The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are set to unfold, with Italy taking the lead in hosting duties this year. Both Kimi Antonelli and Stefano Domenicali have participated in the torch relay, traversing through Palmanova and the Dolomites. However, it’s important to remember that Formula 1 made a significant impact during the 2006 Olympics.
The Turin Winter Olympics featured a spectacular ceremony that effectively showcased design, industry, and speed to an audience of 35,000 attendees and an estimated two billion viewers worldwide, thanks to coverage from 32 cameras. One of the highlights was the thrilling display of a Ferrari F1 car racing across the stadium.
It all started with the Ferrari F2005, decorated with the Olympic rings and colors of Turin, as it took part in an improvised pit stop. An Italian team serviced the car before revving the engine in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Piloted by Italian racer Luca Badoer, the V10-powered vehicle was carefully maneuvered to a wider area, where it unleashed its 900 horsepower in a breathtaking exhibit of donuts.
The producers of the event promised a blend of ‘rhythm, passion, and speed,’ and they certainly delivered for those fortunate enough to experience the intoxicating fumes of the last Ferrari V10 to race in the championship.
Despite its impressive sound, the F2005 only secured a single victory out of the 17 races it participated in that season, categorizing it as one of the less successful machines from Scuderia during that time. Nonetheless, its unexpected appearance in Turin was a memorable addition to the show, even though it was not included in the official program.
“Ferrari and Torino 2006 are two symbols of Italy at its best,” remarked Mario Pescante, the government supervisor for Turin 2006. “Italy that wants to win, that joins style and skill, that loves great challenges and fears no comparisons with the rest of the world.”
This year’s Games did not feature any cars, despite the current immense popularity of the championship, yet Domenicali appeared to be in high spirits as he fulfilled his role. Over the years, several F1 luminaries have had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch, including notable names such as Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Alex Zanardi.
