1908, Bologna circuit. A 10-year-old boy stands behind the barriers, his eyes wide, his heart pounding. On the track, Felice Nazzaro speeds along in his Fiat, crushing the competition. And this kid, Enzo Ferrari , has just received a slap in the face from fate. At that precise moment, he knows what he wants to do with his life: become a racing driver.

Except that no one imagines that this stubborn little Italian will not only realize his dream, but revolutionize the global automobile industry forever . That he will create the most legendary brand on the planet, discover the greatest drivers in history, and incidentally invent the profession of sports agent . I tell you the story of a man who transformed his childhood passion into an automotive empire.

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Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898, in Modena, in his father Alfredo's mechanical workshop. Even as a child, he was immersed in the world of automobiles . While other kids played marbles, he took apart engines. Mechanics were in his blood; it ran through his veins like engine oil.

But that day in 1908 in Bologna was different. Seeing Nazzaro win was like a divine revelation. Enzo decided he'd become a pilot . Period. And you know the Italian character, when they set their minds to something...

Except that life was going to throw a few spanners in the works. In 1918, he lost his father and his brother Alfredo Junior during the First World War. So, out went his engineering studies , he had to work to keep the pot boiling. He started as a mechanic, then as a tester at CMN. But he hadn't forgotten his dream.

The heroic debut of the Ferrari driver

1919, finally! Enzo makes his racing debut at CMN. And there, fate's first lesson : he finishes 9th in his first race. Not great, but he doesn't care; he's experienced the adrenaline rush of speed. And when you've experienced it once...

The following year, a stroke of luck: Alfa Romeo recruited him . Now, we're not talking about the same level anymore, eh? Alfa Romeo at the time is Ferrari today. The Holy Grail, basically. And our Enzo, he's not going to pretend.

1924, Coppa Acerbo in Pescara. Enzo takes his first real victory . I always thought that day he must have realized that the kid from Bologna had become a real driver. Except that sometimes, realizing your dreams has a bitter taste.

Because you see, car racing in the 1920s was a bloodbath . People died regularly on the circuits. And Enzo saw his friends fall one after the other. In 1923, Ugo Sivocci, his teammate, was killed at the wheel. In 1925, Antonio Ascari was killed. Guys he saw every day, who ate at his table, who laughed with him... and who disappeared from one day to the next.

It marks him for life . I think that from that moment on, Enzo understands that he wants to play with death, but not suffer it. He begins to think that it would perhaps be smarter to lead a team rather than risk his skin on the asphalt.

The Birth of a Visionary

And that's where Enzo's genius begins to shine. Because this guy has an unerring eye for talent . In 1927, at the age of 29, he stopped racing and had a revolutionary idea: what if we created a team that would spot young prodigies and bring them to Alfa Romeo?

There, Enzo literally invented the profession of sports agent . Without knowing it, he laid the foundations for what exists today in all sports. Except that in 1927, no one thought about it. He did.

On December 1, 1929, Scuderia Ferrari was born . Officially, it was Alfa Romeo's racing team. Unofficially, it was Enzo's laboratory for shaping the future of the automobile.

And among his discoveries, there is a certain Tazio Nuvolari . This guy, nicknamed "the Flying Mantovan", is quite simply the craziest and most talented driver of the time. Ferdinand Porsche himself would say of him that he is "the greatest driver of the past, present and future". Just that.

Giuseppe Campari, Achille Varzi, Louis Chiron... all the big names pass through Scuderia Ferrari . And Enzo, he manages them, he trains them, he pushes them to surpass themselves. He is a genius manipulator who knows how to extract the best from each driver.

The rearing horse, a war gift

1931, and here I have one of my favorite anecdotes. On the Scuderia's bodywork, a rearing black horse on a yellow background appears for the first time. You know, THE Ferrari logo that we all know.

But where does it come from? In 1925, Enzo met Countess Paolina Baracca. This lady was the mother of Francesco Baracca, an Italian flying ace from 1914-18 . This pilot was a national hero: 34 enemy planes shot down before being killed in the 35th dogfight. And on his fighter plane, there was that famous prancing horse.

The Countess said to Enzo, "Put it on your car, it will bring you luck." And indeed, it will bring him luck. Well, not just luck, but we'll come back to that.

Okay, now you might be thinking, "But Bernard, when is he going to create Ferrari?" Well, that's precisely where we come to the most delicate moment in Enzo's story.

The break with Alfa Romeo

1939. Enzo is 41 years old, has more than 10 years of experience with Alfa Romeo , and then... a big fight with management. We don't know all the details, but what is certain is that Enzo is fed up with being told how to run his team.

So what does he do? He slams the door . Just like that. Except Alfa Romeo, they're not stupid, they make him sign a 4-year non-compete clause. Translation: you can't design your own cars before 1943.

Clever as he is, Enzo still creates Auto-Avio Costruzioni in 1940. Officially, they make industrial tools. Unofficially, they release two 815 cars to test the waters. But hey, the war is coming and you have to survive .

For four years, Enzo has been champing at the bit. I imagine he must have lost it every morning when he got up. Having all these ideas in his head and not being able to carry them out...

And then, 1947 finally arrives . Enzo is 49, the age when most people think about retirement. He releases the 125 S, the very first Ferrari. V12 engine, red bodywork... the legend can finally begin .

But I still have plenty of stories to tell you. For example, did you know that Enzo Ferrari made people cry with joy while saying he killed his mother? Yes, I know, it sounds weird when you say it like that...

