Ferrari won its first Formula One Constructors’ Championship in 1961.
The title came during Ferrari’s early period of dominance in the championship, which had been established in 1958. Ferrari’s success was built around the front-engined 156, nicknamed the “Sharknose” because of its distinctive twin air intakes. The team’s drivers Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips were central to its strong season, although Hill ultimately won the Drivers’ Championship.
The Constructors’ Championship is awarded to the team whose cars score the most points across the season; it is separate from the Drivers’ Championship. That distinction causes a common mix-up: Ferrari also won the inaugural Constructors’ title in 1958? No—the first championship was won by Vanwall. Ferrari’s first team title arrived three years later, in 1961.
Ferrari has since become the most successful team in Constructors’ Championship history, with many more titles across different eras. Its early success in 1961 helped establish the competitive legacy associated with the Scuderia, Ferrari’s racing division.