP2 isn’t just a visual spectacle to behold. It is, as Ferrari themselves describe it, a model born to deliver pure driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel. It’s powered by a slightly tuned up monster 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 producing 810 bhp and 720 N⋅m of torque from the Ferrari 812 Superfast mated to a lightning fast 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

As their model series indicates, the Monza SP1 and SP2 are truly icons in the great legacy of Ferrari and the Speedsters really give us a glimpse into the evergreen future of the Prancing Horse.

I actually begin to feel like Odysseus in the last scene of Troy the movie: “If they ever tell my story, let them say I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of the Monza SP2, Queen of the Prancing Horses. Let them say, I lived in the time of Ferrari.”

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How Was Drake’s Ferrari LaFerrari Able To Fly?

Drake’s 2018 ‘Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour’ presented some impressive stages and props: a basketball court, light-up drones and the rapper’s 2015 Giallo Modena Ferrari LaFerrari – not on stage, but flying over the crowd.

Photography: Drake, HOT 96.9 Boston

Hip-hop might not be my favourite music genre, but if there’s a Ferrari involved, I will happily sit through some videos. In early 2018, Drake bought a Ferrari LaFerrari, with just 321 miles on the clock and left an estimated $3.5 million at Fusion Luxury Motors in Los Angeles. Besides showing it off on Instagram and in the music video for ‘‘I’m Upset’’ video, he wanted to take it a step further, so creative director Willo Perron got to work.

‘YELLOW FERRARI LIKE PIKACHU’

Thanks to a video of NYC-based INSIDER, we now know how it all worked. Perron commissioned an inflatable replica of the LaFerrari in Spain. Although the details are impressive, it’s essentially a giant inflatable balloon. Gear Factor, a Hong-Kong based company specialized in flying solutions during live events, created a drone out of the LaFerrari and controlled it behind the scenes.

Once Drake started the song ‘‘Yes Indeed’’ featuring Lil Baby, the LaFerrari appeared and flew around the whole venue. The main reason why the production team wanted to have all of those impressive stages and props was to involve the crowd. They needed to create a big, interactive experience for such large arenas. Even the spectators in the back got a close glimpse of the LaFerrari.

To make sure the LaFerrari would last from August till November, the car was slightly smaller than the real thing. This way it was easier to move it around without damaging it.

Drake certainly took showing off a precious hypercar to a whole new level.

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This Is Why Ferrari Is Elected As The Most Powerful Brand

Founded by David Haigh in 1996, Brand Finance is the world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy. Each year, the consultancy issues a report that determines the 500 strongest brands in the world, and once again Ferrari has claimed the top spot.

Ferrari may have lost the 2018 Formula 1 title to Mercedes, but the Italian automaker claimed the title of the World’s Strongest Brand in the 2019 Brand Finance Global 500 report. This is the second time it’s won the distinction, the first being 2014. Ferrari earned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 94.8 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating overtaking companies such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Disney.

How to determine the strength of a brand

The first thing I wondered when I read the news was, ‘‘How do you determine the strength of a brand?’’ Brand Finance uses something they call ßrandßeta® analysis, which is their own proprietary system for calculating a brand’s strength, risk and potential in relation to its closes competitors. Data used to figure out the rating comes from their own internal research and external research from annual reports, client-commissioned research and companies such as Bloomberg.

Once the results are in, the brands are ranked from scores AAA+ to D. Ferrari is one of only 14 brands with the highest rating.

Why Ferrari beat the competition

Looking at Ferrari’s global impact through their cars, merchandise, theme parks, themed hotels and more, it’s no surprise they became the World’s Strongest Brand for a second time. Every new Ferrari is positively received, and most of the 2018 and 2019 limited edition cars quickly sold out.

The brand has maintained a consistent level of quality and mystique for decades. Ferrari has passionate and devoted fans worldwide; many have never seen one in person, few have driven one and even fewer still will ever own one. But such is the brand’s aspirational pull. The Ferrari brand’s worldwide emotional impact has been carefully cultivated through nonstop excellence and innovation.

