When F1 teams change their liveries

As a curtain raiser for each season of F1, the presentation of the cars used during the year has become a real event. The liveries then become one of the attractions for fans and enthusiasts. The appearance of the cars is an important detail in the design of single-seaters. A representative aspect of its stable and its history. Since 1968 and the arrival of sponsorship, aesthetics have become commercial and change the face of F1. 

McLaren, great specialist in original liveries 

During the 2021 season, the Woking team unveiled two special liveries. The McLaren x Gulf during the Monaco Grand Prix was a tribute to the collaboration with the lubricant supplier which gave birth to beautiful creations like the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail No. 41 present during the 24 hours of Le Mans 1997. A partnership born in 1968 and relaunched in 2020 by both parties.

Daniel Ricciardo in his McLaren Gulf for the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix ©Antonin Vincent / DPPI

During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren, in collaboration with Vuse, one of its sponsors, presented itself with another new livery this time less flashy than that seen on the streets of the Principality a few months earlier. As part of the “Driven by Change” campaign, the MCL35M passed into the hands of the Egyptian artist Rabab Tantawy who decorated the sidepods but also the hood with a mix of different colors while keeping the distinctive orange dress. of the English team.

Lando Norris in his McLaren Vuse during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

In collaboration with Marlboro between 1974 and 1996, McLaren's red and white livery has remained engraved in F1 history. But during the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix, both parties innovated with the MP4/2C of Keke Rosberg by replacing the red with a golden yellow to promote Marlboro Lights, the latest product put on the market by the cigarette manufacturer .

Special McLaren Marlboro Lights livery for the Portuguese Grand Prix in 1996 © DR

Red Bull goes to the cinema 

Like McLaren, Red Bull has also been livening up the livery game in recent years. One of the most notable was the RB1 decorated in Star Wars style at the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix to promote the release of the 6th installment of George Lucas' saga, “Revenge of the Sith”.

Red Bull presented its special Star Wars livery for the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix © Gilles Devant / DPPI

An operation repeated several times, notably in 2019 on the occasion of the 1007th Grand Prix in history. At Silverstone, Pierre Gasly et Max Verstappen then displayed the number “007” on different parts of their RB15 to pay homage to agent James Bond. This livery was part of the partnership with its title sponsor at the time Aston Martin because the fictional character usually drives cars from the Gaydon manufacturer.

Daniel Craig, James Bond actor in front of the livery with 007 attributes © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Red Bull also presented a camouflage livery during pre-season testing in Jérez on the RB11 in 2015. The pattern was also used during Shakedown in 2018 on the RB14. 

Camouflage livery used during the Jérez winter tests in 2015 © Photo DPPI / Frédéric Le Floc'h.

In Turkey last season, the team wanted to pay tribute to its engine manufacturer Honda whose collaboration started in 2019 was coming to an end. The RB16B of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez was then repainted white and displayed the message “ありがとう” meaning “Thank you” in Japanese.

The Red Bull livery pays homage to its engine manufacturer Honda © Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

Ferrari and its tribute liveries 

Rare but true fact, a Ferrari took the start of the United States Grand Prix as well as that of Mexico without its legendary red. Indeed, Enzo Ferrari wanted to show his dissatisfaction in his own way with the Italian motorsport federation which refused to approve one of its touring cars. Angry, El Commendatore therefore decided to wear the colors of NART (Ferrari importer in the United States) for the two American meetings. The 158 of the Prancing Horse was therefore blue, a color never seen again since. 

Blue livery used during the 1964 United States and Mexican Grands Prix ©Scuderia Ferrari

Also during the 2001 Italian Grand Prix, the Scuderia wanted to pay tribute to the September 11 attacks in New York. There F2001 only featured the drivers' number and a black nose leaving the rest of the red bodywork devoid of any sponsor.

Delivered September 11 from Scuderia Ferrari in 2001 © Gilles Levent / DPPI

Furthermore, for its 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix, Ferrari has decided to return to the past by changing the color of its famous red. On the Mugello circuit which hosted an F1 race for the first time in September 2020, the SF1000s of Charles Leclerc et Sebastian Vettel had taken over the burgundy red of the Ferrari 125 F1, the first car used by the Maranello manufacturer in the championship during the Monaco Grand Prix in 1950.

Charles Leclerc in the SF1000 in the colors of the Scuderia's first Grand Prix © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Mercedes also try 

Mercedes also paid tribute to its history. To celebrate the 125th anniversary in the world of motorsport (Paris-Rouen 1884), Brackley's W10s were repainted white at the front and the entire team wore period outfits during the 2019 German Grand Prix A livery which did not bring them luck since Lewis Hamilton only finished 9th while Valtteri Bottas retired on the 56th lap of the race after going off the track at the first turn.

Anniversary livery for 125 years of Mercedes in motorsport © DPPI

Jaguar and the Monaco Grand Prix

Before the team was bought by Red Bull at the start of the 2005 season, Jaguar often presented itself with different decorations for the Monaco Grand Prix. Usually white, the English team's distinctive feline on the engine hood was changed to pink on the R4 for the 2003 edition.

Jaguar's Pink Leaper for the 2003 Monaco Grand Prix ©Gilles Levent / DPPI

The same goes for the R5 “Ocean's Twelve”, the result of the collaboration with the American blockbuster, which featured a diamond worth $200 encrusted in the muzzle during the year. Legend has it that it was never found after Christian Klien's accident.

Jaguar and its Ocean's Twelve livery for the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix © Gilles Levent / DPPI

Other essential liveries 

Other teams such as Ligier or even Aston Martin more recently have also taken part in this game of changing decoration. 

In 1993, Ligier presented its JS39 designed by Hugo Pratt. There car sports a French blue and gives an impression of camouflage where its title sponsor Gitanes can be distinguished all along. 

1993 Japanese Grand Prix, Ligier and Gitanes livery by Hugo Pratt © Gilles Levent / DPPI

Returning to F1 after more than 60 years of absence, Aston Martin offered a “007” livery to its fans during the Italian Grand Prix last September. Like Red Bull in 2019, the British team grafted the logo of agent James Bond to promote the release of the film “No Time to Die”.

Presentation of the 007 Aston Martin livery at the 2021 Grand Prix © DPPI

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