The world of Formula 1 is increasingly attentive to commercial operations but, at least until now, some things were remained immutable in time. For fans of the Maranello team, imagining a non-red Ferrari is almost a dream sacrilege. Apparently, not even Ferrari red is untouchable, given that on the occasion of the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix the SF-24 will show off a special livery, with two shades of blue. According to those responsible, it would be a tribute to the history of Ferrari but there are also reasons much more practical.
Pecunia non olet
What it might have seemed to many a shot just to gain some free publicity it is proving to be a non-extemporaneous operation by the Ferrari team. It won’t just be the single-seaters on the track that will show off the shades of blue, but also pilots and mechanics. To avoid fan riots, Ferrari reassured everyone, explaining that it is a special livery that will be used only for the Miami race. The merchandising created for the occasion, however, will probably remain on sale, perhaps for those fans who don’t like wearing red clothes.
To keep the tension high, we don’t know yet what will the SF-24s that will show up for free practice on the Florida circuit look like, given that the new livery will be revealed to the public only after arriving in the United States. The colors used, however, are known: La Plata blue and Dino blue, two non-random shades that come from the long and prestigious history of the Scuderia. Some, however, have pointed out that the HP logo is also blue, new principal sponsor of Ferrari, announced a few days ago. An operation that is not very nostalgic and very concrete.
Light blue and Ferrari
If the color of Ferrari cars has always been the iconic red, over the years many drivers have preferred to use shades of blue in their helmets. La Plata Blue, the color of the Argentine flag, was the favourite Alberto Ascari, who considered it his good luck charm. Other Red drivers, from Surtees to Bandini, from Scarfiotti to Niki Lauda, have willingly used this very particular colour. Equally historic is theDino bluethe second color that Ferrari will use in Miami: “a blue more intense which attracted the attention of several Scuderia drivers and in particular Arturo Merzario and Clay Regazzoni, the last to wear it in 1974″.
From that moment on, it was preferred to use only red, white or yellow even for the Ferrari drivers’ suits. The idea of a blue single-seater has unleashed the imagination of the people of the internet, who have published several more or less daring graphic designs in the last few hours. If some of these models seem interesting, we will have to wait until official presentation on May 2 to find out exactly what the sky blue SF-24 will look like.
Not an absolute novelty
The news was greeted with a certain irony by the people of social media, decidedly more worried about the lack of competitiveness of Ferrari seen in Shanghai. Some, however, have spoken out strange for the abandonment, even if only for one race, of the color that has distinguished Italian racing cars since the 1920s. Yet, browsing through the historical archives of the motoring world, Ferrari has used a similar color in the past, precisely 60 years ago. The color, to tell the truth, it worked well to the Scuderia, given that he won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships there.
In the year of our Lord 1964, Ferrari chose to abandon the traditional livery for the United States and Mexican Grands Prix, choosing a blue and white for the last two races of the world championship. In this case, it was not a commercial choice but one protest against the FIA because the 250 LM, a car prepared for the popular Gran Turismo world championship, had not been homologated. The shock of a non-red Ferrari was considerable but John Surtees he still managed to triumph. There is also another reason: Ferrari ran in America for 10 years with the North American Racing Team of importer Luigi Chinetti. The cars had colors traditional of stars and stripes, white and blue cars.
When will we see her
The Ferrari has not yet announced when the special livery of the SF-24 will be presented but, probably, it will happen Thursday 2 May, during the day traditionally dedicated to meetings with the press and related events. The Maranello team has announced a series of events dedicated to 70 years old of the Reds in America but, surely, there will also be time to say goodbye Hewlett Packardthe new title partner which will collaborate with Ferrari in the coming years. The weekend program, however, is already set: free practice will take place Friday 3 May starting at 6.30pm, followed by sprint race qualifying at 10.30pm. Saturday, however, will see the sprint race at 6pm and qualifying starting from 10pm. The actual Grand Prix, however, will be held Sunday 5 May starting at 10pm.
Fans will be able to follow everything live via satellite on Sky Sports F1 HD and Sky Sports 1.
