Ferrari Reveals Updated 499P Livery for Title Defense
Photo: Ferrari
Ferrari has revealed an updated livery for its pair of factory 499P Hypercars at a launch event at the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena as it seeks to defend its double FIA World Endurance Championship title success.
The Italian manufacturer showcased a new gloss finish to its Rosso Scuderia color scheme, which is identical to its 2026 Formula 1 challenger.
The evolved livery, still inspired by the Ferrari 312P that represented the brand’s previous top-tier world sports car attack, also features a reversal in direction of the yellow arrows around the cockpit.
The cars also sport laurels near the front wheels that commemorate the 499P’s WEC titles last year.
Ferrari has retained the driver lineups that guided it to world championship sports car glory for the first time since 1972, with world drivers’ champions James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi continuing aboard the No. 51 machine.
The sister No. 50 Ferrari will again be piloted by Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen and Antonio Fuoco.
“The objective for 2026 is to defend the leadership we secured in 2025,” said Ferrari’s global head of endurance Antonello Coletta.
“That will not be straightforward, as our rivals are increasingly competitive and many of them are fielding updated cars, while we
have taken a different approach, believing that the 499P remains competitive enough to fight at the highest level.
“In 2026, we will approach the challenge with maximum focus, without allowing ourselves to be affected if things do not always go perfectly.
“Our drivers have a wealth of experience, so I am confident that none of them will feel the weight of starting the season as reigning world champions.”
Despite Ferrari electing not to use any Evo jokers to make major changes to the 499P this year, head of endurance race cars Ferdinando Cannizzo explained there is still a revised aerodynamic package following the car’s re-homologation over the winter after its mandatory appearance in the Windshear wind tunnel.
All LMH and LMDh-based cars were required to be re-homologated, although the majority of the cars took a joker for aero updates.
“Although the changes are limited in scope, they have a significant impact on the car’s behavior,” said Cannizzo.
“To bring aerodynamic performance back within the new performance window, we focused our development on specific areas of the 499P, primarily the underbody, to meet the regulation-defined drag and downforce targets.
“The new window required a recalibration of the aerodynamic mapping. As a result, we now need to rediscover the balance that has always defined the 499P.”
The revised car was given a shakedown at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track prior to the launch event.
Nielsen added the manufacturer is seeking to build upon the momentum from its success of 2025.
“One of our aims is also to improve on circuits such as Fuji and Sao Paulo, where we have struggled more than at other tracks, with experience playing a key role,” he said.
“We have been racing the 499P since 2023, but there is always something new to learn, both as a team and as drivers.”
Photo: Ferrari
Source: Sports Car 365