Ferrari Tease Lauda Tribute

Ferrari will mark the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first Formula 1 world championship with a special tribute at Monza, unveiling a blue-and-white team-kit.

On the Monday after the Dutch Grand Prix, the Scuderia teased both a commemorative team kit, modelled by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, and the retro livery in a video released on social media. The design harks back to the 1975 Ferrari 312T, one of the most iconic cars in F1 history.

That year, Lauda took pole at the Italian Grand Prix, and though teammate Clay Regazzoni claimed victory, Lauda’s third-place finish was enough to secure his maiden world title. He would go on to win two more championships in 1977 and 1984, the latter with McLaren.

Lauda’s legacy extended well beyond his racing career. After returning to Ferrari in an advisory role and a brief stint leading Jaguar, he became non-executive chairman at Mercedes. There, he played a pivotal role in bringing Hamilton to the team, helping to lay the foundations for their six consecutive constructors’ titles. Lauda remained in that role until his passing in 2019.

The Monza tribute will be especially poignant for Hamilton, who was close to Lauda during their years together at Mercedes. When Lauda died, Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel wore tribute helmets, and Hamilton dedicated his next victory to the Austrian legend.

For Ferrari, the timing of the homage is significant. The team arrives at its second home race of the season on the back of a bruising weekend in Zandvoort, where both Hamilton and Leclerc failed to finish. With the Tifosi set to pack the grandstands, Hamilton will be eager to bounce back, carrying Lauda’s memory in both livery and spirit.

From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.

New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge.