Capelli warns against white Ferrari livery

Ivan Capelli, a former Ferrari driver, has questioned the Maranello marque’s apparent decision to add white to the livery of its 2016 car.

La Repubblica newspaper has published what are purported to be official drafts of the single seater’s colours that will be revealed publicly on Friday, depicting an all-white engine cover reminiscent of Niki Lauda’s 1975 Ferrari.

But Capelli, who drove for the team in 1992, says the white reminds him more of 1993, a winless season for the great Italian carmaker.

"When I heard that the white is coming back, at first I was a bit puzzled," Capelli, now an Italian-language commentator and leading official of the Italian grand prix, told Repubblica.

"In the team, at some point it was said that white does not bring good results to Ferrari."

Told, however, that red and white Ferraris were particularly successful in the mid 70s, Capelli answered: "I know, I know. But the legend (about white) was born in more recent years.

"In fact, after 1993, Maranello decided to remove the white and restore the traditional look. Since then, every season a bit more white was removed and things have gone better and better," he added.