Collectors & Aficionados
1951. Enzo “I killed my mother”
This article chronicles Ferrari's journey in Formula 1 from 1950 to 1951. Enzo Ferrari, the founder of Ferrari, was keen to win in Formula 1, but Alfa Romeo's performance seemed unbeatable.
1950 was the year in which the International Automobile Federation launched the Formula 1 World Championship. Although the technical regulations have changed over time, this is the same championship that is still running to this day. The 1950 formula was based on two engines of the constructor’s choice: a supercharged 1,500cc engine (at that time there were no turbochargers driven by exhaust gases and the compressors driven by the engine itself were used which, fatally, in addition to adding horses also subtracted a few), or normally-aspirated engines with a capacity of 4,500cc.
Ferrari realized that any attempt to develop his V12 engine, designed in 1946 for the 125S, despite being supercharged, would not have allowed him to beat the **Alfetta 158**. This car, born in Modena in 1938 on the premises of Scuderia Ferrari, had so much performance it was still unbeatable. While Ferrari’s engine was already getting on a bit, the 158, now renamed 159 after some updates, was very old – 12 years old no less – and yet it was still winning races.
