If you were watching the Miami International Autodrome in early May 2024, you probably saw a lot of blue. Not just the fake water in the marina—which, let’s be honest, is still kinda hilarious—but on the Ferraris. People expected a full Smurf-mode car. Instead, we got splashes of history.
It was weird. It was polarizing. Honestly, it was peak Ferrari.
While most of the world was busy celebrating Lando Norris finally getting his first win (about time, right?), the Scuderia was busy navigating a weekend that felt like a fever dream of marketing, history, and "what-ifs." If you think the Ferrari Miami Grand Prix experience was just about a blue-tinged car finishing on the podium, you’re missing the actual drama that went down behind the scenes and on the Tarmac.
Why the Ferrari Miami Grand Prix Blue Livery Actually Happened
Let’s get the "Azzurro" thing out of the way. Ferrari didn't just pick blue because it looks good with the Miami skyline. There's real weight there.
Back in the day, specifically the 60s, Ferrari drivers like John Surtees and Lorenzo Bandini actually wore blue suits. In 1964, Enzo Ferrari was having a massive spat with the Italian racing authorities. To spite them, he had his cars run the final two races of the season in the blue and white colors of the North American Racing Team (NART).
So, for the 2024 Miami weekend, the SF-24 featured two specific shades:
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- Azzurro La Plata: A light, breezy blue that was the national racing color of Argentina and a favorite of legend Alberto Ascari.
- Azzurro Dino: A deeper, more punchy blue that the mechanics used to wear back in Maranello.
Fans were mostly annoyed that the whole car wasn't blue. We got blue wings and blue wheels instead. It felt a bit like a tease, but hey, that’s branding for you. Especially since this coincided with HP coming on board as a massive title sponsor. Blue logo, meet blue accents.
What Really Happened on Track
The race itself was a mess of strategy. Charles Leclerc started on the front row, right next to Max Verstappen. For a second, it looked like we might actually see a red (and blue) car take the lead. But then Sergio Perez happened.
At Turn 1, Perez basically turned his Red Bull into a bowling ball. He missed his braking point so badly he almost took out his own teammate. Carlos Sainz had to take evasive action, which basically ruined his momentum and dropped him back. It was one of those "racing incidents" that leaves a driver fuming in the cockpit for the next 50 laps.
The Safety Car That Changed Everything
You've gotta feel for the Ferrari strategists sometimes. They get a lot of heat, but in Miami, they just got unlucky.
- Leclerc's Strategy: Charles pitted on lap 19. He was trying to undercut Oscar Piastri. It worked, but it left him vulnerable when the race neutralized later.
- The Sargeant-Magnussen Crash: On lap 28, Logan Sargeant and Kevin Magnussen collided. This brought out the Safety Car.
- The Luck Factor: Lando Norris hadn't pitted yet. Because the Safety Car slowed everyone down, Lando got a "cheap" pit stop and came out in the lead.
If that crash happens two laps earlier or five laps later, we’re looking at a completely different podium. Leclerc ended up finishing P3, which is solid, but you could tell he felt the win was theoretically on the table if the timing had been different.
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Sainz, Piastri, and the Stewards
Carlos Sainz had a much more "eventful" afternoon. He spent a huge chunk of the race locked in a dogfight with Oscar Piastri. They were banging wheels, trading paint, and generally driving like they owed each other money.
Sainz eventually got past at Turn 17 on lap 40, but it wasn't clean. There was contact. Piastri ended up with a broken front wing and had to pit, which destroyed his race. Sainz crossed the line P4 but was later slapped with a 5-second penalty for the move. That dropped him to P5 in the official standings, promoting Sergio Perez.
It was a classic "hard racing" vs. "over the limit" debate that kept the F1 forums buzzing for a week.
The 2025 Shift: A Different Kind of Miami Drama
Looking ahead, the vibes at the Ferrari Miami Grand Prix are shifting. We’re moving into the Lewis Hamilton era.
Think about that for a second. The 2025 race will be the first time we see Hamilton in red (with HP blue accents, likely) on the streets of Miami. The celebrity factor is going to go through the roof. We already have Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and David Beckham haunting the paddock. Add Hamilton in a Ferrari to that mix? It’s going to be a circus.
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But there’s also tension. In 2024, Ferrari left Miami with 38 points. That’s a good haul. But they were still "best of the rest" behind a resurgent McLaren and a dominant (though slightly struggling) Red Bull. The pressure to actually win in the States is massive for Ferrari, especially given their 70-year history in the American market.
Misconceptions About Ferrari in Miami
People think Ferrari "failed" in Miami because they didn't win. That’s a bit of a reach.
Actually, the SF-24 was incredibly consistent. They were the only team that could really keep Verstappen in their sights before the Safety Car scrambled the eggs. The car was kind to its tires, which is usually where Ferrari falls apart.
Another misconception? That the blue livery was just a gimmick. While it was definitely a marketing play for the HP deal, it signaled a shift in how Ferrari handles its own "sacred" brand. They’re becoming more flexible, more Americanized, and arguably more commercial. Whether you love the blue wheels or hate them, they sold a ton of merchandise.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you’re planning to head to the next Miami GP to support the Scuderia, here’s the reality of how to do it right:
- Don't bother with the "Beach": The fake water at the Hard Rock Stadium is a photo op, nothing more. If you want to see the cars at their limit, get a seat at Turn 11. That’s where the technical mistakes happen.
- Watch the Sprint: Miami is a Sprint weekend. That means you get competitive racing on Friday and Saturday, not just Sunday. Ferrari usually performs better in the shorter format where tire degradation isn't as much of a factor.
- Merch Strategy: If they drop a special livery again, buy the gear on Thursday. By Friday afternoon, the "Azzurro" hats and shirts are usually sold out or marked up 300% on eBay.
- Track Position is King: As Fred Vasseur (the Team Principal) noted, it’s notoriously hard to overtake in Miami once the "DRS train" forms. If Ferrari doesn't qualify in the top three, their chances of a podium drop significantly, regardless of how fast the car is in clean air.
Ferrari’s relationship with the Miami Grand Prix is still evolving. It’s a mix of old-school Italian pride and new-school Florida flash. They haven't stood on the top step of the podium there yet, but the gap is closing. With the technical upgrades usually arriving around the start of the European season (right after Miami), the Florida race serves as the ultimate litmus test for whether their championship hopes are real or just a mid-season dream.
Keep an eye on the tire temperatures. In Miami, that’s usually where Ferrari’s race is won or lost.