Description
The Ferrari 125 F1 was the very first Formula One car built by Ferrari, marking the company’s official entry into Grand Prix racing in 1948. It was the starting point of Ferrari’s long and storied involvement in Formula One, a journey that would ultimately make the Scuderia the most successful and enduring team in the sport’s history. Enzo Ferrari had already established his reputation with Alfa Romeo before the war, but with the 125 F1 he struck out on his own, determined to build cars that would carry the Ferrari name to victory at the highest level.
At the heart of the 125 F1 was a 1.5-liter supercharged V12 engine, designed by Gioachino Colombo. Though relatively small in capacity, the engine was technically advanced for its time, featuring a 60-degree V-angle, a single-stage Roots-type supercharger, and overhead camshafts. In its earliest form, the V12 produced around 230 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, which was competitive with the best Grand Prix machinery of the era. The choice of a V12 reflected Enzo Ferrari’s passion for twelve-cylinder engines, which would go on to become a hallmark of Ferrari’s identity.
The chassis was a simple yet effective tubular steel frame with independent front suspension and a live rear axle. Drum brakes were fitted all around, and the car weighed approximately 560 kilograms, giving it a good power-to-weight ratio. The 125 F1 was clothed in classic postwar single-seater bodywork, with a slim, cigar-shaped profile and exposed wheels, characteristic of the late 1940s Grand Prix cars.
The Ferrari 125 F1 made its competitive debut in 1948 at the Turin Grand Prix, driven by Franco Cortese, though its first outings were plagued by reliability problems. Its breakthrough came soon after, when Raymond Sommer achieved Ferrari’s first Grand Prix victory in the 1948 Circuito di Garda. The car continued to be developed and refined, and by 1949 it was scoring regular wins in non-championship events, driven by names such as Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi.
Although the 125 F1 never won a World Championship Grand Prix—it competed before the official Formula One World Championship began in 1950—it laid the foundation for Ferrari’s success in the sport. Its basic design evolved into the 166 F2 and later the 275 F1 and 340 F1, all of which carried Ferrari forward into the new era of international competition.
Today, the Ferrari 125 F1 is remembered not just for its technical specifications or race results, but for what it represented: the beginning of Ferrari’s Formula One journey. As the very first Ferrari single-seater, it is one of the most historically important cars ever to come out of Maranello, embodying the ambition and vision of Enzo Ferrari at the dawn of his company’s racing legacy.