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{{Short description|Shade of blue}}{{EngvarB|date=September 2016}}

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{{Better source needed>date=February 2024}}|isccname=Vivid blue}}Bleu de France (Blue of France) is a colour traditionally used to represent France. Blue has been used in the heraldry of the French monarchy since at least the 12th century, with the golden fleurs-de-lis of the kings always set on a blue (heraldic "azure") background. A brighter version, based on the blue of the French Tricolour, is used in modern times, particularly in a sporting context. French national teams in all sports will normally use blue as their main colour.Blue is France's national racing colour;BOOK, Baime, A. J.,weblink Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari and their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans, 2011-08-31, Transworld, 978-1-4464-9746-3, en, therefore, several French motorsport teams have used it, including Alpine, Amilcar, Ballot, Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Gordini, Ligier, Mathis, Matra, Panhard, Pescarolo Sport, Peugeot, Prost Grand Prix, Rondeau, Salmson, Talbot-Lago, and Voisin.BOOK, Venables, David,weblink French Racing Blue: Drivers, Cars and Triumphs of French Motor Racing, 2009, Ian Allan, 978-0-7110-3369-6, en, The two notable exceptions are Citroën and Renault: the former has used red and white, whereas the latter has used yellow and black. Between the {{F1|2002}} and {{F1|2006}} seasons Renault F1 cars wore a blue colour not as the national racing colour of France but due to the team's title sponsor the Japanese cigarette brand Mild Seven. Blue de France appeared on the Enstone team's car again for the 2021 season, when the team rebranded to Alpine F1 Team, continuing the Alpine marque's association with the colour across motorsport.Since a country is represented in the motorsport through a team and not through a constructor,WEB, 1970 Austrian Grand Prix Entry list,weblink WEB, 1970 United States Grand Prix Entry list,weblink WEB, 1971 Austrian Grand Prix Entry list,weblink French privateer teams entering cars built by constructors from another country before the {{F1|1968}} season painted cars in the bleu de France blue, e.g. the French Guy Ligier's privateer team entered cars painted in bleu de France blue in {{F1|1966}} and {{F1|1967}} seasons despite the fact that they were built by the British constructor Cooper.WEB,weblink Guy Ligier in Cooper-Maserati (1966 Dutch Grand Prix), Getty Images, "French blue" has also been in use by the Massachusetts State Police, in uniform and livery, since June 1933, to render troopers immediately recognizable to the public.NEWS, Police cruisers tighten up, May 19, 2002, The Boston Globe, Boston, 21, In June of 1933, the Massachusetts State Police changed from forest green uniforms like a forest ranger's to French blue shirts and electric blue pants...The French blue and electric blue transferred from uniform to sheetmetal. The colors allow troopers to be identified, even when inside their cars..., Since 1944 it has also been in use by Delaware State Police on their uniforms.BOOK, Uniforms of the U.S. State Police & Highway Patrols,weblink 28, Kidd, R Spencer, 23 November 2012, Lulu.com, 9781471777295, 929822564,

Race cars in Bleu de France

File:Bugatti Typ 35C Grand Prix Racer 1926.jpg|Bugatti Typ 35C Grand Prix Racer (1926)File:Delage D6.jpg|Delage D6File:Delahaye 135 MS, Bj. 1935-36 (1978-08), D. v. d. Lof.jpg|Delahaye 135 MS (1935)File:Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Prix 1949 blue v TCE.jpg|Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Prix (1949)File:CD Panhard LM64 (1964).jpg|CD Panhard LM64 (1964)File:Matra MS10 2008 Goodwood.jpg|Matra MS10 (1968)File:Alpine Renault.jpg|Alpine A110File:Rondeau M382.jpg|Rondeau M382File:Ligier JS11 2008 Goodwood.jpg|Ligier JS11-15 (1980)File:Alesi 2001.jpg|Prost AP04 F1 (2001)File:Pescarolo 16 Side.jpg|Pescarolo Sport 16 (2008)File:Peugeot 908 Nr1 Spa 2010.JPG|Peugeot 908 HDi FAPFile:Fernando Alonso, F1 British Grand Prix 2021.jpg|Alpine A521 (2021)

See also

• List of colors
• List of international auto racing colours

References

{{reflist}}{{Shades of blue|Azure}}