Winning in F1 makes you a champion. Winning with Ferrari makes you a legend.
When Formula 1 kicked off its very first season in 1950, it looked wildly different from what we know today. Back then, there were 30 teams, 81 drivers, and just 7 races. Fast forward to 2024, and F1 has evolved into a global phenomenon with 10 teams, 20 drivers, and a 24-race calendar that spans nearly every continent.
Yet, through all that change, regulations, technology, circuits, and eras, one name has remained a constant: Ferrari.
The scarlet red cars from Maranello have been the heartbeat of Formula 1 for 75 years. With 16 Constructors’ Championships, 15 Drivers’ Championships, and 248 race wins, Ferrari is the most successful team in F1 history. Legends like Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Alberto Ascari have all etched their names into motorsport folklore driving for the Prancing Horse. As the late, great Murray Walker once said: “Ferrari is Formula 1.”
Ferrari’s pull isn’t just about stats or silverware. If it were, why would top drivers leave competitive teams to chase success in red, especially when Ferrari hasn’t claimed a championship since 2007?
It’s because Ferrari is more than a team. In Italy, it’s practically a religion. The Tifosi, Ferrari’s famously passionate fanbase, are unlike anything else in the sport. Loud, loyal, and unapologetically Italian, they turn races like Monza and Imola into pure emotion. When a Ferrari driver lands on the podium, the grandstands erupt. And after the race? The track floods with fans waving giant Ferrari and Italian flags, singing, shouting, and crying tears of joy or heartbreak. It’s chaos. It’s passion. It’s Ferrari.
This is why racing in red is the stuff of dreams. It’s why drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc, and even Lewis Hamilton have spoken about the deep emotional connection they’ve had to Ferrari since childhood. Because joining Ferrari isn’t just a career move, it’s a personal milestone.
But the Ferrari experience goes far beyond the racetrack. It begins in Maranello, the team’s spiritual and literal home. This isn’t just a factory, it’s sacred ground. Every car built here, whether for the street or the circuit, is crafted with precision, passion, and unmistakable Italian flair.
For any car enthusiast, working in Maranello would be a dream. For a driver? It’s the pinnacle. You’re not just handed a car—you become part of the process. This hands-on culture even extends to Ferrari’s junior drivers. Young talents in F2 or karting, those nurtured under the Ferrari Driver Academy, get an intimate education in how the team operates, what the car feels like, and what it means to wear red.
It’s a system that works. Just look at Charles Leclerc, who was groomed through the ranks and delivered a stunning rookie season that quickly earned him a seat at Ferrari. Or Oliver Bearman, who stepped in for one race in 2024 and scored points, earning himself a full-time seat with Haas in 2025. Maranello isn’t just Ferrari’s HQ. It’s a proving ground, a culture, and an art studio all in one.
As Leclerc himself put it:
“You don’t just drive a Ferrari—you become a part of it.”
But with great legacy comes great pressure. “When you win with Ferrari, it means more. When you lose, it hurts more.” – Fernando Alonso
Being a Ferrari driver isn’t all espressos in the sunshine and adoring fans. You inherit the weight of expectation from millions, especially the Tifosi. Every race is a test, not just of skill, but of resilience under relentless scrutiny. At Ferrari, podiums are expected. Mistakes are magnified. And when you lose, it hurts more.
Yet, even in the absence of titles, if the Tifosi love you, you become immortal. Charles Leclerc hasn’t won a championship with Ferrari, but he’s beloved in Italy, some even say he’s revered like a saint. He was the first driver ever offered a contract extension mid-season. That’s the kind of loyalty you earn when you truly represent what Ferrari means.
Despite the long title drought, Ferrari is far from fading into history. With Frédéric Vasseur stepping in as team principal in 2023, the Scuderia has entered a new era. Vasseur brings fresh energy, a commitment to transparency, and a vision for modernizing the team, on and off the track. Ferrari is becoming more media-friendly, more open to fans, and more strategic with its future stars.
With Leclerc locked in and Sir Lewis Hamilton joining the team, there’s real optimism brewing in Maranello. The goal isn’t just to win again, it’s to evolve, to build something that honours the past while embracing the future.
Because Ferrari will never just be part of F1’s past. It will always be central to its soul.
So why does racing in red mean so much?
Because it’s about more than wins and podiums. It’s about identity. Legacy. Pride. When you race for Ferrari, you carry the hopes of a nation, the weight of history, and the dreams of generations. You’re not just a driver. You’re part of a story that began in 1950 and is still being written today.
That’s what makes you a legend.
See you trackside!
Trackside Talk 