Those three drivers, along with the representative of the winning team, will also hold aloft a very special trophy, which goes by the name of “Chimera.” This name was given it by Nico Vascellari, the Italian artist responsible for the fifth edition of the project set up by Pirelli and Pirelli HangarBicocca. In fact, since 2021, an Italian artist has been entrusted with the creation of a trophy for the Italian race of which Pirelli is the Title Sponsor, incorporating the contemporary artistic expression from traditional art venues to the circuits of the world of Formula 1. The first commission in 2021 was handed to Alice Ronchi, followed in 2022 by Patrick Tuttofuoco, in 2023 by Ruth Beraha and in 2024 by Andrea Sala.
The theme of mythology and speed, already visited with “Tifone” in 2022, is continued this year with “Chimera.” The enigmatic sculpture created by Vascellari represents the movement of the three fastest creatures in the air, in water and on land, the peregrine falcon, the sail fish and the cheetah respectively. Their individual aerodynamics, linked to the wings and talons in the case of the bird, the tail for the cat and the fin for the fish, come together to create a single fantastical creature, evoking evolution, metamorphosis and change. The trophies are made from aluminium, a lightweight material also used in the manufacture of Formula 1 cars, employing a process that starts from a two-dimensional drawing, which is then transformed through organic modelling and 3D resin printing, and culminates in investment casting, one of the oldest sculpting techniques. This unites artisanal craftsmanship with highly innovative methods.
“The reference to the animal world in this trophy stems from mankind’s natural fascination with it, an instinctive feeling that goes beyond and expands our limits of speed, flight and endurance,” explains Vascellari. “Animals are an inexhaustible source of inspiration. When I designed the trophy, I thought about the moment the driver lifts it high above his head: a symbolic gesture to elevate the animal world and nature above us, in an attempt to restore balance. It is also a celebration of nature’s ability to be a source of inspiration.”
“Chimera” will be unveiled at Monza during the Pirelli Tyres Talk session, for media only, in the Pirelli Hot Laps garage (box 7) on Friday 5 September, immediately after the first Formula 1 free practice session. On hand, apart from the artist will be Aldo Costa, Chief Technical Officer of Dallara Automobili and Mario Isola, Pirelli Director of Motorsport.
