Enzo Ferrari built the biggest name in racing history. The Italian legend was one of the most influential people in the auto industry. He was born on February 18, 1898, in the Italian city of Modena. The province where Ferrari are based even today. Enzo established the Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari and made it one of the iconic Motorsports racing teams, maybe the most iconic one.
Enzo passed away on August 14, 1988. The official cause of death is yet to revealed. However, this death truly shocked the racing world. Enzo Ferrari was the face of the Scuderia and the world could not think of the Prancing Horse without him. Millions mourned the loss of Enzo, and the day remains one of the darkest in motorsport history. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t stop and the F1 circus went on.
The Scuderia had massive pressure on its shoulders to honor Enzo’s legacy on track. But everything looked to be against the Italian F1 team as the 1988 season was utterly dominated by McLaren. The legendary McLaren MP4/4 was a gem in the hands of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost as the pair had won every race of the season till that point. But then came the Italian Grand Prix at the ‘Temple of Speed’ – Monza.
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Gerhard Berger won Ferrari’s first race after Enzo’s death
The 1988 Italian Grand Prix took place on September 11, 1988, just over 3 weeks after the death of Enzo Ferrari. McLaren had won the previous race and dominated the season as a whole. But at the same time, this was the perfect opportunity for the team to pay homage to their founder as the race was attended by millions of Tifosi. But the qualifying session did not go well for Ferrari as McLaren locked out the front row.
McLaren drivers darted off the start with Ayrton Senna leading by 2 seconds after the first lap. Gerhard Berger stayed close to Alain Prost in P2 and successfully got into second after Prost’s retirement. Michele Alboreto in the other Ferrari managed his gearbox oil temperatures before charging for his teammate. The two Ferrari drivers chased Senna for the lead.
125 years from Enzo Ferrari’s birth in 125 seconds.
Every journey begins with a dream. But a dream doesn’t become reality without vision, determination, and persistence. And these are the same principles that keep inspiring us at #Ferrari every day. #RememberingEnzo pic.twitter.com/ymwqCAW6g5
With 2 laps to go, Ayrton Senna tried to lap the Jean-Loius Schlesser in the Williams. However, disaster struck, and Schlesser locked up and went through the gravel trap before making contact with the rear end of the McLaren. Subsequently, Senna was out of the race. This in turn gifted the lead to Gerhard Berger who was running in P2. Berger came home in first place with Alboreto only half a second behind.
Ferrari’s first victory after the death of Enzo Ferrari was perhaps the best tribute to the Italian legend. Millions of Tifosi were overjoyed to witness this emotional spectacle. Certainly, the Scuderia couldn’t have made its founder prouder that day. Enzo must have been glad to oversee this win from the skies and knew that his team would continue to achieve glory for decades, as the team defeated all odds to win this race.
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