Ferrari to run special retro F1 livery for Las Vegas Grand Prix

The last time F1 raced in Las Vegas, a Caesar's Palace car park to be precise, Ferrari did not enjoy much success. In 1981, Didier Pironi was P9 and Gilles Villeneuve was disqualified for lining up in the wrong grid spot.

Neither driver was there for the 1982 race, Villeneuve tragically died during Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, while Pironi was the victim of a horrific crash which he survived, but multiple injuries to both legs meant he never raced again in F1 after that. He died in a powerboat accident during the 1987 Needles Trophy Race.

Instead, Mario Andretti and Patrick Tambay were in action for Ferrari, but neither car finished the GP that day. Rene Arnoux won the '81 race for Renault, and Michele Alboreto won the last one driving a Tyrrell.

For this edition of the Las Vegas, this time on the actual fabled Strip, Ferrari intend not only to make amends for the poor showing in previous races in Sin City, but they have the immediate task of finishing second in the 2023 F1 Constructors' Championship with two races remaining, including Vegas.

The Reds are trailing Mercedes by 20 points, and aim to beat the German team to claim the runner-up spot behind runaway 2023 F1 World Champions, Red Bull, and the extra prize money that comes with that.

For the penultimate race of the season in Las Vegas, Ferrari will have a special livery tipping a hat to history. This is what thes said on the occasion of the special Las Vegas paint job for their cars:

Scuderia Ferrari and its drivers are all set to sport special colours for Formula 1’s long-awaited return to Las Vegas - the third race in the USA. It’s been 41 years since the last time the largest city in the state of Nevada hosted a Grand Prix, held on a track in the car park of the famous Caesars Palace.

In 1982, the F1 calendar already featured three rounds in the USA, as is the case this year. Confirming the surge in popularity of the sport, under Liberty Media, the championship’s commercial rights holder and the successful Netflix series, Drive to Survive.

The result is a second golden age in the USA which, along with the well-established race at COTA in Austin, saw Miami added to the F1 calendar in 2022 and this year. Las Vegas will stage the very first night Grand Prix in the United States, starting on Saturday 18 November at 22 local time (7 CET).

Scuderia Ferrari has participated in every year of the Formula 1 world championship and therefore experienced that first golden age for the category in America. In 1971, at the wheel of the remarkable Ferrari 312 B, the American driver, Mario Andretti, won the South African Grand Prix, sparking interest in the sport at home.

Following in Abdretti's footsteps came other drivers, New Yorker Peter Revson and Mark Donohue who raced in the predominantly European series with Roger Penske, who became a F1 constructor to add to his successes in IndyCar.

Other great drivers were of that era were: Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, Clay Regazzoni, James Hunt and Gilles Villeneuve, all F1 legends who boosted the popularity of F1.

During America’s first golden age of the sport, Scuderia Ferrari enjoyed some memorable moments of its history, with Niki Lauda winning two F1 world titles, in 1975 and 1977, with a victory at Watkins Glen in 1975. Clay Regazzoni added to that tally, winning at Long Beach in 1976 while Carlos Reutemann triumphed at Watkins Glen in 1978. In 1979, Gilles Villeneuve scored an American double with wins in Long Beach and Watkins Glen in the legendary Ferrari 312 T4.

For this year, and the return to Las Vegas, the Scuderia decided to reprise it, producing an entirely red and white-only livery for the SF-23. Key to the success of this special design was the cooperation between Scuderia’s partners who approved changes to their own colours.

Ferrari will also celebrate Formula 1’s return to Las Vegas with a series of special off-track initiatives. Fans and enthusiasts will be able to get their hands on limited edition caps and accessories, all featuring the white and red colours. Puma and Scuderia Ferrari are launching two collections designed in partnership with Californian artist Joshua Vides, famous for his creative flair and wonderful sketches.

The capsule Back to Vegas Collection highlights Vides’ stylistic signature, reinterpreting motorsport through a series of items ranging from apparel to accessories, all paying homage to the golden age of Formula 1 in America. To be worn at the race track or as everyday wear, the iconic Ferrari red combines with white, as it did on the cars’ bodywork back in the Seventies and on the SF-23 livery in Las Vegas.

Also available is the limited edition Replica collection, inspired by the Scuderia team kit: this capsule features a selection of polo shirts, sweatshirts and caps and is aimed particularly at those fans attending the Las Vegas GP wanting to show their support for the team.

Ray-Ban and Ferrari pop-up boutique. Long-time Ferrari Team Partner, Ray Ban is also celebrating the sport’s return to Las Vegas with a special launch of its iconic Aviator glasses, with a version specifically designed for this memorable event.

The Las Vegas model features a metal frame, carbon fibre temples and a special version of the famous Ferrari emblem, in line with the design the Scuderia has chosen for its return to the legendary city in the state of Nevada. Finally, worth noting that, from 13 to 20 November, Ferrari will have a pop-up boutique at the Bellagio Hotel, selling fashion collections designed by its Creative Director, Rocco Iannone.