Enzo Ferrari’s Children: Alfredo Ferrari And Piero Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari was an Italian motor racing driver and entrepreneur best known for founding the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently the Ferrari automobile marque. He was a successful automotive industry executive and industrialist but was also a proud father of two, both sons. Here’s everything about the two sons of the famous Enzo Ferrari.

Who Are Enzo Ferrari’s Two Children?

Enzo Ferrari has been married once but has two children with two different women, his wife and his mistress. Enzo started having children after he married his wife Laura Domenica Garello (1900–1978) on 28 April 1923. Laura was a dancer. Enzo and Laura had a son Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari. Alfredo was named after his paternal grandfather. Enzo cheated on his wife Laura while they were still married.

Enzo was involved in an affair with Lina Lardi (1911 – 2006). He met Lina in the late 1930s. At the time Lina was working at Carrozzerie Orlandi, a coachbuilder company in Modena. Enzo and Lina started dating soon after they met. They had a son, Piero Lardi (later Ferrari). Piero wasn’t acknowledged as Enzo’s son until the death of Enzo’s estranged wife, Laura because at the time divorce was not legal in Italy.

In 1990, Piero legally changed his name from Piero Lardi Ferrari to Piero Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari and his wife Laura were never divorced. They remained married until Laura passed away. However, Enzo and his mistress Lina Lardi continued their relationship until Enzo’s death.

Enzo Ferrari’s First Son, Alfredo Ferrari

Alfredo Ferrari also known as Alfredino or Dino was born on 19 January 1932, in Modena, Italy. He is the only child of his parents Enzo Ferrari and his wife Laura Dominica Garello. His father Enzo was a racing driver but promised to quit racing cars if he had a son, a promise he kept after Alfredo arrived in the world. He retired from driving in 1932.

Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari was groomed from an early age to be his father’s successor. Dino became an automotive engineer. He worked alongside his father Enzo Ferrari growing an auto brand, which expanded into the consumer car market. He was actively involved in the Ferrari company. He had suggested to Enzo Ferrari the development of a 1.5 L DOHC V6 engine for F2 at the end of 1955.

ALSO, READ: Laura Dominica Garello Ferrari: What Happened To Enzo Ferrari’s Wife?

Unfortunately, Dino’s life was cut short after he died at age 24, on 30 June 1956, in Cimitero di San Cataldo, Modena, Italy. He suffered from health problems. His physical movements gradually became stiff and he was often unable to maintain his balance. He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Even during his final days, he discussed the technical details of the 1.5-litre V6 with engineer Vittorio Jano and his father, Enzo.

Unfortunately, Dino Ferrari didn’t live to see the engine. Dino’s father Enzo named the Dino series of racing sports cars using this V6 engine after him. Dino’s death had a great effect on his parents and their marriage.

Enzo Ferrari’s Second And Living Son, Piero Ferrari

Piero Ferrari is the only living son of Enzo Ferrari’s two sons. He was born out-of-wedlock on 22 May 1945, in Castelvetro di Modena, Italy to Enzo and mistress Lina Lardi. His parents were never married. Sadly, Piero never met his older half-brother Dino Ferrari although he was 11 years old at the time Dino died. Piero revealed that:

“I never knew Dino, but I have never felt I was a victim of his memory, or of the pain that my father, Enzo, had always felt because of his death. And I would not be sincere if I did not say that when I was recognized [in 1978, after Laura’s death], I experienced a great deal of emotion.” Piero is a billionaire businessman and sports personality. He is a board member of Ferrari; Ferretti Group. After graduating from a technical school in Modena, he worked for his father.

Piero said of his father: “He was a good father. There was a tenderness behind those dark glasses that people didn’t get to see. But he was also a tough person and I was always just generally following his desires and orders – mostly orders! Any little job he was asking me to do, he was very demanding because he wanted to show other employees that I had no privilege.”

“I was an example for the other employees – I had to work harder than the others for less money. My first job was taking the drawings and parts of the 196 Dino – a car that had given a fantastic performance at the Nürburgring in ’65 – to the GT department because we were making 20 examples for customers. I was between the two departments and doing all the paperwork. It was a big thrill.”

Enzo passed away and Piero became the sole heir of the Ferrari family. He inherited his father’s 10% share of the company and the ownership of the Fiorano Circuit. Piero is vice chairman and 10% owner of luxury race car company Ferrari. “I never saw myself as repeating what my father had done. That would have been impossible,” Piero said. “I did not want to be the king, it’s not in my nature.”

Piero is the husband of Romina Gingasu. He has a daughter Antonella Ferrari with Floriana Nalin. Piero actively supports Centro Dino Ferrari, a research center for muscular and neurodegenerative diseases that his father cofounded in Dino’s memory.