Ferrari's meteoric rise

The automobile was revolutionary. When Enzo officially founded Ferrari in 1947, the era of the old Grand Prix was over. By 1950, there was something called the Formula 1 World Championship . And guess who signed up in the first year? Exactly.

Except that the beginnings are not easy. Faced with the Alfa Romeos and Maseratis who have experience, the Ferraris are just making up the numbers . But Enzo, he doesn't give up. He knows that his time will come.

July 14, 1951, British Grand Prix at Silverstone. José Froilán González, Argentinian driver at the wheel of a Ferrari, wins the brand's first victory in Formula 1. And then, Enzo says something that we won't forget:

"I cried for joy, but my tears of enthusiasm were mingled with others of sorrow because I thought that on that day I had killed my mother."

His "mother" was Alfa Romeo. The team that had trained him, that had revealed him. And that day, Ferrari had officially surpassed its master . Can you imagine the emotion?

From then on, success followed . Alberto Ascari became world champion in 1952 and 1953. He was the only Italian to have won two Formula 1 world titles. And that was just the beginning...

Well, I'd like to tell you that everything was rosy for Enzo, but life still had some twists and turns in store for him. And the worst of all was going to happen in 1956 .

The drama that almost stopped everything

Enzo has a son, Alfredo, nicknamed "Dino." This kid is his pride and joy . Born in 1932, passionate about mechanics like his father, he is destined to take over the Ferrari empire. Enzo teaches him everything, trains him, and makes him his spiritual heir.

And Dino is working on a revolutionary project: a V6 engine that will change the game . At 24 years old, this kid already has an extraordinary engineering vision.

Except that muscular dystrophy is unforgiving. In 1956, Dino died at the age of 24. Imagine Enzo at that moment. He lost his son, his successor, his future all at once.

I think Enzo almost gave up everything . Forty years of passion, sacrifices, victories... for what in the end? But that's where we see the greatness of the character. He decided to continue, especially to finish the V6 engine that Dino was developing .

This engine would give birth to the entire Dino range . These sublime cars bear the name of his late son. It was his way of keeping him alive forever.

And then there's a secret that Enzo has been keeping since 1945. With his mistress Lina Lardi, he had a second son: Piero. But in Italy, divorce was forbidden before 1970, so Piero's existence remained secret until 1978 , when Enzo's wife, Laura, died.

Piero Lardi Ferrari... today he is the vice-president of Ferrari and holds 10% of the capital. The hidden heir who ensures continuity .

The alliance with Fiat: a marriage of convenience

The 1960s were the most difficult period for Ferrari . Building racing and prestige cars cost a fortune. And faced with the huge American and German manufacturers who had colossal resources, Enzo found himself in financial difficulty .

In 1969, he made a crucial decision : he sold 50% of his capital to Fiat. But be careful, not just anyhow. Enzo retained full control of the racing division and the technical management. Fiat provided the money, Ferrari kept the soul .

It's a clever strategy. With this money, Ferrari can compete with anyone while preserving its racing DNA. And indeed, the results follow.

But let's get back to classic cars, because that's what fascinates me. These Ferraris from the 50s and 70s are rolling art . Perfect lines, singing engines... And you know what? I have a few gems from that era on my website BernardMiniatures.fr .

Because collecting miniature Ferraris is a bit like owning automotive history . I have 1/43 scale models that faithfully reproduce these legends: 250 GT, Daytona, Dino... Unique pieces, often limited to one or two copies in stock.

Delivery is free in France from 75€ , and I always make sure to wrap these little treasures well with bubble wrap. Because hey, a miniature Ferrari that breaks, even in 1/43rd, is heartbreaking .

Take a look at bernardminiatures.fr, you'll see that I have something to make all Italian car enthusiasts dream .

Okay, but let's get back to our Enzo. Because between 1950 and 1988, this man would accumulate an absolutely crazy track record .

A legendary record

30 world championship titles under his leadership. Can you believe it? 9 drivers' titles and 8 constructors' titles in Formula 1, plus 13 in the endurance championship. Staggering figures .

And the drivers who went to Ferrari... John Surtees, Niki Lauda, Gilles Villeneuve, Jody Scheckter... All legends who have made history .

But what fascinates me most about Enzo is his ability to positively manipulate his engineers . This guy had an almost infallible eye for spotting talent. And before their potential was exhausted, he would bring out others, ready to take over.

A machine for creating geniuses , that's what Enzo Ferrari had become.

The Commendatore's Eternal Legacy

August 14, 1988. Enzo Ferrari died in Modena at the age of 90. Nicknamed "il Commendatore" or "il Drake," he left behind much more than a car brand.

He created a myth, a legend, a dream . How many kids today dream of having a Ferrari in their garage? How many engineers give their body and soul to work in Maranello?

Enzo Ferrari turned his childhood passion into a global religion . This kid from Modena, who dreamed of driving while watching races, created the most prestigious automotive empire on the planet.

And you know what? The story continues . Even today, Ferrari dominates Formula 1, produces dream cars, and inspires the fantasies of millions of enthusiasts.

Because ultimately, Enzo Ferrari taught us something essential : when you have a consuming passion, when you refuse to compromise, when you aim for absolute excellence... you can move mountains.

This driver turned manufacturer showed us that with talent, determination and a good dose of Italian madness , you can transform a childhood dream into an eternal legend.

And that, frankly, commands respect .