Ferrari will race with a special livery at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, as team principal Fred Vasseur warned of the challenges awaiting the Italian Formula 1 team at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).The Maranello-based outfit announced on Wednesday that the SF-26 cars driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will feature a one-off design developed with title sponsor HP, highlighting the engineering and creative processes behind the development of a Formula 1 car.
The announcement comes as Ferrari seek to maintain their recent improvement following two encouraging races in Asia, where the team collected valuable championship points and showed signs of greater competitiveness.
Vasseur said Ferrari had worked to consolidate those gains but acknowledged that Austin’s demanding combination of corners would provide a different examination of the SF-26.
Previewing the United States Grand Prix, Vasseur said: “After two encouraging weekends in Asia, in which we scored solid points, we now begin the American leg of the season in Austin. The Circuit of the Americas is one of the most challenging track on the calendar, combining very different types of corners.
“We have been working hard to build on the progress shown in recent races and our aim this weekend is to put together another solid performance across all areas of the team. We are looking forward to racing in front of the enthusiastic American fans and to getting the most out of the SF-26.”
Ferrari and HP turn engineering drawings into race livery
The special Austin design draws inspiration from the concept that every Ferrari begins with a line on paper, incorporating sketches, technical drawings and blueprint-inspired graphics normally concealed beneath the finished bodywork.
According to Ferrari, the project celebrates the designers, engineers and technicians responsible for turning initial concepts into competitive racing machinery. Elements usually restricted to notebooks, computer-aided design models and technical documents will become visible across the SF-26’s exterior.
The livery was developed through collaboration between Ferrari’s design and engineering departments in Maranello and specialists from HP, whose printing technology was used to reproduce the detailed graphics.
Ferrari said multiple rounds of testing and refinement were required to ensure the intricate patterns could be accurately applied to the complex surfaces of a modern Formula 1 car while meeting the technical demands of a Grand Prix weekend.
HP Latex printing technology was used to produce the blueprint-inspired graphics, extending the partnership’s previous work on special liveries and automotive applications.
The project also highlights the commercial relationship between Ferrari and HP, which became the team’s title partner in 2024, bringing together the Italian manufacturer’s motorsport heritage and the American technology company’s printing expertise.
Austin presents different demands for Ferrari
Beyond the promotional activities surrounding the special livery, Ferrari face a demanding sporting challenge as Formula 1 begins another three-race sequence in the Americas.
The 5.513-km Circuit of the Americas features a steep climb towards Turn 1, high-speed changes of direction through its opening sector and a mixture of slower corners that place contrasting demands on aerodynamic efficiency, mechanical grip and tyre management.
The circuit’s long back straight also makes straight-line performance important, requiring teams to balance downforce against drag when selecting their aerodynamic configurations.
For Ferrari, the priority will be translating their recent progress into consistent performance across a circuit whose characteristics differ substantially from those encountered during the Asian leg of the championship.
Leclerc and Hamilton arrive in Austin seeking to build on Ferrari’s recent results, with Vasseur emphasising execution across every department rather than setting a specific finishing target.
The United States Grand Prix represents another opportunity for Ferrari to assess the SF-26 against its rivals as the 2026 championship approaches its concluding rounds.
The special livery will be used on both cars throughout the Austin race weekend, giving Ferrari and HP a prominent showcase at one of Formula 1’s major American events.