Fabio Barone, the Italian speed-record driver, has set a stunning new benchmark by driving a Ferrari SF90 Stradale at record speed on an aircraft carrier. The achievement took place in Italy, combining precision engineering with daring skill, and is now awaiting official Guinness World Record validation.

Key Details

• Driver: Fabio Barone, known for multiple international speed records.
• Car: Ferrari SF90 Stradale, a plug-in hybrid supercar producing around 1,085 horsepower.
• Location: The Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked in Civitavecchia, near Rome. Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317
• Date: September 18, 2025. Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317
• Objective: Break the existing record for fastest car speed on a ship. The prior record stood at 152 km/h (94.4 mph). Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317

Record Run Results

• Top Speed Achieved: 164 km/h (101.9 mph). Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317
• Surface Used: The aircraft carrier’s 236-meter (774-foot) flight deck. Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317
• Conditions: The deck was wet early in the morning and had to be dried before the run. Braking required exact precision to avoid overshooting the ski-jump ramp at the end of the deck. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fabio-barone-ferrari-on-aircraft-carrier-record-speed-car-on-boat/

Challenges and Risks

• Surface Grip: A wet flight deck significantly reduced traction, raising risks for acceleration and braking. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fabio-barone-ferrari-on-aircraft-carrier-record-speed-car-on-boat/
• Limited Distance: With only 236 meters available, the Ferrari had to accelerate, reach maximum speed, and then brake in a very short window. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fabio-barone-ferrari-on-aircraft-carrier-record-speed-car-on-boat/
• Focus: Barone described the experience as requiring total concentration, comparing it to a pianist using hands and feet at once, saying he only realized he was breaking the record midway through the run. Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317

Pending Guinness World Record Confirmation

Although the Italian Timekeepers Federation immediately certified the speed at 164 km/h, the attempt now awaits full Guinness World Records verification. Official recognition depends on the evidence submitted and confirmed data review. Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317

Reactions and Significance

• The event included spectators, journalists, and naval officers. Children with Down syndrome were invited as honorary “mechanics,” adding a symbolic and celebratory element. Source: https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317
• Coverage highlighted not just the Ferrari’s power, but the precision and control required to pull off the feat. Many experts described it as more of a showcase of skill than pure horsepower. Source: https://luxurylaunches.com/transport/ferrari-sf90-on-italian-aircraft-carrier-09222025.php
• Safety observers noted the risks involved, particularly the ski-jump end of the carrier’s deck, which left no room for mistakes. Source: https://interestingengineering.com/culture/ferrari-ev-100-mph-on-aircraft-deck

Why This Matters

• It showcases the Ferrari SF90 Stradale not only as a technological marvel on road and track but in unconventional environments.
• If Guinness World Records confirms the attempt, it will add to both Ferrari’s legacy and Fabio Barone’s reputation as a world record driver.
• The event underlines the spectacle of modern motorsport: pushing boundaries in unusual, high-risk settings that captivate global audiences.

Sources and Accreditation

https://apnews.com/article/f49d49a367a972af143ccad1ada22317
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fabio-barone-ferrari-on-aircraft-carrier-record-speed-car-on-boat/
https://luxurylaunches.com/transport/ferrari-sf90-on-italian-aircraft-carrier-09222025.php
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/ferrari-ev-100-mph-on-aircraft-deck
https://www.boatblurb.com/post/man-driving-a-ferrari-on-aircraft-carrier-sets-world-record-for-fastest-car-driven-on-a-boat