It has become common to use the word Tifosi to refer to the supporters of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One. Italian motor racing fans are well-known for their love of Ferrari, whereas most other supporters tend to support local drivers rather than teams.
The Tifosi provide Formula One with some of its most iconic images, as a sea of red fills the grandstands at the San Marino and Italian Grands Prix. One of the most common Tifosi sightings are common with the display of an enormous Ferrari flag in the grandstands during Formula 1 weekends at every race circuit, with especially large contingents showing up in Ferrari livery at home and nearby European tracks.
The current increase in their ranks can be directly traced to the rise of Michael Schumacher, who has for the last 11 years piloted the lead Ferrari, and in the process has broken nearly every record ever set in the sport. Even with his retirement in 2006 the Tifosi will continue to dominate the pictures of Formula One races for many decades, since they also tend to be the most loyal of fans in their sport.