Ferrari Restores First F1-Winning Car Ahead Of 2021 British Grand Prix

This weekend, the Silverstone Grand Prix will be taking place and Ferrari will be hoping for a memorable victory whenCharles Leclercand Carlos Sainz get behind the wheel of the SF21 Formula One racing car. The race will have added significance this year as Ferrari is also celebrating the 70th anniversary of its first F1 win; on 14 July 1951, Argentinian Jose Froilan Gonzalez raced his way to victory in a 375 F1. Seven decades later, Ferrari has added a further 237 F1 wins since that first one.

As part of this milestone, Ferrari decided to restore a 375 F1 and itsV12 engineand Leclerc will drive the classic race car around Silverstone. To showcase the car's restoration process, Ferrari shared a series of fascinating videos on YouTube.

Restored by the Officina Classiche department in Maranello, the red 375 F1's narrow body and tires are reminiscent of a very different racing era. Some things haven't changed, though. The Scuderia used Pirelli tires, SKF bearings, and Shell lubricants back in 1951, and this remains the case today.

Using historical technical documentation, the team were able to restore the classic racer to its original 1951 specification. Interestingly, modern engineering techniques were avoided as Ferrari didn't want to restore the car in a manner that couldn't have been achieved in the 1950s.

The 4.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine will once again be heard this weekend as the 375 F1 takes to the track. Although Ferrari recently revealed the new296 GTBwith half the number of cylinders andelectric assistance, high-revving v12始终inextricably linked to the Italian marque, regardless of what the future holds.

In celebration of that first F1 victory 70 years ago, the SF21s that will race this weekend will be branded with a special logo. They will also carry the hashtag #grazieAzzurri as Ferrari honors last weekend's win in the Euro 2020 tournament by the Italian team. It's the sight of a gleaming 375 F1 that will likely linger when the day is complete, though.