Ferrari SF90XX Stradale in Rosso F1 2004: A Collector’s Racing Tribute
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Time to read 9 min
Just a few days ago, I was writing about the SF90XX number 51 — a brutal, visionary spec that seemed to roar just by standing still. And then, as if by fate, another SF90XX arrives. Same model, same soul — yet a completely different language. This time, it’s number 15. The reverse of 51, almost like a reflection in the rear-view mirror. And with it, a tribute to a past glorified: one of the most glorious seasons in the history of Scuderia Ferrari.
Some configurations are just that — configurations. But a few go further. They sculpt a story, elevate a number, and become gestures of memory and passion.
The SF90XX Stradale belonging to Franck, known as @Stradale56, belongs to this rare category. It's not just a car in a garage — it’s a curated artifact, a symbol of devotion, and a declaration of belonging to Ferrari’s greatest era.
Racer & Red Lover
I call him the Red Lover because every Ferrari in his collection is red (except for the Purosangue in Nero Stellato, but that's an SUV). All red. The shades may change—from Rosso Corsa to Rosso Dino—but the identity remains.
I call him a Racer because his cars are certainly no Garage Queens. His Ferraris are used, pushed, and truly lived in. Take his 599 GTO: while many keep theirs under a cover in the garage, he racks up the miles. And he truly does—at events, rallies, and the Tour Auto. It's a car with a life, just as it should be, just how we love to see these Ferraris…
21 Years Later, a Tribute to a Golden Era
Only a collector with such sensibility and passion could give birth to a configuration capable of honouring the highest moments in Ferrari's recent history. Twenty-one years after that season, @Stradale56 pays homage to the Scuderia and to Michael Schumacher, celebrating the year he won his seventh world title and orchestrated one of the most iconic seasons in Formula 1.
The configuration of his SF90XX Stradale, brought to life through the Ferrari Atelier program, is a personal yet crystal-clear tribute to that era. In 2004, Schumacher won 15 out of 18 Grand Prix at the wheel of the F2004, carving out a dominance that was not merely numerical—but profoundly symbolic.
2004 Ferrari's State of Grace
2004 was not just another Formula 1 season. It was a display of absolute dominance, the crowning of a man, Michael Schumacher, and a machine, the F2004. Together, they reached a state of almost supernatural grace.
Michael wasn't merely a driver; he was the heartbeat of a flawless team — a charismatic leader who, alongside the strategic genius of Ross Brawn the vision of Jean Todt and the support of Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, had forged an era. His devotion was not just to speed, but to detail — to an obsessive pursuit of perfection.
The F2004 was the extension of his talent. A car so superior that during its first test at Fiorano, Jean Todt himself asked his engineers if the lap times were correct, if the car was even legal. A legend was born.
Ferrari Press
Ferrari Press
Ferrari Press
A Tribute Written in Rosso
The livery's dialogue begins with the color: Rosso F1 2004. This is not just a paint, but a pigment loaded with memory. It is the very same red that adorned the F2004, the single-seater with which Schumacher clinched his seventh title. It’s a choice that is a statement, deeply symbolic.
Rosso F1 2004 is an uncommon colour on road cars. It is part of neither the standard nor the historical range. Its application on a modern Ferrari like the SF90XX is only possible through the personalization programs: Atelier or Tailor Made.
This colour is inextricably linked to the zenith of the Scuderia's dominance. It immediately evokes images of Schumacher crossing the finish line, the strategic genius of Ross Brawn, and the leadership of Jean Todt. It is the colour of victory, of technical perfection, of the man-machine symbiosis.
Tailor Made Focus: Rosso F1 2004
Rosso F1 2004 is a solid, non-metallic color. Its strength lies precisely in the purity and intensity of the pigment—engineered to pierce through the screen, to shine under the spotlights, and to glow under the sun across circuits worldwide. Ferrari’s racing reds have often been formulated with broadcast and sponsor visibility in mind. This specific shade is no exception. Rosso F1 2004 is famously vibrant and saturated—sometimes described as fluorescent or “ Rosso Fluo .” A trait intensified by the Marlboro sponsorship, whose iconic red deeply influenced Ferrari’s livery in that era, making it all the more vivid, unmistakable, and media-effective.
But this red is more than bright—it’s historic. It belongs to Ferrari’s golden age of dominance. It instantly evokes Michael Schumacher slicing through the finish line, Ross Brawn’s flawless strategies, and Jean Todt’s visionary leadership. It is the red of crushing victories, technical perfection, and absolute driver-machine symbiosis.
Number 15
The other central element is the number 15, a direct tribute to the 15 victories out of 18 that Scuderia Ferrari achieved in the 2004 World Championship. The number remains, silent and powerful, sealing an homage that needs no words.
And with such a highly spec’d Ferrari, it almost goes without saying: the side shield is the airbrushed one.
And right there on the spec sheet, two phrases emerge that say so much on their own: Extra Range and Carbon Fiber. Two clues that are enough to grasp the extreme care behind every choice. But to truly understand what @Stradale56 has created, we must go deeper. So let's look closer—at the details, the choices, the contrasts.
The Livery in Bianco Cervino
The longitudinal livery is in Bianco Cervino, a shade also used for many aerodynamic details: the front splitter, the diffuser, and the central stripe. It sculpts the car's visual structure, accentuating its volumes and sense of direction. It's an element that amplifies the impact of the Rosso F1 2004 and decisively traces its borders.
Also on the livery, the Italian tricolore makes an appearance: a subtle vertical line in Green Verde Bandiera (Flag Green) on the passenger side and bodywork red (Rosso F1 2004), tone-on-tone, on the driver's side.
