Earlier this month, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% announced a global partnership with Ferrari, marking the start of a new racing chapter for both brands. The link-up will see Peroni Nastro Azzurro sponsor the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series, a single-marque motorsport championship created in 1993. Now, the event is a chance for Ferrari owners to go head-to-head.
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To celebrate the news, Ferrari dropped some limited edition Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% bottles, which were released in a quantity of 2,024 to mark the year of release. As part of the launch, Scuderia Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz starred in a promotional campaign, where they took part in a high-octane heist to steal the limited edition brew. We headed to the home of Ferrari to see what all the fuss was about, leaving the New York Fashion noise behind to live La Dolce Vita ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season. Keep reading below to see what went down, and what Charles Leclerc is doing to win the Championship.
Teachings in Tortellini with Nonna
Landing in Bologna, in Northern Italy, we immersed ourselves in the local culture, drinking it in and washing it down with a Peroni Nastro Azzurro chaser. Before heading to Ferrari, it was only right that we sample some of the delicious delicacies Bologna has to offer. Naturally, we linked up with an Italian Nonna to teach us all things pasta. The experience began with a stroll through the markets to source the freshest ingredients, sampling tangy tomatoes and premium Parmigiano as we went.
What followed was an all-hands-on-deck tortellini-making masterclass with varying success, and it’s safe to say pasta is not something to be taken for granted. While some got close to mastering the art of pasta-making, nobody came close to Nonna. Cracking eggs with the agile nonchalance of a ninja and whisking flour with wand-like motions, Nonna’s traditional Bolognese tortellini dish wasn’t something we’ll be forgetting anytime soon.
Aperitifs with Simone Caporale
All that pasta-making was thirsty work, and in true Italian style, we headed out for dinner a little earlier than usual, kicking things off with an aperitif to get our appetites firing on all cylinders. But, instead of just drinking them, we made them too, with the help of master bartender Simone Caporale, Peroni Nastro Azzurro’s global ambassador.
Drinkers were faced with a tough decision: the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Spritzettino, a bright and refreshing spritz described by Caporale as “the lively one. Always up for a good time,” or the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Negroni, which brought the best of a cold summer beer and a Negroni together. Both were excellent and went down an absolute treat.
Formula 1 and fashion with Charles Leclerc
On day two, we made the trip to Maranello, the home of Ferrari, leaving behind the bustle of Bologna and hitting the open road. It’s a peaceful spot, nestled in an unassuming part of the northern Italian countryside, where every now and then, its tranquillity is shattered by the tearing engine of a Ferrari opening up on its winding roads. On our approach, we weaved through the sprawling factories, testing facilities and stores that make up Ferrari’s Maranello metropolis, embedding ourselves in the full-throttle world of Ferrari.
Upon arrival, we first indulged in a Ferrari-themed feast before we sat down with team member Charles Leclerc to talk about the upcoming season and fashion’s foray into Formula 1. When asked about the merging of style and motorsports, he shared his fondness for Ferrari’s ready-to-wear collection. This was reflected in his decision to wear a Navy Blue Jacquard hoodie from Ferrari. “I love fashion, and now, more and more, we see drivers being brave with the outfits they wear. I think [fashion] is a way of expressing yourself without speaking, and it’s something that I enjoy.”
Despite the sport’s wider cultural appeal, Silverstone remains one of his favourite courses because of the “hardcore racing fans” who attend. Keeping to the topic of Leclerc’s creative talents off the track, he was asked about his acting skills in the Peroni x Ferrari video. For the Monaco-born driver, the video was a “great way to announce the amazing partnership.”
While undoubtedly, these activities are an added perk of the job, with the new Formula 1 season starting on March 2, Leclerc is focused on one thing: “To win the championship,” which he concluded with, “this is the only target I have.”
Ferrari’s recent partnership with Peroni Nastro Azzurro for its 0.0% brew is a perfect blend of Italian excellence, where the action in your tastebuds is almost as exciting as on the track. With the two brands locked in for a long-term partnership, we can’t wait to see what they have in store. We’re rooting for Charles to make it through the Monaco Grand Prix hurdle and hammer it home this season.
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