The decoder: Ferrari’s badge

Ferrari's iconic badge. Courtesy Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari was inspired to make a black prancing horse the centrepiece of his company’s logo by the exploits of a famed Italian fighter pilot, Francesco Baracca, who painted said equine motif on the side of his plane. It was meant as a symbol of good luck, although after 34 aerial victories, it couldn’t save the airman from a fiery death towards the end of the First World War. Enzo added the striking yellow background, which is the colour of Modena, the Italian flag turned 90 degrees at the top, and on the shield you see today on road-going Ferraris’ front wings, the letters “SF”, for his race team, Scuderia Ferrari, which adopted the Prancing Horse on its formation in 1929.