Ferrari will run a one-off Formula 1 car livery at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first world championship victory.
Lauda won the 1975 championship on 7 September at Monza, with this year’s running of the race taking place on the exact same day.
At the time, a third-place finish had been enough for the 26-year-old Austrian to be crowned with one grand prix remaining, such was his advantage over McLaren’s Emerson Fittipaldi and Brabham’s Carlos Reutemann. Ferrari team-mate Clay Regazzoni gave the tifosi another reason to celebrate with victory on their turf.
Ferrari is therefore reprising its 312 T’s livery on its SF-25s, with the same shade of red and a white engine cover. The wings’ shade of grey does look darker, with the rear wing described as “metallic silver, evoking the aluminium used in those days before carbon fibre became the F1 standard”. The drivers’ overalls, boots and helmets will also be a throwback to that era.
Lauda’s title-winning 312 T will be exhibited “starting tomorrow and throughout September” at the Maranello Museum, where the Italian GP qualifying and race will be broadcast. Another car featuring the livery will “be showcased at Monza this weekend”.
Ferrari favourite Jean Alesi will be in attendance at the ‘Temple of Speed’ and drive his popular V12-powered 412 T2, which he took his only grand prix victory with in 1995.
