Ferrari’s product development chief believes the retro-themed Icona models are the ideal platform to reintroduce the manual transmission that some customers have been requesting
Modern performance cars have hit staggering levels of capability. Let’s be honest—drivers like Max Verstappen or Alex Palou could likely set faster laps half-asleep than most of us could fully focused. So why spend your savings on a track car if not to feel something? For many enthusiasts, it’s less about shaving seconds off lap times and more about the emotional connection—and nothing delivers that quite like a manual gearbox.
Ferrari famously abandoned the traditional three-pedal setup in 2012, prioritizing peak performance over driver engagement. But that might soon change. Gianmaria Fulgenzi, Ferrari’s product development boss, recently told Carsales that the brand is “reaching the limit of performance in our cars.” More significantly, he notes that modern sports cars are beginning to push the limits of their drivers, too.
“For a normal driver, you have to physically support yourself for this kind of acceleration,” Fulgenzi explained, pointing out that without F1-style training, extended sessions behind the wheel can be physically taxing. “I don’t think all our customers want to have to train every morning just to drive our cars.”
This shift in thinking has opened the door to a potential manual comeback—but not for Ferrari’s mainstream lineup. Instead, Fulgenzi hints that future Icona models, Ferrari’s retro-inspired series, could be the perfect platform to revive the gated manual shifter. There’s a catch, though: to make a manual viable, Ferrari would likely have to dial back engine output, otherwise drivers might need “a very big leg” to operate the clutch.
Still, demand is real. Fulgenzi confirms customers have already requested a return of the iconic gated manual. Even Lewis Hamilton has weighed in, expressing interest in a modern revival of the F40—perhaps under the name F44 to match his racing number.
With the Daytona SP3 having launched in 2023, the next Icona model may not be far off. Could it mark the return of Ferrari’s beloved third pedal? We’ll be watching closely.
