Ferrari get the Blues for Miami Grand Prix weekend

The team promised as much last week with a teaser before revealing the special paint job for Round 6 of the 2024 F1 World Championship, for the third return of the Grand Prix around the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins American football team.

Ferrari announced in a press release ahead of the Miami GP weekend: "The biggest change is the recently announced arrival of HP as title partner for the coming seasons, so that as from this race, the team will be competing in the Grands Prix under the name of Scuderia Ferrari HP.

"The partnership extends globally beyond Formula 1, The HP partnership also includes support for Maranello’s young driver programme, established in 2009, as well as its Esports team."

As for the blue added to the traditionally all-red colour scheme, Ferrari explained: "The dominant colour of the new title partner’s logo is a perfect fit with the theme chosen by the Maranello marque for the week in Miami, namely the return of the two colours from the past, Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino."

"For this weekend only, these tones will feature on the two SF-24s. The splashes of colour will be used on the wings, the engine cover, the halo, the rear-view mirrors, the race numbers and, in a nod to the past, on the wheel rims, as was the case back in the Sixties."

The Media Tewam then outlined the historic relevance of the blue: "Starting with the 158 F1 with which John Surtees clinched the world championship title in North America, sixty years ago.

"The Miami livery also evokes memories of the single-seaters and sports cars entered by the American Ferrari importer, Luigi Chinetti, under the N.A.R.T. (North American Racing Team) banner, including the aforementioned blue and white 158 F1 driven by Surtees and red Ferraris with dark blue stripes.

"In fact, blue also featured on the various Ferraris entered in sports cars races in the Sixties by the British importer, Maranello Concessionaires."

"The other Ferrari colour making a comeback in Miami is Azzurro Dino, a much brighter blue that found favour with several Scuderia drivers, most notably Niki Lauda, Arturo Merzario and Clay Regazzoni.

"The latter was the last driver to wear a race suit in this colour, in 1974, and gradually, shirts and mechanics overalls also took on this tone, before becoming the norm from the Seventies to the early Eighties.

"As from 1975, various shades of red became the dominant colour on the drivers’ race suits, with splashes of white, reflecting, as from 1973, sponsorship from Philip Morris International, an agreement still in place today.

"In Miami, the usual red colour gives way to Azzurro La Plata for the drivers for the whole weekend, while the majority of the team will wear kit in that colour on Sunday only. Those mechanics involved in pitstops therefore need to wear fireproof suits in accordance with the regulations, and will be decked out in Azzurro Dino."

"Additionally, Leclerc and Sainz will also celebrate these two revived Ferrari colours away from the race track. They will each get around in special Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto Fiorano sports cars, personalised for the extraordinary series of events taking place in the United States."

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur commented: "The upcoming Miami Grand Prix will be one to remember in the history of our team, as in Florida we will be celebrating our heritage through a unique livery, rediscovering two colours that are part of our history. It will also be a very special race as we are glad to welcome the arrival of our new title partner HP."

"Scuderia Ferrari and HP share many values, including a winning mentality and a clear line of thought that forms the basis of our partnership. Our two companies always strive for excellence and embrace technological innovation, key elements in achieving our respective goals.

"Like us, HP believes in the importance of ensuring that everyone in its organisation can give of their best, as that’s the only way to get great results. In addition, we believe in the need to nurture talent, teaching and empowering people as exemplified by our Driver Academy.

"With so many things in common, we believe that HP’s title partnership will greatly benefit both marques and I can’t wait for us to start working together as of this weekend," added Vasseur.