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.”
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.
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.
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Featured photo : © Ferrari
