Ferrari has revealed a special livery it will use at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, marking 50 years since Niki Lauda’s first world championship victory for the team.
Drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will wear special race suits styled on those worn by Lauda when he won the title for the team in 1975. Their names are highlighted across the back in the same way Lauda’s was on the flanks of his 312T.
Ferrari has changed the SF-25’s livery to mimic its look from 50 years ago in several ways. The engine cover is painted white and the drivers’ numbers are framed within a white background. White stripes have been added to the car’s flanks.
The front and rear wings are coloured silver, matching the look of the 312T, which used aluminium for these parts and others instead of the carbon fibre which is now ubiquitous. The wheel covers have also been designed to look like those which appeared on Ferrari’s 1975 car.
Lauda, who passed away in 2019, won two of his three world championships at Ferrari. After joining the team in 1974 he claimed his first title the following year in Mauro Forghieri’s 312T, powered by a flat-12 Ferrari engine.
He was on course to repeat his success the following year when he suffered a near-fatal crash at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Following a hasty return to the cockpit, the wounds from his terrible burns still not healed, Lauda narrowly lost the title to McLaren’s James Hunt. He returned to reclaim the championship the following year, then quit the team with two races to go, having fallen out with Enzo Ferrari.
Another former Ferrari driver will appear for the team at its second home event this year. Jean Alesi, who drove for them between 1991 and 1995, will drive a 412T2 of the type he scored his only grand prix victory in 30 years ago.
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