Piero Ferrari, son of the legendary Enzo Ferrari, has lived a life shaped by the highs and lows of the iconic Italian brand, witnessing its evolution from his father’s personal dream to a global symbol of Italian excellence. The 80-year-old, who celebrated his birthday in May, reflects on the Ferrari legacy with the calm and perspective that only decades of experience can provide, embracing both triumphs and setbacks as natural cycles destined to end and begin anew.
When asked what makes him most proud of carrying the Ferrari name, Piero Ferrari says that he is still struck by the universal recognition of the brand. Traveling around the world, he explains, people immediately associate the name with the cars, and when he tells them that it was his father who founded the company, they are often left astonished. “It’s not just a famous brand,” he says, “it’s a company that commands immense respect and admiration globally.”
Piero’s life, however, has not been without complexity. His childhood was simple yet deeply rooted in nature. Growing up in Castelvetro with his mother, he remembers tending chickens and enjoying fruit from the orchard, including cherries and apples. Despite his father’s absence from daily family life due to a separate marriage, Piero never felt burdened by the situation. At school, everyone knew who his father was, but nobody asked intrusive questions.
His mother, he recalls, was an intelligent and resilient woman who accepted the family circumstances for the sake of her children. At a time when divorce was not legally recognized and having a child outside of marriage was considered illegal, she maintained a private and dignified approach. Enzo Ferrari would visit for meals but rarely stayed overnight. For Piero, however, this was simply normal.
When asked about Enzo Ferrari as a person, Piero describes him as a chameleon, capable of adjusting his demeanor and language to suit his audience, whether dealing with politicians, employees, or any other individual. Observing his father’s interactions and approach to work offered lessons without words. Piero never needed direct explanations; he absorbed the guidance from Enzo’s actions, his work ethic, and how he communicated with others.
Piero admits he would have liked to know more about the hardships his father faced, particularly the challenges of leaving Alfa Romeo and founding Ferrari during wartime, subjects that Enzo preferred not to discuss. Similarly, he never met his brother Dino. Piero recounts the moment he learned of Dino’s death through a photograph given to him by his father, an intensely emotional experience. “It was the first time he really spoke to me about it,” Piero recalls, “it was a very painful subject.”
Joining Ferrari was a natural step for Piero, driven by his passion for mechanics. While there was no formal introduction to the company, Enzo entrusted him to engineer Giberti, Ferrari’s first employee, from whom Piero learned invaluable lessons. Over the years, he had the privilege of working alongside some of the greatest drivers in the sport. Among them, he holds Niki Lauda close to his heart, praising the late Austrian’s winning mindset, technical insight, and the friendship they built over the years.
Today, Piero has two grandchildren, Enzo and Piero. Enzo recently became a father, making Piero a great-grandfather for the first time. Enzo now manages the family trust, overseeing Ferrari’s diverse activities and assets, while Piero works within Formula 1, contributing to the sport’s management and production, including following the creation of F1 films and attending races. Motors remain very much a family affair.
Regarding Ferrari’s performance in recent years, Piero reflects that Formula 1 operates in cycles. He notes that the team’s challenges are amplified by modern budget caps, limiting the ability to spend freely to close performance gaps. Success requires aligning multiple factors, he explains, to reverse the course.
Despite the passing years, Piero sees the same spirit and intent that characterized Ferrari’s founding. He points to the dedication of the employees, many of whom stay late at Maranello, wearing their uniforms long after the workday ends. For them, being part of Ferrari is more than a job—it represents a core value and identity.
At 80, Piero Ferrari emphasizes the wisdom gained from age: the ability to face life’s events with serenity, avoiding excessive emotional reactions to challenges or joys, and analyzing situations with clarity that often eludes the young. This perspective allows him to view the Ferrari legacy, and his father’s dream, with calm appreciation, valuing the enduring impact of one of Italy’s greatest contributions to motorsport and global culture.
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