In a show of good sportsmanship and respect, Mercedes tipped a hat at Formula 1’s history by painting the (traditionally silver) Safety Car the Red of Ferrari, on the occasion of the Italian team’s 1000th race at this weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix.
Ahead of the first practice day at Mugello on Friday, Mercedes revealed, “Scuderia Ferrari will start their 1,000th race in the premier class of motorsport. In acknowledgement of this milestone, the Mercedes-AMG GT R Official FIA F1 Safety Car will be given a new look this weekend with a commemorative red livery.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff added, “The Tuscan Grand Prix will also be the 1000th F1 race for Ferrari, marking the long racing tradition of this great Italian brand.
“We will honour this achievement with a Mercedes-AMG Safety Car in Ferrari red – our nod to a racing history that brought us some of the greatest moments in Formula One.
“The men and women of Maranello have a proud history to celebrate and we’re paying respect to those celebrations this weekend,” added Wolff whose team and drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, will be looking to spoil the party on Sunday when it’s down to business at Mugello.
There's something different about the Safety Car this weekend! 😍😍😍
To mark @ScuderiaFerrari's historic 1000th @F1 Grand Prix – we're turning the @MercedesAMG Safety Car red in Mugello ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8N0veLOFyl
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 10, 2020