Since 1950 many teams have entered Formula 1, some have been more successful than others. Only one team has competed in every season of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Formula 1 and Ferrari have been in a relationship for over 70 years. The relationship has not been smooth, it didn’t start in the best of terms after Enzo Ferrari refused to race at Silverstone due to a disagreement over prize money. The partnership has been a tough one, but it has stood the test of time, through anger, tragedy, excitement and passion.
Ferrari’s iconic badge, il cavallino rampante or prancing horse is part of society, few people will not know who the badge belongs to, few companies have such a recognizable logo.
THE PRANCING HORSE
In 1923, Enzo Ferrari was given a black prancing horse emblem from the parents of a decorated war hero, Francesco Baracca, his mother asking for Enzo to put the horse on his cars for luck.
This simple request, gave Enzo the idea for arguably the most iconic badge in the world.
Count Francesco Baracca is a name that not many people will know, we look at his remarkable life and why he is so important to the Ferrari brand.
THE FIGHTER PILOT
Francesco Baracca was born in Lugo di Romagna, Italy and the son of a wealthy landowner. In his younger days he studied at a private school before entering the Military Academy of Modena in October of 1907. He was a passionate equestrian, which led to him becoming a cavalryman with prestigious Piemonte Reale Cavalleria Regiment, upon his commissioning in 1910.
During the course of his military service Francesco became interested in aviation, learning to fly at Reims, France, receiving his pilots licence on the 9th July 1912.
He served with the Battaglione Aviatori and in 1914 with the 5th and 6th Squadriglie.
World War 1
With the outbreak of the first world war, Italy was in political turmoil, with Pro War and Pro Peace factions clashing in the months prior to Italy’s entry into the conflict. Baracca remained neutral, but ready to serve.
When Italy entered into the war in May of 1915, he was sent to Paris to convert to Nieuport two seaters, when he returned in July, he was assigned to the 8a Squadriglia Nieuport. These planes were woefully inept against Austro-Hungarian raids; they were too slow, with too slow rate of climb. The frustrated Italian pilots even left their observers behind in an effort to increase performance, to little avail.
“in ’23, I met count Enrico Baracca, the hero’s father, and then his mother, countess Paulina, who said to me one day, “Ferrari, put my sons prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you good luck.” The horse was, and still is black, and I added the canary yellow background which is the colour of Modena {Enzo’s birthplace}”
Legend has it that Enzo has only told this story once.
With the new Nieuport 11 single seat fighter with Lewis guns, that entered service in April 1916, Baracca scored his first victory, holing the fuel tank of an Austrian Hansa-Brandenburg C.I and wounding the two-man crew. This was Italy’s first ariel victory in the war.
The Arrival of the Prancing Horse
It was at around this point that Baracca adopted as a personal emblem, a black prancing horse on his Nieuport 17, in tribute to his former cavalry regiment. This prompted some to call him “the Cavalier of the Skies”. He flew the Nieuport 17 and then from March 1917, the SPAD VII, he scored victories both on his own and alongside other Italian Aces.
Baracca’s victories made him nationally famous, it also allowed him to be promoted to Capitano, remaining with his unit, until, with 9 victories, he transferred to the newly formed 91st Squadriglia, Known as the Squadron of Aces.
Baracca was a sensitive and compassionate man, visiting his injured comrades and victims in hospital. He would also lay a wreath on the graves of enemies that he had killed in battle.
Franccesco Baracca had amassed a total of 34 victories before failing to return from a strafing mission on 19th June 1918. His crashed plane and body were recovered a few days later after the Austro-Hungarian retreat.
Francesco Baracca is revered in Italy, with his home now a museum, displaying parts of his shot down plane and restored plane form his time in service. Roads, Airports and Airforce bases in Italy all share his name.
A huge monument dominates the main square of his home town at Lugo di Romagna.
Enzo Ferrari was presented with Francesco’s prancing horse emblem, the Cavallino Rampante, this became the official symbol of the Scuderia Ferrari racing team since 1929 and of Ferrari automobiles since they began.