Ferrari reveals ‘blue’ Miami Grand Prix livery
The SF-24’s unique livery celebrates its debut with new title partner HP and Ferrari’s racing history in the United States.
When Ferrari recently announced its intention to go with a blue livery for the Miami Grand Prix, it got people discussing as to how much blue would actually be used. Today, the covers were pulled off to reveal the SF-24 challenger in its Miami final form and you’ve got to admit, it looks pretty good.
The two shades of blue seen on the car, Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino, celebrate cars from their past and finally return to use after around 50 years in the dark. The new livery also coincides with the debut race weekend for the team’s new title partner HP, with its distinctive blue logo now adorning the car as well as cars racing in the F1 Academy and eSports championships. The recent announcement confirmed the F1 team will now compete in races under the name of Scuderia Ferrari HP, although I’m sure most will just stick to calling them Ferrari.
The two tones of blue will be used on the wings, engine cover, halo, rear view mirrors, race numbers and wheel rims - a nod to the 158 F1 car raced by John Surtees when securing the world championship title in North America sixty years ago. The livery also references. The 1960s was a period in which American Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti, under the N.A.R.T. (North American Racing Team) banner and British importer Maranello Concessionaires, entered races with blue on their Ferraris.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, along with almost all team members, will be wearing a special team kit in Azzurro La Plata - the official race colour of Argentina in the 1950s. Race suits, shoes, gloves and helmets will all sport the colour which was a favourite of two-time F1 world champion Alberto Ascari. Ascari would wear the colour as a lucky charm and even raced in the 1952 Indy500 in a Ferrari 375 Special with a blue nose section. The colour was later worn in the sixties by Surtees, Lorenzo Bandini, Ludovico Scarfiotti and Chris Amon, with even Niki Lauda wearing it in his first year with the Scuderia in 1974.
The other shade of blue, Azzurro Dino, was a favourite of Arturo Merzario and Clay Regazzoni. The latter was the last driver to wear a race suit in the colour in 1974 until red became the dominant colour. While drivers and the majority of the team will wear Azzurro La Plata, mechanics involved in pit stops will be decked out in Azzurro Dino.
Leclerc and Sainz will also take two Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto Fiorano sports cars - personalised at Maranello Style Centre - around Miami including leading a parade around the race circuit on Sunday, followed by Ferrari owners.
The Miami Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 5th May at 9pm UK time.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Ferrari