Ferrari to focus on carbon fibre at Monza

The livery of Ferrari cars at Monza will differ slightly from normal, the Italian team announced today.

We wrote yesterday that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be competing in black overalls, but a dark colour scheme has also been chosen for the team uniforms.

Changes to the design of the cars are not so obvious: only the side numbers on the SF-24 will be in black this weekend.

“Instead of the usual white numbers with a yellow border, the numbers 16 and 55 on the cars will reproduce the texture and natural appearance of carbon fibre,” the Scuderia said in a press release. “In addition, the carbon fibre theme will be reflected in the design of the racing suits, helmets, shoes and goggles.”

The Italian team spoke separately about the special versions of the design of the drivers’ helmets: “The carbon from which the helmets are made remains partly unpainted and is combined with red, but also with yellow, which was already used in Monza in previous years, as this is the historic colour of Ferrari.

It is also the heraldic colour of the city of Modena, chosen by Enzo Ferrari as the background for the logo of the black rearing stallion.”

In addition, Ferrari decided to remind fans of something from the team’s history, by providing a short selection of facts regarding the arrival of the ‘carbon age’ in Formula 1: “This material was first used by designer John Barnard. In 1982, the Scuderia began using carbon fibre panels to add extra strength to the 126 C2 chassis and wings.

Halfway through the following season, the 126 C3, the first car built in Maranello to feature a carbon fibre monocoque, made its debut. It was first driven by Patrick Tambe at Silverstone, where it took third place in that race, before Rene Arnoux won the German Grand Prix at the following stage of the season.