Ferrari's best one-off F1 liveries - How does new Lauda tribute rank?

Ferrari will honour the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first title with a special one-off livery at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

The SF-25 cars will feature the design of the 1975 Ferrari 312T, including the same shade of red, white longitudinal stripes, and a white engine cover.

We take a look at some of the best one-off Ferrari liveries in Formula 1 history, from the striking blue and white North American Racing Team cars of 1964, to the deep burgundy tribute at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.

1964 Mexican and US Grands Prix

In the closing races of the 1964 Formula 1 season – the United States and Mexican Grands Prix – Ferrari made a bold departure from its traditional Rosso Corsa red and raced in a distinctive white and blue livery, overseen by the North American Racing Team (NART).

However, the eye-catching change was not just a stylistic choice but a protest by Enzo Ferrari against the governing bodies, who refused to homologate his Ferrari 250 LM in the Gran Turismo category.

The resulting cars, painted with deep blue stripes across a bright white body, stood out in the paddock and on the track, marking the only occasions in F1 history where a factory Ferrari did not wear red.

Ferrari’s drivers, including John Surtees, brought further attention to this livery by achieving remarkable results while racing under the NART banner, helping Surtees clinch the championship in the blue-and-white cars.

2020 Tuscan Grand Prix

For Ferrari’s 1000th F1 race at the 2020 Tuscan GP, held at its very own Mugello circuit, the Scuderia unveiled a striking one-off livery that paid homage to its origins.

The Ferrari SF1000s raced in a deep burgundy shade, closely matching the colour of the 125 S – the very first car to bear the Ferrari name when it debuted in 1947.

This special design extended to the race numbers on the cars, which appeared as if they were hand-painted, echoing the style of early Ferrari racers and further reinforcing the retro theme.

Both drivers, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, wore race suits matching the historic colour scheme, creating a unified and nostalgic visual identity for the team throughout the race weekend.

Ferrari chose this approach as a tribute to its racing heritage and to mark its unique status as the only team to participate in every season of the series since its inception.

1961 Belgian Grand Prix

Although not a full factory entry, at the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari diverged from its traditional red livery by entering a car painted completely in bright yellow, the national racing colour of Belgium.

It was a tribute to the Belgian driver Olivier Gendebien and the Belgian Ferrari importer Jacques Swaters who partially funded the entry.

This marked the last instance where a factory Ferrari raced in a livery other than red in Formula 1.

Gendebien’s yellow Ferrari 156 ‘Sharknose’ stood out vividly on track at Spa.

This unique yellow Ferrari delivered a strong performance, with Gendebien finishing fourth behind his team-mates who were in the classic red cars.

Ferrari dominated the race, sweeping the top four positions, with Phil Hill, Wolfgang Von Trips, and Richie Ginther filling the podium.

2022 Italian Grand Prix

The 2022 Italian Grand Prix marked Ferrari’s 75th anniversary since the foundation of the company and the 73rd running of the Italian GP.

To celebrate the occasion, Ferrari debuted a one-off livery with yellow accents.

The design featured Ferrari’s traditional red base colour adorned with splashes of yellow, known as ‘Giallo Modena’ which is one of the emblematic colours of Ferrari’s hometown, Modena.

This yellow trim appeared on key aerodynamic parts including the fin, rear wing, and front wing, as well as on the race numbers.

Several of the Scuderia’s future one-off liveries have followed a similar pattern since.

2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix

For the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari unveiled a special livery to celebrate Formula 1’s return to ‘Sin City’.

The iconic Ferrari red was complemented with prominent white accents, recalling liveries from the 1970s and 1980s, when Ferrari achieved significant success on American soil.

As mentioned above, the livery followed a similar pattern, with the red-and-white design highlighted on key aerodynamic elements such as the front and rear wings, while the drivers’ names were elegantly scripted on the car sides, reminiscent of styles from Ferrari’s racing legends.

Beyond the car’s livery, Ferrari extended the retro theme to the drivers’ race suits and helmets, worn by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, harmonising the overall look for the first Formula 1 race in Las Vegas in over 40 years.

2025 Italian Grand Prix

For this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Ferrari will sport a special livery honouring the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first world championship title, achieved in 1975 with the iconic Ferrari 312T.

The SF-25 cars will feature the same shade of red as Lauda’s car, complemented by white longitudinal stripes and a white engine cover.

The rear wing will be metallic silver, recalling the aluminium parts used before carbon fibre’s introduction.

Race numbers will be styled in black on a white rectangular background, and the drivers’ names will be written in cursive, mirroring the design details of the 1975 312 T.

Alongside the special car livery, the entire Ferrari team will wear 1975-inspired race kits, including suits, helmets, and team apparel.