Description
The Ferrari 246 F1 was introduced in 1958 and is remembered as one of Ferrari’s most important single-seaters of the late 1950s. It was the first Formula One car to use a V6 engine, developed under the “Dino” program that Enzo Ferrari named in honor of his late son Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, who had strongly advocated the use of V6 architecture before his passing. The 246 F1 marked a major transition for Ferrari, shifting from the older four- and twelve-cylinder engines to a configuration that would dominate Formula One at the start of the 1960s.
Powering the 246 F1 was a 2.4-liter Dino V6 engine producing around 280 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. Designed by Vittorio Jano with Dino Ferrari’s influence, the engine featured dual overhead camshafts and delivered both strength and flexibility. Compared to the lighter, rear-engined British cars that were beginning to emerge, the Ferrari’s V6 still sat in a front-engined layout, but it gave the Scuderia a vital performance edge in 1958, particularly on high-speed circuits where power and stability were crucial.
The chassis followed Ferrari’s established design approach of the time, with a tubular steel spaceframe and independent suspension at the front, paired with a de Dion axle at the rear. Drum brakes were fitted all around, though by this period they were beginning to show their limitations against the emerging disc brake systems used by some rivals. The car’s bodywork was slim and purposeful, with the classic cigar-shaped profile and Ferrari’s signature red paintwork, making it one of the most elegant machines of the era.
In competition, the Ferrari 246 F1 enjoyed immediate success. It made its debut in the 1958 Formula One World Championship and quickly became a race winner. Its greatest triumph came with Mike Hawthorn, who used the car to secure the 1958 Drivers’ World Championship. Though Hawthorn won only one race that season, his consistent performances and points finishes, combined with the reliability of the 246 F1, earned him the title by a narrow margin. This victory was historically significant as it marked the first World Championship won by a British driver, achieved at the wheel of a Ferrari. The 246 F1 also contributed to Ferrari narrowly losing the Constructors’ Championship to Vanwall, a testament to the competitive strength of both teams in that transitional year.
The 246 F1 remained in use into 1960, though by then it was becoming outdated. The shift to rear-engined designs, pioneered by Cooper, made Ferrari’s front-engined car increasingly uncompetitive. Still, the 246 F1 held its place as the last front-engined car to win a Formula One World Championship, closing an era in Grand Prix racing history.
Today, the Ferrari 246 F1 is regarded as one of the marque’s most significant racing cars. It combined the emotional legacy of Dino Ferrari’s vision with a championship-winning campaign and marked a turning point between the old front-engined tradition and the new mid-engined revolution. As both a technical milestone and a symbol of Ferrari’s adaptability, it remains a cherished icon of 1950s Grand Prix racing.