A brighter version, based on the blue of the French Tricolour, is used in modern times, particularly in a sporting context.

Blue is France's national racing colour;[2] 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.

[3] The two notable exceptions are Citroën and Renault: the former has used red and white, whereas the latter has used yellow and black.

Since a country is represented in the motorsport through a team and not through a constructor,[4] French privateer teams entering cars built by constructors from another country before the 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 1966 and 1967 seasons despite the fact that they were built by the British constructor Cooper.

[5] "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.