Ferrari has unveiled a special X-ray-inspired livery for the 2026 United States Grand Prix at Austin, transforming the SF-26 cars driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton into a visual celebration of Formula 1 engineering. Developed in collaboration with HP, the distinctive design features technical drawings, conceptual sketches and engineering references that reveal the creative process behind the development of a Ferrari Formula 1 car.
Unlike special liveries designed to commemorate anniversaries or celebrate sporting achievements in the United States, Ferrari’s latest creation focuses on something more fundamental: the journey from the first design concept to a fully developed Formula 1 single-seater. The new appearance will be displayed during the 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, giving fans an unusual insight into the work normally hidden beneath the bodywork.
Ferrari’s special Austin livery reveals the design behind the SF-26
The concept behind the special Ferrari livery is relatively simple: every Formula 1 car begins as an idea on a blank sheet of paper, even if that sheet has now largely become digital. Long before a car reaches the wind tunnel or the racetrack, it takes shape through the creativity and technical expertise of designers and engineers.
To illustrate this process, the SF-26 cars of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will feature graphic elements inspired by preliminary technical drawings, conceptual sketches and engineering documentation from the earliest stages of Formula 1 car development. These details will appear across the engine cover and around the cockpit, turning the car’s exterior into a representation of the design process itself.
The objective is to bring elements that are normally hidden beneath the bodywork into view, creating something resembling an X-ray perspective of a Formula 1 car. The design establishes a visual connection between what engineers examine during development and what supporters see when the finished car takes to the circuit.
Three-dimensional models, design lines and graphic references normally associated with the daily work of Ferrari’s technical staff have therefore been transformed into integral elements of the livery. It is an approach that highlights the relationship between creative design and engineering, two disciplines that must work closely together throughout the development of a Formula 1 car.
Technical drawings of Ferrari’s power unit and gearbox feature on the bodywork
One of the most distinctive features can be found on the engine cover, where a technical illustration depicts the arrangement of the gearbox and engine, together with the associated hybrid components. Although the configuration represented is not the most recent version, it provides a visual reference to the complex engineering systems that form part of a modern Formula 1 car.
The technical graphics extend beyond the engine cover, continuing around the cockpit and into the other white sections of the livery. This creates a consistent visual theme across the car, allowing the drawings and engineering references to form part of the overall design rather than appearing as isolated decorative details.
The appearance also connects naturally with the wider development work behind Ferrari’s current challenger. While the special livery celebrates the creative and engineering process, the Maranello team is also preparing new SF-26 floor, sidepod and bodywork developments for Austin, highlighting the continuing evolution of the Formula 1 car beneath its distinctive exterior.
Ferrari explains the inspiration behind its X-ray-inspired Austin livery
Silvia Cavallaro, Ferrari’s Head of Color and Trim, explained that the special design is intended to celebrate the journey from an initial concept to the finished product, while recognising the creativity and engineering expertise involved in bringing a Formula 1 car to life.
“This livery celebrates the journey from an idea to reality. Every Ferrari is born from creativity, sketches and engineering expertise long before it reaches the track. Thanks to our collaboration with HP, we have been able to give this process a visual form and tell a story that highlights the craftsmanship and innovation behind every performance,” explained Silvia Cavallaro.
Beyond the creative concept, developing the new appearance also involved several technical challenges. The design needed to be adapted to the complicated shapes of the SF-26 while respecting the aerodynamic requirements of a modern Formula 1 car.
“The challenges involved in developing the special livery for Austin were numerous and concerned both the creative and technical aspects. On the one hand, we had to transform the concept developed together with the Ferrari Design Studio into a solution that could actually be applied, adapting it to the car’s complex geometries and aerodynamic requirements. On the other, we worked with HP to introduce innovative printing technologies that had never previously been used in this specific application.”
The result is a distinctive interpretation of Ferrari’s Formula 1 design philosophy, combining engineering illustrations with the finished aerodynamic surfaces of the SF-26. Rather than commemorating a particular race or achievement, the Austin livery places the people and processes responsible for creating a Formula 1 car at the centre of the presentation.
For Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the special design will give their cars a different appearance during the United States Grand Prix weekend. For Ferrari, it offers an opportunity to showcase the technical and creative work that goes into developing its single-seaters, a process explored further through the Scuderia’s Formula 1 technical analysis and SF-26 development coverage.
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