More Bianco Cervino can be found in other detailed like the bumper winglets and the mirror caps all feature the same shade, creating a visual coherence that is sharp, essential, and never forced.
Below, black reigns supreme: carbon fiber wheels and Glossy Black brake calipers define the car's lower section, leaving the narrative tension of the upper part to the red and white.
On the rear wing, one of the rarest and most coherent details: the SF90XX Stradale logo, rendered in Bianco Cervino and Rosso F1 2004, as if the final signature had to follow the exact same visual vocabulary as the rest of the car.
Tailor Made Focus: Bianco Cervino
Bianco Cervino is a solid, high-gloss white—bright, crisp, and modern. Often described as a “cool white,” it stands in sharp contrast to Ferrari’s more classic shades that lean toward cream or ivory.
Its defining trait is the total absence of warm undertones. There’s no yellow, no beige—only clarity. This gives Bianco Cervino a sharp, technical look, almost glacial in its precision.
The name itself refers to Monte Cervino —the Matterhorn—one of the most iconic and majestic peaks in the Alps. A symbol of purity, strength, and elevation. Just like the mountain’s eternal snow, this white speaks of resilience and clarity.
Its cold, modern character pairs beautifully with exposed carbon fiber and the angular design language of Maranello’s latest creations. The result is a bold, high-contrast visual that enhances every sculpted line of the bodywork.
Outside, It Speaks to the World. Inside, the Same Flame Burns.
Alcantara defines the entire cockpit with a stark contrast between Nero Alcantara and Rosso Alcantara FX: this is its competitive touch. The red envelops the racing seats with intensity, ignites the details, and answers the bodywork with an echo of pure passion. It is the red of the Red Lover. Not a callback: a signature.
Rosso FX is a special hue from the Ferrari Alcantara palette. It’s not just any red, but a deliberate choice: pure, saturated, electric. Its visual impact is designed to dialogue with the technical black and the carbon fiber surfaces, creating an environment of sporting tension and absolute control.
Extra Range, once again. It does not belong to the standard range and is available only through the Atelier or Tailor Made programs—a detail that speaks of conscious choices, authentic passion, and a deep connection to the brand's racing DNA. It is the red of track seats, of hypercars, of special editions. You don't just wear this red; you declare it.
Tailor Made Focus: Alcanta & Alcantara Rosso FX (codice 3694)
Alcantara is not leather. It’s a high-performance microfiber composite, entirely made in Italy, and engineered specifically for the demands of the automotive world. Unlike natural hides, it was developed to combine aesthetic richness with technical superiority.
Its advantages are:
Lightness – Considerably lighter than leather, reducing overall vehicle weight.
Grip – Its suede-like texture ensures exceptional hold, making it the preferred material for racing seats and steering wheels where driver stability is paramount.
Breathability & Endurance – Durable and breathable, Alcantara remains comfortable and consistent even under extreme use.
Rosso FX (Code 8594) is one of the most visually aggressive Alcantara shades available. A pure, saturated red—bold, intense, and almost electric. It’s a primary red, created to deliver maximum visual impact.
Its role is not subtle. Rosso FX is meant to create drama and depth, especially when paired with Nero 9441 or matte/gloss carbon fiber. The result is a cockpit with tension, contrast, and purpose.
In an era where every tailored Ferrari aspires to be unique, this SF90XX quietly rises above. Not for its excess, but for its meaning. Every choice—from the pigment to the number, from the fabric to the fiber—asserts a profound bond with Ferrari's legacy. A Ferrari designed to be remembered. And it is.
I can't imagine what it must have meant to configure it, step by step. I only know that telling its story has been thrilling. And a privilege. Thank you @stradale56, for letting me tell this story.
The car was configured with and delivered by Modena Sport in France.
Ferrari F1 2004: Anecdotes from a Season of Total Domination
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The Four-Stop Strategy – French GP
Perhaps Ross Brawn’s greatest masterpiece. To defeat Alonso’s Renault on a track where overtaking was nearly impossible, Brawn and Schumacher placed a bold bet: four pit stops. The result? Michael drove the entire race like a qualifying lap, with ultra-short stints and an inhuman pace. They won. The paddock stood in disbelief. -
The Technical Supremacy of the F2004
Its dominance didn’t happen by chance. The F2004 hid brilliant engineering choices: a titanium gearbox encased in a carbon “skin” for extreme packaging, “B-shaped” radiators to tighten the flanks, and trumpet-shaped exhausts blowing hot gases onto the rear wing to generate unseen levels of downforce. It was a car born in the wind tunnel, but perfected by a driver who could feel every mechanical whisper.
Let's not forget Scuderia Ferrari holds the record for the most titles won in Formula 1 — both Constructors’ and Drivers
Constructors’ World Championships
1961 • 1964 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1979 • 1982 • 1983 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2007 • 2008
Drivers’ World Championships
1952 Ascari • 1953 Ascari • 1956 Fangio • 1958 Hawthorn • 1961 Hill • 1964 Surtees • 1975 Lauda • 1977 Lauda • 1979 Scheckter • 2000–2004 Schumacher • 2007 Räikkönen
Ferrari holds the all-time Formula 1 record:
🏆 16 Constructors' Titles — 🏁 15 Drivers' Titles
More than any other team in the history of the sport.
The Author : Emanuela Petrelli
Emanuela Petrelli is an automotive curator and experience designer exploring mechanical memory through images and narrative. She is the founder of Still Motion, a curated archive of limited-edition prints and editorials that connect aesthetics, engineering, and culture. Her work interprets and preserves the soul of machines and the visual codes that made them icons.
