Although totally changing colours did little to
Help!
Casual Formula 1 viewers couldn’t be blamed for
thinking there was something wrong with their television set’s reception when
tuning into this year’s Miami Grand Prix. Like Hold on Vern’, Thars something
wacky going on with the colour settings! Try movin’ those Wabbit’ Ears Vern…
As for reasons unknown, la Scuderia’, nee
Ferrari’s traditional Rosso corsa racecars were appearing to be two different
shades of Blue!
Although we quickly learned that this was
ultimately another marketing gimmick, celebrating Scuderia Ferrari’s signing of
computer giant HP as their new title sponsor. Even though the team claimed it
was in Honour of the 70th Anniversary of Ferrari’s involvement in North
America.
Yet I’m cornfuzed why this isn’t being
trumpeted as the 75th Anniversary of Ferrari’s presense in North America? Since
noted Ferrari Factory agent Luigi Chinetti began importing Ferrari’s to the
United States in early 1949. With some Chap named Briggs Cunningham finishing
second at Watkins Glen aboard a Ferrari 166MM Spyder in ’49.
Yes, that’s the same Luigi Chinetti who gave
Ferrari it’s first 24 Heurs du Mans victory Wayback’ in Gory 1949! When the
naturalized Italian drove a super Human 22.5 Hour total! Spelled only briefly
by the evocative Ferrari 166MM Barachetta’s owner and co-driver Peter
Mitchell-Thompson.
As Chinetti also established N.A.R.T., known as
North American Racing Team in 1958. Going onto win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in
1965 with the controversial Ferrari 250LM prototype.
Accroding to the Daily Mail, Alberto Ascari
wore light Blue shirts and Hat during His two Formula 1 World Championships for
Ferrari during 1952-53. While John surtees, Chris Amon, Lorenzo Bandini and Ludovico
Scarfiotti all wore light blue Overalls during the 1960’s.
Niki Lauda wore light blue overalls for His
1974 debut season at Ferrari, before switching to rosso for the ’75 F1
campaign. While teammate Clay Regazoni wore Dark Blue the same season
Most famously, John Surtees won the 1964
Formula 1 World Championship driving a blue and white Ferrari 158. As reportedly
Il Commendatore, nee Enzo Ferrari was so outraged that the FIA wouldn’t
recognize His Ferrari 250LM prototype for Homologation, He threatened to never
race in Rossa corsa again!
Thus Surtees and teammate Bandini Ferrari’s ran
the final two rounds of the ’64 championship in the blue and white national
colours of the United States under the N.A.R.T. paint scheme at Watkins Glen
and Mexico city.
While Ferrari ran a special “One-off” Red and
White paint scheme in Honour of those glorious 1970 Championship winning
racecars of Lauda and Jody Scheckter, during the inaugural modern day Las Vegas
Grand Prix last November.
As the Ferrari SF24 and it’s drivers will be
adorned in Astro la planta And Astra Dino, with the first being the light blue
hue. Whilst the latter dark blue hue’s name pays homage to Enzo Ferrari’s son
known as Dino.
Yet Scuderia Ferrari has also seen multiple F1
chassis race in solid yellow. Including when the privateer Equipe Nationale
Belgium entry of Olivier Gendebien appropriately finished fourth at the 1961
Belgian Grand Prix.
As Scuderia Ferrari claimed a 1-2-3-4 sweep.
With Factory drivers Phill Hill winning. Wolfgang von Trips second and Richie
Gintherthird ahead of Gendebine. Which I believe is the only time an F1
Constructor has swept the first four finishing positions…
But when I think of Hewlett Packard and Formula
1, I immediately Flash back to those early 2000’s superb Williams BMW racecars
with Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher at their keyboards…
And speaking of Williams, I hope that former
Team Willy’ and current Red Bull Designer supreme Adrian Newey goes to Ferrari
next year!
Naturally, after I’d initially finished
scribbling these thoughts. On May 1st no less, for which Y’all should know the
significance of the date regarding Formula 1 History. Making it somewhat odd,
since that’s arguably Newey’s and Williams Darkest Day. When Ayrton Senna died
driving His Williams FW16 Renault V-10 racecar.
As Y’all may enjoy this video upon the history of Imola, which you can watch below…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQvDQy7ADfU
Red bull announced that Adrian Newey would
indeed leave the team in the first Quarter of 2025 and spend His remainng time
at Milton Keynes finishing the RB17 Track Car.
Apparently this means that Newey, now 65 cannot
start His next F1 Engineering assignment until 2026? Although next year’s F1
chassis will be a bit of lame Ducks due to the impending, massive rules change
for the 2026 F1 season.
Meanwhile, Newey’s possible future employer disappointed by only adding splashes of two different blue hues to it’s Rosso corsa racecar at Miami. Although both drivers Overalls at least were blue…
