Tribute to Mauro Forghieri, engineer of genius at Ferrari

Piero Ferrari, son of the eponymous founder of the car brand, and Mattia Binotto, director of the Formula 1 team, have paid tribute to Mauro Forghieri, who died on Wednesday.

Technical director and father of the Ferrari team’s chassis and engines for nearly 30 years, Mauro Forghieri was one of the key players in the Italian brand’s success in competition.

Piero Ferrari, son of the brand’s founder, Enzo Ferrari, salutes the memory of the creator of the 312, 330P4, 312T and 126C2 models. “Forghieri was dynamic and passionate about everything he did. He was sanguine and I remember that in many of those interminable meetings at Gestione Sportiva, which started in the evening and went on into the night, I was the mediator between him and my father. I know that my father appreciated his tireless dedication and knew that any mistake was only an attempt to do better and look to the future. We have lost a part of our history, a man who gave a lot to Ferrari and the racing world in general.”

*Mauro Forghieri and Niki Lauda © Ferrari*

Mattia Binotto, former Technical Director and current Team Principal of the Ferrari Formula 1 team added: “Today is a very sad day for everyone at Scuderia Ferrari. We mourn the passing of Mauro Forghieri, one of the most incredible people to have worked here. He was appointed director at the age of 27 and, thanks to his brilliant ideas, he was one of the last versatile engineers in the automotive world.”

History

Mauro Forghieri began his career at Ferrari with an internship in 1957. He then considered moving to California, but Enzo Ferrari insisted that he follow his father into the company. Mauro soon became involved in a multitude of engineering projects, learning not only about engines, but also about gearboxes, chassis and suspension, working alongside the fiery technical director Carlo Chiti.

In October 1961, Ferrari won the world championship with Phil Hill and the Sharknose 156. But Carlo Chiti, team manager Romolo Tavoni and most of the design staff resigned, tired of the company’s management. Mauro took on a lot of responsibility: “My life was completely changed. Ferrari called me and got straight to the point. He said, ‘From now on, you are responsible for all activities and tests in the field of motorsport,'” he explains.

24 heures du Mans 1969 - Ferrari 250LM #17 - Pilotes : Teodoro Zeccoli / Sam Posey - 8ème | Ferrari, Le mans, Course automobile — *24 heures du Mans 1969 – Ferrari 250LM © Ferrari*

Voluble, frank and enthusiastic, Mauro did not only create winning F1 cars for the Ferrari team in the 1960s. He was also responsible for some notable inventions, including being the first to install an air brake on an F1 car (at Spa in 1968).

Mauro Forghieri spearheaded the design of all the F1 cars and was never afraid to give credit for a job well done to other members of his team. His consistently elegant machines contributed greatly to his reputation as an engineer and the enviable success of the Ferrari team.

Hélène Cougot

Passionnée depuis son plus jeune âge par l’art et la mode, Hélène s’oriente vers une école de stylisme, l’Atelier Chardon-Savard à Paris, avec une option Communication. Afin d’ajouter des cordes à son arc, elle décide de compléter sa formation par un MBA en Management du Luxe et Marketing Expérientiel à l’Institut Supérieur de Gestion à Paris dont elle sort diplômée en 2020. Elle a notamment écrit des articles lifestyle et beauté pour le magazine Do it in Paris et se spécialise en rédaction d’articles concernant le luxe, l’art et la mode au sein du magazine Luxus Plus.********** [EN] Passionate about art and fashion from a young age, Hélène went to a fashion design school, Atelier Chardon-Savard in Paris, with a Communication option. In order to add more strings to her bow, she decided to complete her education with an MBA in Luxury Management and Experiential Marketing at the Institut Supérieur de Gestion in Paris from which she graduated in 2020. She has written lifestyle and beauty articles for Do it in Paris magazine and specializes in writing articles about luxury, art and fashion for Luxus Plus magazine.