Formula 1: What new liveries will feature at Monaco GP 2023?

McLaren will run a special livery to pay tribute to its remarkable heritage.

It comes as no surprise that Monaco has always held a special place in the world of Formula 1, thanks in part to its challenging twists, turns, and a touch of glamour. Therefore, as teams gear up for the Monaco GP 2023, it has become a tradition to showcase their achievements through special liveries and designs. Staying true to this trend, McLaren will run a special livery to pay tribute to its remarkable heritage and celebrate its victories in three of motorsport’s most prestigious events, collectively known as the Triple Crown: the Monaco GP, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The motorsport giants will feature the special livery during both the Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix. While only one driver, Graham Hill, has achieved the Triple Crown as an individual, McLaren holds the honour as a team as they accomplished this feat with Johnny Rutherford at 1974 Indy 500, Alain Prost at Monaco in 1984, and finally with JJ Lehto, Masanori Sekiya, and Yannick Dalmas at their Le Mans debut in 1995.

“Having achieved the greatest accomplishment in motorsport by completing the Triple Crown, we are proud to celebrate the rich history of McLaren Racing with a special livery at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

What does the new livery symbolise?

In classic fashion, the new livery incorporates elements from each of these historic races. The front section showcases the black livery reminiscent of the Le Mans-winning F1 GTR McLaren. The centre section honours Prost’s victorious Monaco GP race, while the rear styling resembles McLaren’s iconic ‘Marlboro’ colour scheme from the past.

However, in compliance with current tobacco advertisement regulations, the MCL60 rear wings will be painted in vibrant papaya orange. This colour not only symbolizes McLaren’s contemporary livery but also represents the base colour used on Rutherford’s Indycar, bridging the team’s history across different racing disciplines.

“It’s a privilege to be involved in McLaren Racing’s 60th-anniversary celebrations, and to combine three iconic race-winning McLaren liveries into one for the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix is going to be a special moment for the whole team,” said Norris.

Furthermore, McLaren is also producing a series of five films that will recount the stories behind their Triple Crown victories and the evolution of the organization since its establishment in 1963.

Williams will also bring something special

In recent years, the historic F1 sponsor, Gulf, has developed a strong connection with Monaco GP, especially during their sponsorship of McLaren. However, this year, Gulf has switched teams, moving from McLaren to Williams and has also teased an announcement scheduled for this Friday at 12 pm BST (1 pm Monaco time), just 30 minutes before the start of FP1.

Although the specific details of the announcement remain unclear, reports suggest that drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant could potentially head out on the track sporting new colours and livery.

“I am incredibly excited about this partnership between Williams Racing and Gulf, a renowned and trusted global brand, who have put their trust in us as a long-term partner,” said Matthew Savage, Chairman of Williams.