TRIBUTES TO LAUDA'S LIVERIES

This year it's half a century since Niki Lauda won his first of two Formula 1 world titles with Ferrari, clinching the 1975 championship at Monza in the 312 T.

The victory marked Ferrari’s return to the top of Formula 1 after 11 seasons of unfulfilled potential and remains an iconic moment of hope etched in the minds of tifosi worldwide. Little wonder, then, that the same 312 T Formula 1 car continues to influence a host of Lauda-themed designs available through Ferrari Tailor Made – the exclusive design programme for customers wishing to personalize their Ferrari.

Here, we celebrate a selection of Niki Lauda-inspired Ferraris offered through the Tailor Made Scuderia collection, and explore the details paying tribute to the Austrian’s first title-winning season with the Scuderia…

Lauda celebrates victory at the French GP, helping secure the championship lead

The Iconic Lauda Livery

Even as the 312 T stormed to its five race wins in 1975, fans could easily pick it out thanks to its distinctive livery – most notably a paint scheme of Rosso for the body, and white for the engine air intake that protruded like a periscope directly behind Lauda’s race helmet.

Other signature details include black mirrors, the Italian tricolour, white accents on the lower body, and white pinstriping that visually delineated the top of the body from the cockpit.

The Tailor Made Lauda cars all reference this look, while offering a number of different twists – some directly translate the livery to the road with a red body, white roof and key details, while others cherry-pick choice elements to pay tribute. In all cases, 312 T details are carefully reinterpreted to complement the lines of each Ferrari production car.

SF90 Spider puts a fresh twist on the Lauda livery, complete with Italian tricolour running the length of its retractable hardtop

Gold Wheels For The Win

Gold wheels are another distinctive feature of Lauda’s 312 T Formula 1 car. The magnesium split-rim design measured 13 inches in diameter, with widths of 9.2 inches at the front, and a huge 16.2 inches at the rear. The centres were typically finished in gold, with polished silver ‘barrels’ to which slick tyres were mounted.

Lauda-inspired Tailor Made cars borrow from both these elements, some making a bold statement with gold, others taking inspiration from the silver. In some cases, the same shade of silver also substitutes for white accents on the bodywork.

Gold wheels were a 312 T signature – and add a unique touch to this Tailor Made Purosangue

Modern Interiors Meet Period Details

Occasionally used in Formula 1, peccary leather is a soft and grippy material used for driving gloves and sometimes steering wheels and race seats – the textured surface made it the ideal choice to help drivers stay in firm contact with key touch points.

In its natural, undyed tan colour, peccary also lends an authentic 1970s flavour to many of the Niki Lauda Tailor Made cars – though others reference the blue race harnesses and burgundy flecked fabric seat padding also seen in the 312 T.

Peccary tan leather, Blu Elettrico Alcantara and burgundy highlights all play on Lauda-era details

Whichever livery each Tailor Made client chooses, each pays tribute to the magic of Lauda’s 1975 season, and the beginning of a golden era for the Scuderia that endured for many seasons to come.