Ferrari is set to honour Michael Schumacher with a special tribute livery on its SF-26 cars at the team's home Italian Grand Prix at Monza, marking two historic milestones in the German champion's legendary career with the Scuderia.
The Maranello team has teased the tribute through a series of social media posts, revealing that the cars of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will feature a unique livery combining red and black accents with gold wheels, drawing direct inspiration from the Ferrari F310 that Schumacher drove to his maiden victory with the team in 1996.
The timing is deeply symbolic. This year's Italian Grand Prix, the 97th edition of the race at the Temple of Speed, falls exactly 30 years after Schumacher's first win for Ferrari in 1996 and 20 years since his final triumph at the same circuit in 2006 — a race that immediately preceded his tearful first retirement announcement.
Schumacher's bond with Ferrari and Monza is one of the most storied in Formula 1 history. The seven-time world champion won five consecutive titles with the Italian outfit from 2000 to 2004, claiming 72 of his 91 career race victories in red. At Monza specifically, he secured five victories, more than any other driver of his era at the circuit.
Ferrari confirmed that a series of additional events and initiatives dedicated to Schumacher are being prepared at Monza, with full details to be announced in the coming days. The tribute extends beyond the livery: the team intends to acknowledge the extraordinary role Schumacher earned through performances that have since become part of racing folklore.
The 57-year-old has not been seen in public since suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in Méribel on 29 December 2013. He is cared for by his wife Corinna and family, who will have the opportunity to witness the Formula 1 community's enduring attachment to one of the greatest figures in the sport's history.
For Hamilton and Leclerc, the Italian GP also carries sporting significance. Ferrari is expected to introduce an upgraded power unit this weekend, a move that could reignite the world championship battle. Hamilton, who secured his first Ferrari victory in Barcelona in June, currently sits level with George Russell behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
The sight of the two SF-26s bearing Schumacher's colours on the grid at Monza promises to be one of the most emotionally charged moments of the 2026 season, bringing together past and present in a fitting homage to the man who defined an era at Maranello.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1103014/1/ferrari-teases-michael-schumacher-tribute-livery-home-f1-race-monza
- https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-ferrari-surprise-sf-26-to-run-special-michael-schumacher-livery-at-monza/10849464/
