FERRARI CHANNELS THE LEGENDARY NIKI LAUDA WITH TASTY RETRO LIVERY FOR MONZA 2025
This weekend at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Scuderia Ferrari HP will pay a spine-tingling tribute to one of the most important moments in its history - the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first Formula 1 World Championship title. It was 1975 when the young Austrian, strapped into the Ferrari 312 T, hauled the Scuderia back to glory. That season ended in front of a delirious sea of tifosi at the Autodromo Nazionale, where Lauda’s third place and teammate Clay Regazzoni’s victory delivered both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ crowns. After an 11-year drought, Ferrari was back on top. It was a defining moment that ushered in a fresh wave of success through the late 1970s, and it all began under Monza’s chestnut trees and packed grandstands.
To honour that milestone, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will roll out of the Monza garages in cars that look like they’ve been teleported straight out of 1975. Thanks to a new recyclable PVC wrap developed with title partner HP, Ferrari can now transform the SF-25’s appearance without adding unnecessary weight. Expect a faithful revival of the 312 T’s visual DNA with a rich, period-correct shade of Rosso Corsa, bold white stripes running lengthways across the body, drivers’ names written in a retro cursive script, black race numbers on white squares, a gleaming metallic silver rear wing (a nod to the aluminium era before carbon fibre dominated), engine covers finished in white and wheels styled to echo the classic rims of the time. The effect is a fusion of past and present that links Ferrari’s latest weapon with one of its most iconic machines. Luckily for the bean counters, there’s way more real estate for sponsor logos on the modern cars.
The look won’t stop with the cars. Ferrari has gone all in, dressing the entire team in retro gear inspired by the 1975 season. Out go the modern shields; in comes the rectangular Ferrari logo, back where it belongs for one weekend only. Leclerc and Hamilton will wear race suits, boots and helmets styled in period colours, creating a complete throwback aesthetic. Puma, a long-time Ferrari partner, has developed the special kit - and naturally, fans will be able to buy replicas. Expect them to vanish from shelves as fast as Monza’s first chicane disappears in Hamilton’s mirrors.
If there’s one venue that amplifies Ferrari passion, it’s Monza. Photos from 1975 show fans climbing billboards and tearing holes in banners just to glimpse their heroes. That unbridled energy has since become synonymous with Monza itself - capped off by the now-legendary track invasion when the chequered flag falls. Ferrari even re-oriented the podium in the early 2000s to face the main straight, ensuring the winners could celebrate directly with the tifosi.
Charles Leclerc knows the feeling. He’s won at Monza twice - in 2019 and again in 2024, cementing his place in Ferrari folklore. For Lewis Hamilton, Monza is already familiar territory with five wins to his name, but 2025 will be his first wearing Ferrari red. Considering his deep personal link to Lauda, who helped guide his career during their time together at Mercedes, the occasion promises to be profoundly emotional. Adding another layer of nostalgia, Jean Alesi - one of the most beloved Ferrari drivers of the 1990s - will take to the track on Sunday before the race. He’ll be behind the wheel of a 1995 Ferrari 412 T2, the final Ferrari F1 car to be powered by a naturally aspirated V12. For many tifosi, Alesi’s passion and style made him an adopted son of Maranello, despite his single career win. His return will be greeted with open arms and loud voices.
Take a look at the YouTube video from some years back that shows Niki Lauda's iconic Ferrari 312 T in action at Goodwood - the same car this livery is a tribute to: F1 FLAT-12 SOUND! | Niki Lauda’s 1975 Ferrari 312T @ Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 #F1 #NikiLauda | The F1 Nut
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