Ferrari red has stood as a symbol of speed, Italian craftsmanship, and pride for over 75 years. For the company, it has always been red since Enzo Ferrari started Scuderia Ferrari in the 1930s, where the traditional Rosso Corsa (racing red) served as a distinguishing trademark and was well known on Formula 1 circuits and highways. But now, after 2025, the brand has plans to entering into a new era with a new color.
A new shade is born
Ferrari now plans to use a deeper hue Republic red, which still maintains the identity of the brand while stating it will be, ‘darker but not gone.’ Ferrari has plans to entering into a new affectionate page, more modern, honoring the past whilst charging into the future.
It’s important to make it clear though: Ferrari is not simply abandoning the red altogether. Instead, they’re retiring the brighter “Rosso Corsa” and introducing a darker tone resonant of the tones Rosso Dino and Rosso Fiorano, colors that bring back the Ferraris of the 1960s and ’70s.
This is not only about appearance. The darker variant is partnered with a matte finish, which is sleek and serves a purpose. In addition to being stylish, matte paint helps reduce light reflection. Additionally, masking paint can lower drag in racing situations, which would help improve performance during races.
The performance reason behind the change
This change is in line with a more recent trend in modern F1 where looks and aerodynamic efficiency merge together. Red Bull and Mercedes are not the only ones who have adapted to the trend, as other teams have begun using matte finishes to reduce weight and wind resistance. Now Ferrari is following the trend too, but in their unique Italian fashion.
It’s impossible to talk about this shift in identity without considering that Hamilton is set to join Ferrari in 2025. The 7 time world champion is well known for his elite driving skills.
One of the key reasons Ferrari is shifting towards bringing Hamilton is to embrace a younger more advanced racing brand. The new darker red livery is a bold attitude shift. it makes the brand appear more aggressive and mature, which Ferrari is looking to achieve.
According to Ferrari sources, Hamilton was already shown early drafts of the new livery and thought the design was great, as he’s known to have been a fan of these changes.
A new colour for Ferrari: the public reacts
As we could probably have expected already, there was some level of disagreements among the Ferrari fans. While some of them were bothered by the disappearance of the vibrant red that is so deeply connected with Formula 1, others called it “a classy evolution,” of the brand.
On social media channels, some users commented on how the new color feels more appropriate under race conditions, taking into consideration the synthetic lighting and the increased velocities. The darker colors would enhance the looks of the car, making it appear more beautiful on television as well as in real life.
It’s important to know, however, that this alteration wasn’t made only focusing on Formula One. Ferrari is applying this darker tone on cars across different divisions of its business, such as in the 499P Le Mans Hypercar, used in the FIA Endurance Championship, and that will also feature the new colour.
Now, the colour is likely to appear in Ferrari’s limited editions cars or high-performance models. It is exciting to think about the SF90 successor draped in racing red or a Monza SP3 specially built to match the latest Formula 1 car.
Ferrari’s new darker red isn’t a rejection of its identity, but a refinement. It pays homage to the early days of Scuderia Ferrari while leaning into modernity with boldness and technical savvy.
