Ferrari pays homage to its F1 US history with special Las Vegas livery

The SF-23 from Ferrari is sporting a fresh new look, featuring a white rear wing, splashes on the engine cover, and a white circular number board that hark back to previous cars with strong ties to the United States.

The team had to get approval from all of its sponsor partners to make the switch to an entirely red-and-white livery, which will also be reflected in new overalls for drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

This decision is a nod to Ferrari’s past and some of the most iconic moments the team enjoyed during the heyday of F1 in the United States in the 1970’s.

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Mario Andretti, Ferrari 312B2

The colors closely resemble those of the Ferrari 312B that Mario Andretti used in 1971 to claim his first F1 victory at the South African Grand Prix.

Ferrari prominently featured white throughout the 1970s, including during Niki Lauda’s championship-winning campaigns in 1975 and 1977.

In those years, white extended beyond the wings, with the engine covers frequently painted white and incorporating the red and green of the Italian national flag.

After 1978, the team dialed back the use of white, although there was a brief return in 1993.

Photo by: Ferrari

Ferrari SF-23, Las Vegas GP livery

Due to a challenging campaign in the F93A, which proved uncompetitive and unreliable, Ferrari reverted to an all-red livery in 1994.

In 2016, the team attempted to reintroduce white into its livery with the SF-16H, but poor results led to white being abandoned once again.

With the return of the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the horizon, F1 is anticipating a surge in interest from fans both in the United States and around the world, further boosting the championship’s popularity.

The race, set to take place at night, will run down the famous Las Vegas Strip on a new track.