[2] John Surtees drove the Ferrari 158 to win his only Formula One Drivers' World Championship, in 1964.

[3] Ferrari won the 1964 Formula One World Championship by competing in the last two races in cars painted not in the traditional Rosso corsa but in white and blue.

This engine developed 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp) @ 12,000 rpm[4] compared to the 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp) @ 11,000 rpm of the 158's V8 engine.

[5][6] The 1512, with its larger, more powerful engine, was designed to be competitive on the longest, fastest circuits of the Formula One season, such as Reims, Spa, and Monza.

In this role it complemented the lighter, nimbler V8-powered 158 which was more competitive on small, twisty circuits.