“As the world’s foremost luxury carmaker, Ferrari has an unparalleled level of brand recognition, upholding excellence for design and innovation. The prancing horse logo is a perfect symbol of the brand’s strength and vitality as it plans new models and reaches outside the auto industry.”

— David Haigh, CEO Brand Finance

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Young Mick Schumacher Gets One Step Closer To F1, Signs with Ferrari

19-year old Mick Schumacher, set to follow in his legendary father’s footsteps as he signs with Ferrari to join their Driver Academy Programme.

Words: Yashraj Singh

The 2018 European F3 Champion, Mick Schumacher has been confirmed to join the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2019 as he progresses to F2 in 2019.

This announcement didn’t come as a surprise to many, as Prema Theodore Racing, the team Mick won the F3 title with, has been known to have close relations with Ferrari as well as the elephant in the room which comes in the form of his father, Michael Schumacher’s monumental 5 World F1 title career with the Scuderia.

This news will bring great joy for many racing fans who yearned for a Schumacher to be racing again, as Mick gets one step closer to the greatest racing platform in the world, F1.

The promising rookie started his racing career in 2008 under the name “Mick Betsch”, his mother’s maiden name, to avoid the attention that would come from his father’s name, but inevitably started using the Schumacher name and has since raced in multiple Karting championships, ADAC Formula 4, Italian Formula 4 Championship and most recently FIA Formula 3.

As he moves to F2 with Prema Racing, we could be seeing him on the F1 grid very soon, by 2021 even! The youngster has a massive legacy to live up to, a legacy of the most successful racing driver of all time, one that many in his position have struggled with, could he be the one to change the precedent? (No pressure though).

Maurizio Arrivebene, Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 ex-team principal said “Concerning Mick Schumacher I think the most important thing is to let him grow, without giving pressure, the recent results are very, very good, and I wish to him a great career. With a name like this, that wrote historical pages of Ferrari history, the door of Maranello is always open, of course.”

Although he is no longer team principal, the sentiment is surely echoed in the team.

Mercedes-AMG F1 Boss Toto Wolf said this following Mick’s F3 Title win, “He’s won the Formula 3 championship this year with Mercedes engines, which is great, but he’s not part of the Mercedes-Benz junior programme.”

“The most important [thing] is to give him time. He has this incredible legacy of having a father who was the most successful racing driver of all-time.”

“He’s won F3, ticked the box, now he’s going into F2, which should be very difficult again against many experienced drivers.

“I have no doubt he has the potential to be a successful driver in Formula 1. Maybe one day with us, maybe not.”

In 2019 Mick is expected to have a couple of test days in the Ferrari suit and practice on the Ferrari simulator parallel to his F2 career.

All that we know is that his up and coming career is a reason for a lot of excitement in the world of motorsports and we wish him all the very best for the future!

Craving For Summer With The Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Beach Car

Are you tired of the cold weather, just like us? Enjoy this one-of-one Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Beach Car by Felber and Michelotto while we wait for summer to arrive.

Photography: Scuderia Ferrari Club Berna

The urge to drive a Prancing Horse off-road isn’t new. Ferrari announced the Purosangue, the marque’s first SUV last year, and I earlier explained why Ferrari participated in rally championships. Today, we are taking a look at the unique Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Beach Car by Felber.

The building of the beach car started in 1972 when Swiss car manufacture Willy Felber received an enquiry for a shooting brake version of the Ferrari 365 GTC/4. The car was made in collaboration with Giovanni Michelotti, who, among other activities, converted street Ferrari into rally Ferraris and racing Ferraris. The chassis and driving technology remained the same, but the car received a whole new body, sporting a tailgate with a separately opening rear window, finish in a brown paint job with white roof.

The car was first shown at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show. Story goes, they dismantled the body after they received an inquiry for a 365 Beach Car. The body, without doors and roof and cut down sill, was placed onto the Shooting Brake’s chassis and presented again a year later in a white paint job. Sadly, there’s little information available about the car.

