As one of the most talked-about footwear on social media last year, Speedcat sparked a new wave of thin-soled shoe trends with its unique design. The Racing Core culture gained momentum, especially during last year’s racing season, as Zhou Guanyu successfully completed his races. Recently, PUMA, in collaboration with Ferrari, once again placed #TrackFashion at the center of social media discussions. Through pre-event activities like a giant racing car pop-up, they kicked off this year’s F1 season.
This year, PUMA created a life-sized giant racing car installation as a pop-up store, showcasing racing suits designed for four partnered F1 teams on the “car wheels.” A historical wall also highlighted key milestones in PUMA’s racing history, notably the first professional racing shoe, Motorsport, crafted for German driver Stefan Bellof in 1983. Bellof’s remarkable lap time of 6 minutes 11.13 seconds on the 20.81 km Nürburgring track earned him a spot in the Formula 1 team in 1984, making him the first racer to wear PUMA. This marked the beginning of the brand’s presence in F1 and laid the groundwork for the later phenomenon of Speedcat.
The Genesis of Speedcat: PUMA x Ferrari’s Winning Start
As a pivotal part of PUMA’s racing culture, the “PUMA SPEEDCAT OG” first emerged in 1999. Designed as a professional fire-resistant version for F1 drivers, it offered high-performance safety protection in collaboration with Italian racing company Sparco. F1, being one of the most commercially valuable sports globally, wields significant influence in fashion and beyond. The Speedcat quickly gained worldwide popularity and remains unrivaled to this day.
In 2002, PUMA launched the consumer version of Speedcat, with mid-top and low-top designs that were slightly scaled down, paving the way for future fashion trends. The early color schemes remain influential even today. The pop-up store also showcased two pairs of racing boots PUMA designed for Michael Schumacher in 2005 and 2006, symbolizing the beginning of PUMA’s partnership with Ferrari and Schumacher’s historic win at the 2006 F1 Chinese Grand Prix.
Since 2005, PUMA has been the official supplier for Ferrari, marking 20 years of collaboration this year. The Speedcat, worn by iconic Ferrari drivers like Schumacher and Leclerc, has become PUMA’s best-selling shoe. This year’s F1 Shanghai Grand Prix saw heightened excitement with Hamilton and Zhou Guanyu joining Ferrari, doubling the buzz compared to last year. On March 19, Leclerc and Zhou Guanyu appeared at the pop-up store for a live-streamed event celebrating the launch of the new PUMA x Ferrari F1 racing series, alongside actor Wei Zheming, engaging in various fun activities.
Racing Core Heats Up: F1 Shanghai Grand Prix 2025 Successfully Concludes
PUMA has performed well in product offerings this year, particularly with the PUMA x Ferrari 2025 racing series. The collection features the classic red and white color scheme, with sponsor logos prominently displayed on the racing suits. Ferrari team members will wear the series throughout the season, emphasizing high-performance racing aesthetics. The series was a hit among spectators at this year’s F1 Shanghai Grand Prix, especially after Zhou Guanyu moved from Sauber to become a reserve driver for Ferrari, shifting fans’ attention to the Ferrari team and boosting the series’ popularity.
Another notable collection is WORLD OF MOTOR, which showcases a more stylized design with excellent attention to detail. Standout features include the Velcro on the jacket collars, which add a distinctive touch, and the short T-shirts with metal zippers and shirt collars, offering a sleek silhouette. Whether worn as a set or individually, these pieces are perfect for creating a daily Racing Core style.
In footwear, Speedcat continues to evolve. This year, besides the classic red and white, new colorways like light coffee leather and gray-silver mesh have debuted, providing more style options.
Since their partnership began in 2005, PUMA and Ferrari have collaborated for 20 years. From creating the first Speedcat to becoming an official F1 partner and further advancing the Racing Core style, PUMA recently introduced a new brand ethos, “Go Wild,” and organized track running events to celebrate.
