“Rosso corsa,” commonly known as racing red, has been synonymous with Ferrari since the inception of the legendary Italian car manufacturer. When Enzo Ferrari established the company in 1947, he made the deliberate choice to paint his cars red, setting them apart from rival brands.
Ferrari leads all Formula 1 teams in major statistics by a significant margin ahead of the British Grand Prix. They have the most race wins, drivers’ titles, and constructors’ championships. With 15 drivers’ titles, Ferrari is three ahead of McLaren, and an impressive 39 drivers have won world championship grand prix while racing for Ferrari.
A new crop of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has emerged, and they will be among the sportbet favorites to scoop this one. Choosing the top 5 Ferrari F1 drivers is a difficult task due to the abundance of exceptional drivers and world champions. Nonetheless, we have taken on the challenge and compiled a list.
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher’s position in Ferrari’s history is irreplaceable. Joining in 1996, he led the team to dominance in the early 2000s with more wins and titles than any other Ferrari driver. Only Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes rival their success. Despite initial challenges, Schumacher’s exceptional performances in the F310 and F310B cars secured victories. In 2000, he won Ferrari’s first driver’s title in over 20 years, sparking an unparalleled run of triumph with five consecutive championships. Schumacher’s retirement in 2006 left a legacy of five titles and 72 victories, nearly a third of Ferrari’s race wins, second only to Hamilton. Hamilton will be leading Mercedes in a bid to stop the new Red Bull wave, and you can bet with Betway for the Briton to take advantage of racing at home.
Niki Lauda
Austrian racer Niki Lauda played a pivotal role in Ferrari’s rise to dominance in 1970s. Despite retirements hindering his championship challenge, Lauda’s speed and nine poles in the 312B3 showcased his talent. In 1975, with the exceptional 312T, Lauda secured five wins and the title, delivering Ferrari its first championships since 1964. Tragedy struck in 1976 at the Nurburgring, but Lauda made a heroic comeback, though narrowly losing the championship to James Hunt. In 1977, Lauda’s strategic skills and the reliable 312T2 earned him another title before he moved to Brabham in 1978, securing his legacy in Ferrari’s history.
Alberto Ascari
Alberto Ascari, Ferrari’s first world champion, emerged as Juan Manuel Fangio’s main rival in the early 1950s. He impressed in the 1940 Mille Miglia race with the Tip 815 prototype, later becoming a Ferrari. Ascari joined Ferrari in 1949 and quickly established himself as a top driver. In 1950, despite Alfa Romeo’s initial dominance, Ascari challenged Fangio. However, a Ferrari wheel/tire blunder cost him the championship. With Alfa Romeo’s withdrawal, Ascari dominated Formula 2 with Ferrari’s 500 car, winning six races in 1952 for his first title. He continued his success in 1953 but tragically died in a Ferrari sportscar testing accident in 1955.
John Surtees
John Surtees joined Ferrari after a winless 1962 season and played a vital role in their revival. His motorcycle racing experience with MV Agusta proved invaluable. Surtees secured his first Formula 1 victory in 1963, defeating Jim Clark. In 1964, he battled Clark and Graham Hill for the championship, winning in Germany and Italy. Surtees clinched the title by a single point in a dramatic showdown in Mexico. While strong in 1965, Surtees left Ferrari in 1966 due to a strained relationship with racing director Eugenio Dragoni. He joined Cooper but lost the championship to Jack Brabham.
Fernando Alonso
Alonso could have been a double champion with Ferrari if he had scored more points in 2010 and 2012. Despite 11 wins, Ferrari couldn’t challenge Red Bull. In 2012, Alonso’s exceptional performance and three wins fell short by three points. He left Ferrari after a winless 2014. It’s a pity he missed the competitive cars in 2017-2018. He will be representing team Aston Martin in the British Grand Prix, and as usual, Betway will have markets available for betting.
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