The engine, chassis and suspension remained the same, meaning the Colombo V12 pushed out about 335 bhp. The car currently resides in Switzerland and has been repainted in a gold paint job.

Willy Felber was no stranger to odd coach-building. It all began in 1974 with the FF, standing for Felber Ferrari. The car was based on a damaged Ferrari 330 GTC and was inspired by the 125 S and 166. Michelotti made a copy of the car and this was the first time the two worked together on a project.

This Is Why The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Is Also Called The Daytona

I previously wrote about why Ferrari uses numbers to indicate their models, but today it’s time to explain why the 365 GTB/4 is called Daytona.

Photography: Julian Sutton, Uncrate

In the summer of 1966, Pininfarina designer Leonardo Fioravanti laid eyes on the bare chassis of a Ferrari 330 GTC and his mind began rattling. He grabbed a piece of paper and started drawing: ‘’I wanted to follow its shape and dimensions, while paying close attention to the aerodynamics.’’ Fioravanti showed Sergio Pininfarina the designs he made and the rest is history. Ferrari introduced the 365 GTB at the 1968 Paris Motor Show, replacing the widely beloved 275 GTB/4.

While Pininfarina further shaped the car, the engineering team made sure to complement the excellent styling with an excellent engine – an updated version of the 275’s Colombo V12. The engine could rev up to 6500 rpm, resulting in a goosebump-worthy engine tone. It was undoubtedly one of Ferrari’s and Pininfarina’s greatest collaborations.

The starting price of the Daytona was approximately €10.000, which at the time made it the most expensive new Ferrari ever. It was also the last model made by Ferrari before the company was sold to Fiat in 1969.

A complete red podium

As Richard Hammond once said about the Daytona: ‘’It may take its name from a race track in America, but trust me, the Daytona is the absolute essence of pure European supercar.’’ Its name was indeed derived from the Daytona International Speedway.

After Ferrari lost the endurance races in Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans in 1966, they were determined to see better results the following year. The 1967 World Sportscar Championship (WSC) began in Daytona and Ferrari completed it with a one, two, three finish’. The first Ferrari to cross the finish line was the Ferrari 330 P3/4 (#23) driven by Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon, in second place was the Ferrari 330 P4 (#24) driven by Mike Parkes and Ludovico Scarfiotti, and third was the Ferrari 412 P (#26) driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet. This was the perfect start to a successful season, which Ferrari eventually won with 34 points.

To commemorate this historical moment, artist John Ketchell made a fabulous art print of the three Ferraris lining up before crossing the finish line. Visit our store to get your copy!

About one and a half year later, Ferrari revealed the 365 GTB to the public. As this was the first car the automaker revealed after having won the WSC, the media quickly dubbed it as the Daytona. Although Ferrari never recognized the name, the car is still known as the Daytona.

Mattia Binotto is set to be Scuderia Ferrari’s new Team Principal. What now?

Despite it being rumoured for a few months across Italian motorsport media, today’s speculation seems realer than ever before, being reported by all major news outlets. Maurizio Arrivabene is set to step down from his Team Principal role in Scuderia Ferrari, being replaced by Mattia Binotto, previously Chief Technical Officer.

Who is Mattia Binotto?

Binotto was born Lausanne, Switzerland and graduated in Mechanical Engineering and Motor Vehicle Engineering. He first joined the Scuderia Ferrari in 1995 as Test Engine Engineer. Throughout the years he fulfilled roles such as Race Engine Engineer, Head of Engine, KERS Operations and Chief Technical Officer. Such an impressive CV shows his high level of skill, long-standing involvement with the Prancing Horse and incredible achievements, considering he’s only 49 years old.

What happens now?

