Ferrari 156/85 F.1 1985

From  the beginning of the Turbo era, Ferrari produced cars, with only the exception of the poor 126 CK chassis/aero package, which were at the absolute top of the field for performance and technical wizardry.

In 1982, after the drama and tragedy surrounding Villeneuve and Pironi, the Scuderia had to satisfy itself with just the Constructors Championship, the first awarded to a Turbo engined car.

In 1983, Ferrari won another Constructors title, but took a small step back in terms of absolute performance.

With Michele Alboreto, the first Italian driver since Arturo Merzario in 1973, 1984 saw Ferrari struggle against the excessive power of the McLaren MP4/2 TAG, ultimately allowing only one victory to their new man.

1985 seemed to arrive with a little more optimism. Following the McLaren domination, a new aerodynamic package, a consistent driver enriched by the previous year inside the team.

So, why didn’t this car allow Michele Alboreto to win the title in 1985? In the second half of the season, when it was necessary to step up the pace, the team plunged into an incredible technical crisis: pumping effects on fast tracks, difficult setup, awful reliability with continuous failures of engines and turbos.

What was at fault? Maybe the missed identification of one responsible individual, who would be  able to channel all the technological and human efforts in the right direction, maybe internal wars… but with the passage of time, it is pointless to talk about this.

History shows that it was Alain Prost, a truly remarkable and efficient driver, who in 1985 won the first of his four F.1 titles.

Michele Alboreto, after failing to grasp this great opportunity, in my opinion was no longer the same driver, but carried on season after season, until Ferrari said goodbye at the end of 1988.

I like to remember Michele at the 1985 Monaco GP, an unlucky race for him, when destroyed all the opposition, but in the end, had to settle for second place due a punctured tyre from the debris of the Piquet-Patrese crash.

Ciao Michele...