Ferrari is set to make a striking departure from tradition as they swap their iconic all red Formula 1 car for a duo of blue shades when they hit the Miami track next Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th May.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will race the SF-24, adorned in two distinct blue colours; Azzuro La Plata & Azzurro Dino, last seen on the NART [North American Racing Team] Ferrari team in 1964. Alongside this livery change, the drivers will be sporting vintage blue race suits. Ferrari has unveiled a fresh line up of Miami inspired blue team merchandise for fans, leveraging their enduring partnership with Puma.
This homage to Ferrari's American market, and recent multi-million pound partnership with print giants HP includes special blue inspired liveries and race suits, a departure eagerly embraced by Leclerc, who remarked on its old school charm. The Ferrari F1 Team has announced its official name change to Scuderia Ferrari HP to reflect the incorporation of the new brand sponsor.
Sainz, set to bid farewell to Ferrari after four seasons, will relish the opportunity to race around the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, with his next move yet to be confirmed. His departure opens the door for Lewis Hamilton to join the team in 2025, adding another layer of intrigue to Ferrari's evolving line up, and perhaps a new watch sponsor in IWC.
In a surprising twist alongside Ferrari's livery switch-up for the Miami race, there's been a notable change in the timepieces adorning the wrists of their drivers - seen across socials.
To date in 2024, Ferrari drivers have been seen sporting the Richard Mille RM 67-02 Automatic Winding Extra Flat ‘Alexander Zverev’, a sleek piece with a black and red colour scheme that complements the team's aesthetic perfectly. With its carbon case and skeletonized automatic-winding movement it's been a favourite among drivers, and even spotted on the wrist of the Ferrari Team principle.
However, this livery update has seen a shift: both drivers are now proudly sporting the RM72-01 Flyback Chronograph, with blue and white accents. This timepiece matches the change to blue uniform. The watch also boasts a skeletonized movement with automatic bidirectional winding, however offers a suite of additional features including hours, minutes, small seconds, date, flyback chronograph, function indicator, and stop seconds.
Richard Mille has a longstanding partnership with the Scuderia Ferrari HP team. This watch with it's cutting edge technology and impeccable design mirrors Ferrari's relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the track.
As the F1 season progresses, it'll be intriguing to see if there are further alterations, both on and off the track.
