Few teams in Formula 1 history match the iconic status of Scuderia Ferrari, a team that built many legendary cars to achieve great success on track. From the early days of Formula 1 to the modern era, the passion driving innovation, excellence, and performance has allowed Ferrari to create some of the sport’s most iconic machines. Below, we take a look at some of Ferrari’s most successful F1 cars and what made them special.
Ferrari 500 F2 (1952-1953)
Key Achievements:
THE DRIVERS: Juan Manuel Fangio, Alberto Ascari.
Constructors’ Championships: 1952, 1953.
The Ferrari 500 F2 was a revolutionary car in the early 1950s for the Scuderia.
It brought Ferrari its first significant F1 success, most notably with Alberto Ascari, who won the World Championships of both 1952 and 1953.
Key Features:
Fueled by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, it paved the way for Ferrari’s reign in F1.
The stability and reliability of the car established Ferrari as a serious contender in the sport.
This was Ferrari’s bridge to the all-conquering F1 dominance that would be coming in decades to follow, and started a new dynasty.
Ferrari 312T (1975-1980)
Key Achievements:
Drivers’ titles: Niki Lauda (1975) and Jody Scheckter (1979).
Constructors’ Championships: 1975, 1976, 1979.
Ferrari’s 312T was groundbreaking, with a transverse gearbox that dramatically enhanced weight distribution and handling.
Key Features:
The 312T was quick, nimble, and dependable, thanks to a 3.0L V12 engine.
Ferrari spent the 1970s challenging for drivers’ and constructors’ titles thanks in part to innovative gearbox design in the car.
The 312T is remembered as a pinnacle of Ferrari engineering and a milestone in the evolution of the Formula 1 car.
Ferrari F2004 (2004)
Key Achievements:
Driver Title: Michael Schumacher.
Constructors’ Championship: 2004.
One of Ferrari’s greatest successes, the F2004 has a race career of 13 wins at 18 attempts by Schumacher in 2004.
Key Features:
The F2004 was equipped with the high-performance version of the 3.0L V10 engine and boasted redesigned aerodynamics along with raw speed that was virtually unbeatable.
The car’s aerodynamic equilibrium and reliability were key to its dominant season.
Without a doubt, the Ferrari F2004 is the most successful car from Maranello, and one of the most dominant F1 cars ever created. Its dominance established the benchmark for future designs and remains a high point in Ferrari’s F1 legacy.
Ferrari F2002 (2002)
Key Achievements:
DRIVER TITLE: MICHAEL SCHUMACHER.
Constructors’ Championship: 2002.
Michael Schumacher won his fifth World Championship, and Ferrari easily captured the Constructors’ Championship thanks to the F2002.
Key Features:
The car is also aerodynamically beautiful and wonderfully stable in the corners.
Equipped with a 3.0L V10, it was quick, well-balanced, and extremely reliable.
Ferrari’s engineering prowess was displayed in the form of the F2002, which would go on to become one of the most dominating cars in Formula 1 history.
Ferrari F2012 (2012)
Key Achievements:
Driver: Fernando Alonso.
While the F2012 didn’t take the championship, Fernando Alonso’s gritty driving in this car netted Ferrari plenty of podiums and almost the title.
Key Features:
Even in a season in which Ferrari was having a hard time, the F2012 had great aero balance and handling over all kinds of different circuits, which helped Alonso contest for each title even when Ferrari was off the pace.
The F2012 is a testament to both Ferrari’s fighting spirit and ability to deliver a competitive package, albeit with its weaknesses, making an important mark in Ferrari’s F1 history.
Ferrari SF70H (2017)
Key Achievements:
Driver: Sebastian Vettel.
But it was the SF70H that kickstarted Ferrari’s renaissance, enabling them to attack Mercedes like never before in 2017.
Although Vettel ended up losing the title, Ferrari’s performance was a clear sign that it had closed the gap to its rivals.
Key Features:
A well-balanced chassis, excellent aero performance and reliability were the solid pillars of the SF70H, which drew its power from the 1600cc turbocharged V6 hybrid engine.
The SF70H is the embodiment of Ferrari’s resurgence in the sport and sets the stage for the Scuderia’s ongoing success in subsequent years.
Throughout the years, Ferrari has crafted not only fast cars, but every single one of them is a piece of history. The brand’s investment in innovation, high performance, and excellence has consistently kept their cars among the front runners in the sport. This list is comprised of just a few of Ferrari’s sizeable F1 legacy, with each car representing an important chapter in the team’s illustrious past. From the early years of the 500 F2 to the technical wonder that was the F2004, not only did Ferrari’s cars break records, they defined the future of Formula 1 racing.
