On September 18, 2025, Italian driver Fabio Barone did something no one else dared: he pushed a Ferrari SF90 to 164 kilometers per hour on a moving warship. Yes, on a ship. The setting? The massive flight deck of the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier, Nave Trieste, which is docked in Civitavecchia, near Rome.
Barone’s record-breaking run wasn’t just fast, it was dangerous. The deck, stretching 236 meters long, was still slick from the night before. Wet steel is no friend to high-speed tires. Barone had to launch the Ferrari with full force, hit his target speed, and then slam the brakes before the ship’s "ski jump" ramp launched him into the sea.
The News 18 / Barone already held the title from a similar run in 2024, where he reached 152 km/h. That attempt shocked many.
By hitting 164 km/h (101.9 mph), he didn’t just beat his own record. He crushed it!
The choice of car mattered. The Ferrari SF90 is no ordinary machine. It packs nearly 1000 horsepower, launches from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds, and blends electric power with a twin-turbo V8. It is built for speed, but even this beast isn’t designed to race on a warship’s deck with sea mist and limited space. Barone had about 6 seconds to make magic happen, or risk disaster.
Hollywood Vibes
To add to the cinematic flair, the "Top Gun" theme song blasted across the ship’s speakers as Barone tore down the deck. A soundtrack fit for a high-octane moment like this. The Italian Timekeepers Federation stood by, stopwatch in hand, to record every fraction of a second. When the final number flashed—164—the crew erupted.
After the run, Barone was calm but clearly pumped. He compared the act to playing the piano, saying his hands and feet had to move in perfect sync. It wasn’t just about speed. It was about control, timing, and nerves of steel. Any hesitation or slip would have sent him flying off the ramp like a missile.
History Made (Unofficially)
GTN / Barone is no stranger to extreme driving. He has raced across the world’s most dangerous roads and pulled off feats that most wouldn’t dream of.
The record isn’t official just yet. Barone’s team is submitting all the data and video to Guinness World Records for review. A spokesperson confirmed they’re ready to review it and expect the result to meet their criteria. If approved, it will be listed as the fastest speed ever reached by a car on a moving ship. A wild title, but a real one.
But this challenge was something else. It mixed precision, danger, and spectacle in a way that grabbed attention far beyond the car world.
Nave Trieste is Italy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, a symbol of national pride. Hosting a Ferrari on its flight deck was a moment that tied together speed, technology, and Italian engineering in one flashy statement. Navy personnel watched the event unfold with just as much excitement as the Ferrari fans.
Even more impressive, Barone had no practice runs at full speed. Weather forced the team to wait until morning, and with the clock ticking and the deck still damp, they had one shot. No second tries. The ship’s ramp loomed at the end like a cliff. Miss the brake zone by a meter, and it was game over.