Why Ferrari are wearing blue for Miami Grand Prix

When you think of Ferrari zooming down a racetrack, the first colour you think of is red, obviously.

For decades the iconic race cars have been painted with their famous Rosso Corsa shade of red (‘racing red’).

However, at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are sporting bright blue overalls and team wear.

Including team principal Fred Vasseur, Ferrari are swapping out the iconic red for today’s (5 May) race as a bit of a one-off for a important celebration - from the pit crew to the vehicles themselves.

Yep, the entirety of the Italian constructor will be tearing up the track in two shades of blue.

Ferrari are in blue this weekend. (Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

One is Azzurro La Plata (a light shade of blue) featured heavily on Alberto Ascari’s overalls, Ferrari’s first ever F1 world champ back in 1952.

And the second is Azzurro Dino (a darker shade) which was worn by the likes of Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni.

Ferrari have explained that these shades of blue will be replacing the reds in Miami as this weekend marks the 70^th anniversary of its presence in North America.

The iconic red cars have been synonymous with Rosso Corsa since the 1920s and they were changed to blue and white for the final two races of the 1964 season, reflecting the colours of the United States’ flag.

Ferrari explained this weekend’s change from red to blue in a statement.

Charles Leclerc in blue. (Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

“Ferrari is looking forward to a memorable weekend in Miami, hosting several activities linked to the marque's tradition and passion for innovation in this its seventieth year on the North American market," the team said on 1 May.

"The Scuderia will be one of the stars of the show over the Floridian weekend and the cars will sport a special livery celebrating two colours from its past, Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino. These shades of blue were part of daily life in Maranello for many years and are now coming back into play after an absence of around fifty years. The Miami weekend will also provide an amazing backdrop for HP's debut as the team’s new title partner."

The Miami Grand Prix starts at 9pm BST at the Miami International Autodrome around the Hard Rock Stadium.

Brits can watch the iconic race broadcasted live on Sky Sports F1.