This weekend’s Turkish race will be a very special one for Ferrari, as it will be the Italian team’s 800th Grand Prix. And to celebrate reaching such a momentous milestone, a special commemorative logo will be placed on the engine covers of both F10s for the duration of the Istanbul Park event.
“Eight hundred Grands Prix represents a milestone in the life of Ferrari, which fills us with satisfaction and pride,” said Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo. “I want to share our delight in this achievement with the drivers who have driven our cars in the world championship and with our fans. It is nice to look back and see what we have done together, aware that we are part of a story that is without equal and is ongoing.”
First as sporting director (from 1973-1976) and then as President (since 1991) Di Montezemolo has been involved in 359 of the 799 chapters of Ferrari’s Formula One history, during which time the team won a total of 17 world championships (seven driver titles and 10 constructor titles) and 123 Grands Prix.
The only team to have participated in every world championship since its inception back in 1950, Ferrari’s first victory came courtesy of Jose Froilan Gonzalez at the 1951 British Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso clinched their most recent at the 2010 season opener in Bahrain.
The Italian team have also set many records, thanks to their 15 drivers’ titles, 16 constructors’ titles, 211 wins, 632 podium finishes, 223 second-place finishes, 198 third-place finishes, 203 pole positions and 220 fastest race laps.
Other records held by Ferrari and their drivers include constructors’ championship points (4229.5), consecutive wins (14, between 1952-1953), one-two finishes (80), wins in one season for one driver (13, for Michael Schumacher in 2004), consecutive wins for a driver (nine, for Alberto Ascari from 1952-1953), consecutive podium finishes for a driver (19, for Schumacher from 2001-2002,) one-two finishes for a driver pairing (24, for Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello from 2000-2005), and consecutive points finishes per driver (24, for Schumacher from 2001-2003).
Ferrari is celebrating its eight hundredth Grand Prix with a special logo on the engine cover of Felipe Massa’s and Fernando Alonso’s F10 cars this weekend. A new section of ferrari.com (//formula1.ferrari.com) goes live on this occasion, with some special content, including messages sent to Ferrari by Niki Lauda, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher; the letter sent by President Montezemolo to all drivers who have raced at the wheel of a Maranello car in at least one Formula 1 race and memories of fans who wanted to share the excitement of “their” special Grand Prix on the Ferrari site.
