For Ducati's 'Genius of the Renaissance' project, designer Aldo Drudi and historian Marcello Simonetta reinterpret Ducati liveries and recast riders Pecco Bagnaia and Marc M&aacute;rquez as modern-day knights.

For the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, Ducati developed a special project in collaboration with designer Aldo Drudi and historian Marcello Simonetta, who tells the story to L&rsquo;OFFICIEL. The brand dressed its riders, Pecco Bagnaia and Marc M&aacute;rquez, like contemporary knights, and transformed the liveries of their Desmosedici GP bikes into modern steeds. Even their racing numbers, 63 and 93, become hot-iron marks on the metal of their new armor. It is a project that reflects Ducati&rsquo;s passion for design, beauty, and the desire to spark strong emotion.

L&rsquo;Officiel: How did the Ducati project begin?
Marcello Simonetta: The &ldquo;Genius of the Renaissance&rdquo; project signed by Ducati came from a shared idea with designer Aldo Drudi, who contacted me. We immediately found common ground, he as a graphic designer and I as a historian, to give shape to the concept, which took form thanks to the valuable contribution of the Ducati Design Center.
Tell me about the process of &ldquo;dressing&rdquo; the riders Pecco Bagnaia and Marc M&aacute;rquez like modern knights, and treating the liveries of their Desmosedici GP bikes as contemporary steeds.
To give the riders a modern armor, we looked to the great minds of the Italian Renaissance. Visually, one of Leonardo&rsquo;s drawings, the so-called &ldquo;Old Condottiero,&rdquo; inspired Aldo. He reworked it dynamically, simplifying the profile and tilting it forward, as happens with a motorized knight.
What are the most important details and historical or cultural references?
We decided to use Machiavelli&rsquo;s two preferred &ldquo;beasts,&rdquo; the ones he recommends in The Prince: imitate the lion for its strength, and the fox for its cunning. It is the combination of these two qualities that allows a leader to triumph over enemies. That is why the profiles of the two animals appear on the two sides of the bikes.
The Italian Renaissance remains incredibly contemporary.
Leonardo&rsquo;s art is universally recognized as one of the highest points of human creativity. As for Machiavelli, his image is &ldquo;controversial,&rdquo; but no one doubts the intelligence of his analysis of power. In this sense, the contemporary relevance of their work is undeniable.
The city of Florence is also a protagonist of the project.
Florence naturally lent itself as a backdrop. Not many remember this, but the Medici family came from Mugello, so there was an implicit link with the Grand Prix. In Michelozzo&rsquo;s courtyard at the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio, we were able to show the beauty of the architecture in relation to Ducati design. Inside the Stibbert Museum, a magical and atmospheric place, we staged the meeting between the riders and the knights and warriors of the Renaissance. Their modern armor has many points in common with the ancient ones.

Ducati Turns Its Riders Into Renaissance Knights for a Special Italian GP Project

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