Did you know that on August 14, 1988, one of the most mystical legends in motorsport was born with the death of Enzo Ferrari, who passed away at the age of 90 in Modena under absolute secrecy?

The Italian tycoon, matching the controlling character that defined his life, left strict orders: his death was not to be announced to the press or the public until 48 hours had passed. His goal was to compensate for the two-day delay in the official registration of his birth caused by a massive blizzard back in 1898. Thus, the world only found out about his passing on August 16th, right after he had been buried in the strictest family privacy, ensuring his departure was as enigmatic as his life.

His passing triggered one of the most iconic and inexplicable coincidences in the history of Formula 1, known by fans as "the miracle of Monza." Throughout the entire 1988 season, the McLaren team (featuring Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost) had absolutely dominated the grid, winning every single race of the year. However, just a month after Enzo's death, the Italian Grand Prix took place at Monza. In a dramatic race where the dominant McLarens unexpectedly retired due to late-stage accidents and mechanical failures, the two Scuderia Ferrari cars secured a historic and unexpected 1-2 finish. This triggered tears among the mechanics and fans, who passionately claimed that the spirit of Il Commendatore had pushed the engines from the great beyond.

Even long after his death, the obsession and immense value surrounding his legacy continued to attract danger. In 2017,Italian police dismantled a highly sophisticated criminal network in Sardiniathat had planned a macabre plot: they intended to desecrate Enzo Ferrari’s grave at the San Cataldo cemetery in Modena, steal his corpse, and demand a multi-million dollar ransom from his family and the automotive company. The criminals had already conducted reconnaissance visits and organized the complex logistics to extract the coffin, but an intervention by over 300 law enforcement officers prevented the resting place of the Prancing Horse's founder from being disturbed.