Lamborghini began their Formula One journey as an engine manufacturer in 1989 with Larrousse with an engine designed by legendary designer Mauro Forgheiri, who had worked at Ferrari for nearly 30 years. Larrousse were a backmarker team who had scored three points in two seasons of Grand Prix racing, but their fortunes slightly improved with Lamborghini power, as in 1990, Larrousse scored a fantastic 11 points, with six points finishes including a home podium for Aguri Suzuki in Japan and a double points finish in Britain. Not only did they supply Larrousse in 1990, but also the legendary Lotus team, who had by now been reduced to another backmarker due to the costs of Formula One. They scored only three points.

 

1991 was dismal: an in-house Lamborghini Formula One program known as ‘Modena Team’ was disasterous and the other team they supplied that year, Ligier, scored zero points. A return to Larrousse in 1992 followed along with a one year partnership with Minardi. Minardi and Larrousse each scored a point, which was an overall improvement for Lamborghini but in general was not a great return. 

 

Their final year in 1993 was with just Larrousse and it was slightly more fruitful with three points.

 

McLaren contemplated using Lamborghini’s engines for 1994, and the great Ayrton Senna, who had driven the legendary Honda engine, apparently liked it while testing it in his final year, but Peugeot were chosen over Lamborghini and Lamborghini’s owners, Chrysler, decided to leave F1.