The Turkish Grand Prix
this coming weekend will be a landmark event in the history of
Scuderia Ferrari. The race at the Istanbul Park circuit will be the
eight hundredth Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix
in which the team from Maranello in Italy has taken part.
Ferrari is the only team
to have competed in every season at this the highest
level of motor sport and it also holds all the records:
Drivers’ titles (15,) Constructors’ (16,) wins (211,)
podium finishes (632: apart from the wins, it has 223
second places and 198 thirds,) pole positions (203) and
fastest race laps (221.)
“Eight hundred Formula
1 Grands Prix represents a milestone in the life of
Ferrari, which fills us with satisfaction and pride,”
commented Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo. “Today,
I want to share our delight in this achievement with all
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.
“Personally, I am
proud to have been part of this journey for so many
years now,” continued Montezemolo. First as Sporting
Director (1973-1976) and then as President (since 1991,)
Luca di Montezemolo has been involved in 359 of the 799
chapters of Ferrari’s history in Formula 1, in which
time the team won a total of 17 World titles (7 Drivers’
and 10 Constructors’) and 123 Grands Prix.
Other records held by
Scuderia Ferrari and the men who drove for it are:
Constructors’ Championship points (4229.5,) consecutive
wins (14, 1952-1953,) one-two finishes (80,) victories
in one season (15, 2002 and 2004,) wins in one season
per driver (13, Schumacher 2004,) consecutive wins for a
driver (9, Ascari 1952-1953,) consecutive podium
finishes per driver (19, Schumacher 2001-2002,) one-two
finishes for a driver pairing (24,
Schumacher-Barrichello 2000-2005,) consecutive points
finishes per driver (24, Schumacher 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 the official
website 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.
Montezemolo also sent
a personal message to all of those who are still
following Formula 1 with a passion: "Next weekend
represents an important anniversary for Ferrari. In
Turkey, the Scuderia will, in fact, race its 800th Grand
Prix in 61 years of participation in the Formula 1 World
Championship. No other team can boast such a lengthy
tradition and such a rich palmarès: 15 Drivers' Titles,
16 Constructors' Titles, 211 victories, 203 pole
positions, 211 fastest laps. Each of you has written a
chapter in this fantastic story and, on behalf of
Ferrari and its supporters, I would like to thank you. I
am very proud to be at the head of a company like
Ferrari and I would like to share with all of you our
joy in reaching this extraordinary achievement. It is
incredible looking back at what we have accomplished
together, knowing that we are part of an unrivalled
history which is still being written."
