ART AND TECHNOLOGY COME TOGETHER IN ‘TIFONE’: THE TROPHY FOR THE FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2023

'Tifone' - or 'Typhon', in English - is the name of the trophy that will be awarded at the end of the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia 2023 to the top three drivers and the winning constructor. The trophy is a unique piece of sculpture created by Italian artist Ruth Beraha, inspired both by Greek mythology as well as the shape of the exhaust pipes on a Formula 1 car. Typhon is a mythological figure - the Giant son of Gaia - who is traditionally characterised by his extraordinary strength and the 100 snakes wrapped around his head, symbolising a shocking personification of nature.

The Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia 2023 trophy was commissioned by Pirelli and contemporary art space Pirelli HangarBicocca. It represents a fusion between an idea from the artist and a production process that unites cutting-edge technology and robotics such as 3D cutting and production, as well as the work of craftsmen specialised in welding, polishing, assembly, and gilding. The end result is reminiscent of the art from the finest goldsmiths.

Ruth Beraha said: «When I began to study Formula 1, I immediately realised that technology formed a fundamental part of the sport. I wanted to pay homage to that, and so I found within the car a visual element I could use as a starting point. I picked out the exhaust pipes, which had an extremely organic form. From those pipes, I was able to imagine the snakes. The trophy is like a creature tamed in the moment that the race winner holds it, but still threatening and always able to turn everything on its head».

This is the third year in which Pirelli and Pirelli HangarBicocca have chosen a modern Italian artist to create the trophy for a Grand Prix held in Italy of which Pirelli is title sponsor, reinforcing the tangible links between modern creativity and the perennial innovation in Formula 1.

In 2021, the commission was awarded to Alice Ronchi for the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna, while in 2022 Patrick Tuttofuoco created the trophy for the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia.

'Tifone' will be revealed during the 'Pirelli Tyre Talks': a media event held in the Pirelli Hot Laps garage (box 7-8) during the first free practice session for the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia 2023, from 13:30 to 14:30 CET on Friday 1 September. Ruth Beraha will be present at the event along with Enrico Gualtieri: Scuderia Ferrari's Power Unit area director.

FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2023 trophy designed by Ruth Beraha: Tifone, 2023. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Driver. Commissioned by Pirelli in collaboration with Pirelli HangarBicocca. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Simone Fico.