Monza has always been a hallowed ground for Formula 1 fans and drivers alike — a cathedral of speed echoing with the roars of legendary machines and their pilots. Few names are as closely linked with Ferrari’s storied past as Jacky Ickx, the Belgian icon whose daring exploits with the Scuderia remain etched in F1 lore. Last weekend, in a moment both nostalgic and moving, Ickx returned to the Temple of Speed, sliding behind the wheel of the Ferrari 312B—Ferrari’s iconic 1970 Formula 1 car—for a lap that sent goosebumps through tifosi’s hearts worldwide.
The sight of Ickx climbing into the bright red 312B was a tangible connection between past and present: a living legend reunited with a car that encapsulated both his courage and Ferrari’s relentless spirit. For fans, it was much more than a demonstration run. It was a visceral reminder of a rawer, sometimes riskier era—when safety margins were thin, slipstreaming at 350 km/h was the norm, and sheer driver bravery often tipped the scales.
What made the moment especially poignant for Ickx and the Ferrari faithful is the link to the unforgettable 1970 Italian Grand Prix—one of F1’s most dramatic races. Ickx’s 312B symbolized a turning point for Ferrari: after several fallow years, the team was once again in the hunt, matching the mighty Lotus Cosworths for pace and pushing both engineering and human boundaries in pursuit of victory.
For many, the 1970 season highlighted the best and the worst of Formula 1. On one hand, there was the reawakening of Ferrari’s competitive instincts, embodied not just in the cars but in the personalities of drivers like Ickx and Clay Regazzoni. On the other, the era was marred by dangers almost unimaginable today. Ickx himself was involved in several fierce on-track battles—most notably at Monza, where the draft-filled, high-speed chases behind open cockpits often ended in either glory or disaster. The tragic death of Jochen Rindt, who would ultimately become F1’s only posthumous World Champion, also casts a long shadow over that period.
When Ickx fired up the 312B for his exhibition lap, the sound of its 3-liter flat-12 engine was a powerful bridge to that evocative time. Spectators who know their racing history instantly recognized its unique, throaty symphony—a sound fundamentally different from today’s turbo-hybrid power units. For one lap, Monza reverberated with the echo of 1970, a year where, despite adversity, hope was rebuilt in Maranello’s heart.
Ickx’s emotions were clear as he completed his lap and returned to the paddock. He spoke fondly of Enzo Ferrari, who hand-picked Ickx for his relentless spirit, and recounted the camaraderie and intensity of the mechanics and engineers that made the 312B a competitive machine. He reminisced about the daredevil nature of slipstream racing at Monza—a craft that only the bravest could master, and which F1’s current generation can scarcely imagine.
For Ferrari, honoring its past has never been just about nostalgia; it’s a living part of the team’s DNA. Events like this show why the Scuderia remains so beloved: not just for its tradition of innovation and winning, but for cherishing legends and inviting fans to feel the pulse of its epic history. Whenever an icon like Jacky Ickx straps into a red car at Monza, it’s not just a parade—it’s a living testament to what makes Formula 1, and Ferrari, truly special.
For the modern F1 fan, such moments are essential reminders of where the sport has come from and why it continues to captivate millions. As Monza’s grandstands erupted in applause, it was clear: the spirit of the 1970s—and the magic of Ferrari’s greatest heroes—will never fade.
