In the history of Formula 1, there have been several Ferrari drivers who won on their debut: here’s who they are
We are nearing the end, and the wait for Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari is about to come to an end. A potential victory for the Briton in his first race with the Scuderia would further fuel the enthusiasm of Ferrari fans, who are already excited by his arrival. Looking at history, there are several examples of Ferrari drivers who won on their debut, and a possible success in the Australian Grand Prix would allow Hamilton to join an elite group of champions. But who are these drivers?
From Fangio to Räikkönen: who are the Ferrari drivers who won on their debut
The first driver, in chronological order, to join this special group is Juan Manuel Fangio, although the victory is to be considered shared with Luigi Musso. During the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix, the new Ferrari driver had to deal with some technical issues with his car, yet he still managed to cross the finish line as the winner behind the wheel of Musso’s car. The debut victory with Ferrari marked the beginning of what would become his fourth World Championship title by the end of the season.
The second Ferrari driver to secure a victory in his debut race is Giancarlo Baghetti in 1961. At the French Grand Prix, Baghetti managed to bring his Ferrari to victory, beating the second-place finisher by just one-tenth of a second. The triumph at the Reims circuit holds special significance, as it would remain Baghetti’s only victory in Formula 1. Baghetti’s win is paired with that of Mario Andretti, who won on his debut with Ferrari at the 1971 South African Grand Prix. In that race, the Italian-American driver also secured his first career fastest lap.
Moving forward in the years, in 1989, Nigel Mansell‘s victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix stands out. Starting from sixth position, the British driver took advantage of retirements ahead of him to take the lead of the race, ultimately winning on his debut with the Scuderia. Mansell was unable to become World Champion with Ferrari, a feat he would accomplish with Williams in 1992.
In 2007, after Schumacher’s retirement, Kimi Räikkönen took over his legacy, carrying high expectations. The Finnish driver, who arrived from McLaren, won on his debut with Ferrari, dominating the Australian Grand Prix from start to finish. His season would end with him winning the World Championship – the last for a Ferrari driver – triumphing over Hamilton and Alonso by just one point.
Closing the list, at least for now, is Fernando Alonso. After two World Championship titles with Renault and a less-than-memorable experience at McLaren, the Spanish driver joined Ferrari in 2010. At the Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso secured his first victory with the Scuderia – his 20th career win – finishing ahead of the other Ferrari driven by Massa, giving the team a one-two finish in their first race of the season.
Photo: Formula 1, Scuderia Ferrari HP