Ferrari to run unique, carbon-inspired livery at Monza

During the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari will run a slightly-modified, carbon-inspired livery with the start number of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc set to replicate the look of carbon with its woven texture.

During the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza, Scuderia Ferrari HP, along with some of its partners will celebrate a material that is state of the art when it comes to building racing cars, namely carbon fibre. Its main virtues are light weight and strength, which have allowed the sport to make great progress in terms of safety.

To mark the occasion, instead of the usual white background with a yellow border, the numbers 16 and 55 on the SF-24s will replicate the look of carbon with its woven texture and natural reflections. In addition, the drivers’ race suits, helmets, shoes and glasses will also reflect the carbon fibre theme.

As for the history, carbon fibre was produced for the first time in 1958 in the USA and then extensively developed in the UK and Japan. It first saw the light of day in Formula 1 thanks to a brainwave from John Barnard, in England.

In 1982, Scuderia Ferrari began using carbon fibre panels to strengthen the aluminium chassis on the 126 C2, as well as producing the wings with this new material. Midway through the following season the 126 C3 made its debut, the first car built at Maranello with a carbon fibre monocoque. It made its debut with Patrick Tambay at Silverstone, when the Frenchman finished third, before winning next time out in Germany in the hands of René Arnoux.

Over the years, the carbon parts got ever lighter as its manufacturing techniques were refined, so that it gradually replaced fibreglass for the bodywork, as well as being used for brake discs, the front, side and rear crash protection structures, the engine air intake and some engine parts. Even some suspension arms, made from metal up to 1994, gradually moved over to carbon fibre production. Today, the same even goes for the steering column and the driver’s seat, the latter due to the flexibility of the material, being moulded around the driver’s shape.

“From the start of the new millennium, carbon fibre became even more ubiquitous, with increasing number of components made from it because of its adaptability, particularly valuable from a safety point of view. Since 2001, the steering and suspension arms are made from carbon, as are the brake and accelerator pedals, which are actually modelled to the shape of the driver’s shoes.

“Since 2003, the gearbox casing, generally made in aluminium, switched to a titanium-carbon hybrid and then totally carbon as from 2014. Carbon fibre revolutionised the aerodynamic possibilities and the modern car features all sorts of wings and other aero elements that create downforce and useful vortices to help keep the car pinned to the ground in the search for more speed, even if some are hard to spot with the naked eye.”

Ferrari has announced that “Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will use special versions of their Bell helmets. The carbon fibre, of which the helmets are manufactured, will be left bare in parts in among the red and the only other colour used will be the yellow already celebrated in past years in Monza, because of its history as a Ferrari and Scuderia colour.”

It is also the colour of the city of Modena, chosen by Enzo Ferrari as the background to the black Prancing Horse emblem, presented to him by the family of First World War ace fighter pilot Francesco Baracca.

In addition, the drivers’ Puma race suits will also sport a carbon look, while their T-shirts, caps and Speedcat Pro trainers will feature black and yellow. Ferrari’s sunglasses sponsor Ray-Ban will also stick to the carbon theme, with a special edition of the famous Wayfarer model, made entirely from carbon fibre with yellow highlights.