Description
The Ferrari 500 F2 was introduced in 1951 and became one of the most successful and important cars in Ferrari’s early single-seater history. Designed to meet the new Formula Two regulations, which limited engines to 2.0 liters, the 500 F2 replaced the larger, less competitive Formula One designs that Ferrari had fielded at the time. This car would go on to dominate the early 1950s, delivering Ferrari its first two Formula One World Championships once the FIA shifted the championship to Formula Two regulations in 1952 and 1953.
At its heart, the Ferrari 500 F2 carried a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. Producing around 165 horsepower, it may not have sounded as exotic as Ferrari’s earlier V12s, but it was robust, simple, and ideally suited to the demands of the new formula. The power delivery was smooth and reliable, and the engine’s lightweight construction helped optimize the car’s balance. The four-cylinder layout also allowed for improved torque compared to the higher-revving V12s, making the car easier to drive consistently over race distances.
The chassis was a tubular steel frame with independent front suspension using double wishbones and transverse leaf springs, while the rear used a de Dion axle with leaf springs. Drum brakes were fitted all around, and the car weighed approximately 560 kilograms. The bodywork followed the traditional narrow and cigar-shaped style of the period, with a long nose and compact proportions, emphasizing aerodynamic simplicity and low weight rather than flamboyant design.
In competition, the Ferrari 500 F2 was a revelation. When the World Championship adopted Formula Two regulations in 1952 due to a lack of eligible Formula One cars, the 500 F2 quickly emerged as the class of the field. Alberto Ascari, Ferrari’s lead driver, dominated the 1952 season, winning six of the seven championship races he entered and securing Ferrari’s first World Drivers’ Championship. Ascari repeated the feat in 1953, once again driving the 500 F2 to overwhelming success, with Ferrari taking victory in every race of that year’s championship except one.
The 500 F2’s dominance was such that it established Ferrari as the team to beat in Formula One. Its performance not only brought the Scuderia international acclaim but also laid the foundation for Ferrari’s long-term success in the sport. Drivers such as Ascari, Giuseppe Farina, and Luigi Villoresi contributed to its reputation, but Ascari’s back-to-back titles made him the star of the era and Ferrari’s first world champion.
Today, the Ferrari 500 F2 is remembered as one of the most significant cars in Ferrari’s racing history. Its combination of simplicity, reliability, and speed allowed Ferrari to seize the opportunity provided by the FIA’s temporary switch to Formula Two rules, and its dominance remains one of the most decisive periods ever seen in Grand Prix racing. The 500 F2 marked Ferrari’s true arrival as a world-class force in Formula One, cementing its position at the pinnacle of motorsport.