What follows is only speculation and is meant to be taken as my personal opinion on the matter. Many were the reports on the tense relationship between Arrivabene, Binotto and the Scuderia. Arrivabene came to Ferrari four years ago directly from Philip Morris sponsorship management, and not everybody was confident that he possesed the amount and type of skill required for his role in the team. His job in public relations was definitely great, and he did bring the Prancing Horse back to competitive levels, but the loss of 2018’s Championship has made him accountable for strategy and technical mistakes which, as many believe, could have been easily preventable. Of course it would be absolutely unfair to trace all Ferrari’s mishaps of 2018 back to Arrivabene, but as Team Principal he’s held resposible of what happens on and off track.

Furthermore, Mattia Binotto is considered the main mind behind the SF70H and SF71H, undoubtedly the most successful F1 cars put together in Maranello in the past few years. This has meant that his reputation with investors, engineers, drivers and executive board is extremely good. The Swiss could also count on the support of Sergio Marchionne himself, who had put his money on him as successor of Arrivabene in the future. Binotto had also received interesting offers from both Mercedes and Renault, presumably consequently asking for a better position within the team if he was to stay in Maranello.

However, being a great Chief Technical Officer does not necessarily make you a great Team Principal: will Binotto have the charisma and character to put forward those political stances that are so important within the F1 world? Will his departure from a technical role mean a setback in car development and competitiveness? Will Sebastian Vettel regain the mental stability needed to bring home the WDC, now that the new Team Principal notoriously has a soft spot for the young rival Charles Leclerc? All of these interesting and potentially dangerous questions will find an answer in the 2019 season, starting in a bit more than two months.

Michael Schumacher: The Greatest Ferrarista

As Ross Brawn, Formula 1 Managing Director of Motorsports once said: ‘’He is the reference point, the best driver I have ever seen.’’

Words: Yashraj Singh
Photography: Motorsport, Formula 1, Ferrari, Jamey Price

Today, on the eve of the 50th birthday of one of greatest drivers in the history of Formula 1, many of us, including myself, sit here remembering the greatness of my childhood hero Michael Schumacher and his innumerable achievements.

He started his F1 career with the Jordan-Ford team in 1991, then Benetton from 1991 to 1995 with whom he won his first two World Championships in 1994 and 1995. After this he took on the monumental task of building back up the Scuderia, with Ross Brawn and Jean Todt when they joined Ferrari in 1996. The first few years saw little improvement, until the incredible build-up of Michael’s first Championship with Ferrari in 2000. That day in Suzuka still brings tears to my eyes as it was Ferrari’s first World Title in 21 years, since Jody Scheckter in 1979. It felt like everything finally came together to create that special moment; the team’s hard work, Michael’s talent and their combined burning desire to win.

The Golden Era

This however was only the start of the most successful team and driver in history as they went on to dominate and win for the next 5 consecutive years, a period I like to call the Golden Era. From 2000 till 2004, Michael was unbeatable, a time where I was just growing up as a five year old, every weekend I would watch with my eyes glued to the TV screen along with my dad in suburban England as the bright red flash of his F2004 ruled the track, winning 12 of the first 13 races that year.

Schumacher was a lot more than just a racing driver. Ross Brawn said that no matter what team he worked with, not a single one had a negative thing to say about Schumacher, described as kind, private, focused, blisteringly fast and extremely professional. Throughout his career, Schumacher raced against arguably some of the best drivers the sport has ever seen: Aryton Senna, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. One of his greatest rivals was Mika Häkkinen, but although they had intense battles on track, they were very close friends.

Schumacher retired in 2006 and came back three years later under Mercedes and Ross Brawn. Sadly, he was unable to achieve anything significant due to the package being slower. Then in 2013, Schumacher suffered a very unfortunate skiing accident where he sustained severe brain injuries.

Nonetheless, we all hold a lot of love for him, have his family in our hearts and pray for his recovery. In his 19 year career, Schumacher scored an unbeaten record breaking 7 World Championships, 91 race wins and 155 podiums. He is undeniably the best driver in the history of Formula 1 and my personal hero.