2026 marks a historic milestone for Maserati as the brand celebrates 100 years of its iconic Trident logo, alongside the centenary of its first racing success at the Targa Florio in 1926.
On April 25, 1926, Alfieri Maserati drove the legendary Maserati Tipo 26 to a class victory and eighth place overall, marking the beginning of Maserati’s racing legacy. The Trident symbol made its debut in that very competition, coming to represent the brand’s origins, ambition, and enduring commitment to performance both on the road and the track.
Celebrating “100 Years of the Trident,” Maserati is highlighting the word “RIDE” as part of its anniversary messaging—symbolising the blend of refined luxury and sporty driving dynamics that define every Maserati.
To commemorate the occasion, Maserati will host a series of global events throughout 2026, including motorsport showcases, concours d’elegance appearances, product unveilings, and cultural initiatives. These celebrations will be supported by a dedicated communication campaign showcasing the brand’s most iconic models and heritage.
Further underscoring the Trident’s cultural significance, Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy has issued a commemorative postage stamp marking the centenary—recognising Maserati’s role as a symbol of Italian excellence across more than 70 markets worldwide.
Santo Ficili, Maserati COO, commented: “The Trident embodies the most authentic soul of Maserati. Born on the racetrack in 1926, it carries with it the legacy of a company that learned to build cars in pursuit of tenths of a second. An invaluable heritage – made up of racing victories, iconic models and technical milestones – that the women and men of Maserati preserve and renew every day, in Modena and around the world. In 2026, we also celebrate 112 years since the company’s foundation, reaffirming our status as the longest-standing brand in the Motor Valley and one of the ambassadors of Made in Italy on the international stage. Few automotive brands can boast so many anniversaries of such significance. That is why we look to the future with the same solidity and strength with which we forged our past.”
A symbol forged by racing: 100 years of Maserati on the track
The Maserati logo was officially born in 1926, but began to take shape as early as 1925, when Mario Maserati – the only artist in the family and the only brother not directly involved in the automotive business – created the first drawing of the Trident, now preserved in the Maserati archives in Modena. Its inspiration came from the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, located just a few hundred meters from Maserati’s first workshop and a symbol deeply rooted in the city’s identity.
The Trident made its first official appearance that very year on the Tipo 26, the car with which Alfieri Maserati entered the Targa Florio, taking first place in the 1500 cc class. It was the first in a long series of successes, including two consecutive editions of the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940, four consecutive victories at the Targa Florio in 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1940, nine Formula 1 wins and the 1957 Formula 1 World Championship with Juan Manuel Fangio. In more recent years, Maserati returned to victory with the MC12, a car that, from 2005 to 2010, claimed six international FIA GT championships, the highest expression of competition for GT cars derived from production models. Since 2023, the Maserati GT2 has brought the House of the Trident back to competing and winning in closed-wheel championships, and today it is eligible to take part in more than 20 championships around the world. In short, the Trident was born on the track, steeped in the dust of rough roads and sporting ambition, and for decades it meant one thing above all: competition. The bond with motorsport has never been entirely broken, not even in the years when Maserati focused its energy on road-car production.
The evolution of the Maserati symbol
The first emblem, applied to the Tipo 26, was a rectangular badge featuring a dark Trident on a light background, a graphic solution that was nevertheless short-lived. As early as the early 1930s, the brand evolved towards the oval shape that would become iconic, adopting the red and blue colors of the city of Bologna and defining an identity destined to endure over time, with over forty years of substantial stability on both road cars and racing cars. In 1980, a version with a gold background was introduced and used across the entire production of the period, while in 1997 the logo was redesigned in terms of proportions and style, marking a new phase in the Brand’s relaunch.
The most recent evolution forms part of the so-called Maserati New Era, inaugurated by the MC20 in 2020, which introduced a substantial restyling of the logo, making the Trident more contemporary and elegant while preserving its historical identity. The intervention focused in particular on the proportions and design of the three points, with rounded side arrows to ensure greater visual continuity, a different relationship with the blue shield and a more dynamic overall composition. The oval was lightened both in its structure and in its chromatic treatment, with the removal of red in favour of a palette reduced to white and a deep blue – the so-called Blu Maserati – characterised by a lacquered effect.
Maserati Trident 100 Campaign
Maserati has launched a global campaign celebrating 100 years of its iconic Trident logo, highlighting the brand’s racing DNA and heritage. The campaign film brings together past and present, featuring classic models like the Maserati Tipo 26, Ghibli, and MC12 alongside modern performance cars such as the GranTurismo Trofeo, Grecale Trofeo, and MCXtrema.
The narrative begins at the Targa Florio pit lane, transitioning into a futuristic setting where historic and modern cars merge. As they race across a salt desert, their tracks form a giant Trident—symbolising continuity between Maserati’s legacy and future.
Created using 3D animation and AI, the film is enhanced by a custom soundtrack and the recreated voice of Maria Teresa De Filippis, the first woman to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The campaign carries the message “100 YEARS OF THE TRIDENT,” with emphasis on “RIDE,” reflecting Maserati’s signature driving experience.
Ahead of the campaign, Maserati released a 10-part immersive video series (April 16–26), each episode representing a decade of its history, narrated by key figures including Mario Maserati.
To mark the centenary, a commemorative stamp was also unveiled in Rome, inspired by the Fountain of Neptune. Designed by Centro Stile Maserati, it blends historic and modern elements, reinforcing the brand’s Italian identity and global legacy.
