Ferrari is a brand whose name is inseparably linked to racing. And now, it has found the one form of competition that might be even more expensive than Formula One: the world of yacht racing.
The prancing horse will get its sea legs, but the badge will not, as I guessed yesterday, sit on the prow of a luxury yacht. Instead, Ferrari will build a sail boat to race with. Although it has not yet revealed any details about the vessel it plans to compete with, it has said that it will turn to Giovanni Soldini to be its team principal.
The sailer is an acclaimed navigator and will race on basically anything with a mast. Born in 1966, he has won an around-the-world race, won the monohull class in the Quebec-Saint Malo race, has two Ostar wins, and has more than 30 years of solo and crewed ocean racing behind him. As the skipper of the Maserati Multi70, he set the Hong Kong-London route record in 2018 (47 days, 42 minute and 12 seconds), the English Channel record in 2021, and has won numerous other races.
Read: Audi’s Making Catamaran Racing Sailboats Now?
“I am thrilled to start this new adventure with Ferrari,” said Soldini. “We are working on an important and cutting-edge project with an amazing technological potential that brings together different worlds and skills of the highest level. Working with an exceptional team in the research and development of innovative solutions that are respectful of our environment is a truly unique experience.”
As to why Ferrari suddenly wants to trade wheels and engines for hulls and sails, it says that the competition will help it develop cutting-edge technologies. Specifically, it believes that the innovations that come from this racing program will provide solutions for sustainability.
“We are about to embark on an exciting journey that will expand our racing soul,” said John Elkann, Ferrari’s chairman. “With this new competitive challenge, motivated by our innovative capacity and commitment to sustainability, we will push beyond current boundaries. We are happy to be able to count on Giovanni, who is extraordinary in terms of experience, determination and team spirit.”
Ferrari won’t be the first to combine the worlds of F1 and yachting. Red Bull’s head of design, Adrian Newey teamed up with Ben Ainslie about 10 years ago to create a boat for the America’s Cup, reports Reuters. James Allison, the Mercedes F1 team’s technical director also worked on an America’s Cup competitor.
Unfortunately, it is not yet clear when the first Ferrari racing yacht will be unveiled, nor what races it will compete in.
