Scuderia Ferrari competed for the first time in 1950. Over all those years, we can say that it had dozens of experienced drivers take the wheel of its famous red cars. However, only a handful of them truly shone during their time in the team. They helped Ferrari build its longstanding image as a racing powerhouse, applying their skills to shatter records and earn a plethora of victories.
In this blog post, we are going to distinguish those drivers by presenting a short history of what they did to help establish Ferrari as a champion in Formula 1. We hope you enjoy the reading!
Alberto Ascari: The first double World Champion
His career in Ferrari spanned from 1950 to 1955. That time was enough for him to win the World Championship two years in a row, 1952 and 1953. Ascari drove racing cars such as the 500 and the 553 with a unique combination of skill and aggression to win 13 races and several podiums over a total of 33 events driving for Ferrari and his streak of 9 victories was held for sixty years. Unfortunately, Ascari lost his life while testing a Ferrari race car at the early age of 36 years old.
Juan Manuel Fangio: The Argentine master
Often referred to as “El Maestro,” Fangio had a remarkable career with Ferrari in Formula One. During his single season with Ferrari, Fangio won three races and the Drivers’ Championship, showcasing his skills and consistency. His victory in Germany that year was memorable, as he overcame mechanical issues to claim the win. Fangio’s time at Ferrari was a testament to his adaptability and mastery of the sport, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest F1 drivers.
Niki Lauda: An example of resilience
His career with Ferrari is one of the most storied in F1. Lauda joined Ferrari in 1974 and won his first Championship with the team in 1975. His 1976 season is unique, as he fought back from a near-fatal crash in Germany to finish second in the championship. Lauda proved his resilience by racing again just six weeks after the accident. He went on to win two more Championships with Scuderia Ferrari in 1977 and 1984 and made himself one of F1’s all-time greatest drivers.
Gilles Villeneuve: Dubbed Mr. Monaco not by chance
This Canadian driver competed until his death in 1982. While he only had six victories in the F1, he became famous for the brave driving style. He earned the nickname “Mr. Monaco” because he won back-to-back races at that circuit driving the Ferrari 312T. Other interesting facts about Villeneuve are his passion for the Scuderia and loyalty to Enzo Ferrari, which helped build him a vast fanbase. Sadly, however, he never reached the point of winning a Driver’s Championship.
Michael Schumacher: The modern-day beast
Five consecutive World Championships made Michael Schumacher an all-time idol in Ferrari. From 1996 to 2006, he made it dominant by pioneering team tactics as he led design feedback to engineers and drew race strategies with Ross Brawn. His 72 wins and 78 pole positions with Scuderia Ferrari almost double the figures of any other F1 driver. His mastery of wet conditions earned the nickname “Rain Meister”, thanks to victories that no one else would dare possible.
Felipe Massa: One of the best qualifiers
From 2006 to 2013, Felipe Massa proved one of Ferrari’s greatest modern drivers. The Brazilian built his reputation by earning consecutive wins at Istanbul, Catalunya and Silverstone in 2007. A year later, Massa fought Lewis Hamilton for the championship until the last corner of the final lap in Brazil. He is also one of the best F1 qualifiers of all times, scoring 15 pole positions with Ferrari. His specialties were the quick single lap pace and preserving equipment for race day.
Charles Leclerc: Mr. Saturday
As this century’s youngest entrant at age 19, Leclerc looks poised to launch a new era for the Scuderia. His aggressive one-lap speed and consistency places Ferrari at the sharp end of the grid every Saturday. His 9 consecutive pole positions in 2019-2020 tied him with Schumacher and previewed his racing potential. Now 25 years old, Leclerc has 3 wins and 12 pole starts and shows absolutely no signs of slowing as he captains the youth movement in Scuderia Ferrari.
Ferrari’s success in Formula One is quite interesting because it does not rely on a specific style of driver. It has had fearless drivers like Niki Lauda, methodical ones like Michael Schumacher, and everyone in between. One could say that this variety is precisely what helped the team win so many races: it has been able to adapt to different times, different circuits and different cars.
Now that the team is building a new hypercar to keep competing, we cannot help but wonder: who is going to be the next Scuderia Ferrari driver to deserve to be mentioned in that group?