McLaren's camouflage debut: A new era in F1 2025 launch season

Why F1 teams debut cars in camo for 2025 season

Formula 1’s 2025 launch season promises to be unlike any other. McLaren’s ‘launch’ event at Silverstone on Thursday set the tone, revealing a camouflaged 2025 car devoid of sponsors and designed to prevent rivals from gleaning too much information.

This unique approach marks a significant departure from conventional launches and is set to be mirrored by other teams.

Williams is set to unveil their interim livery with a Valentine's Day theme on Friday, while Haas intends to hit the track at Silverstone on Sunday with what is expected to be a near-final livery. Significantly, Haas will not make official images of their new car available to the public at this time.

A landmark anniversary event

The unprecedented secrecy and novel approaches by the teams are all leading up to a historic event: the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. A landmark celebration at London’s O2 Arena will feature all 10 teams, their drivers, and team bosses. For the first time, all 10 liveries will be unveiled sequentially in a live televised event, offering fans an exclusive look.

This revolutionary format promises to energize the way Formula 1 launches have historically unfolded.

The evolution of F1 launches

Traditionally, F1 launches were scattered, with each team free to choose when and how to reveal their new cars. These events varied widely in terms of scale and spectacle, with little coordination across the paddock. Liberty Media, upon taking over the sport in 2018, identified an opportunity to better synchronize these events to captivate global audiences. The slightly disjointed preseason buildup, marked by a mix of low-key and grandiose unveilings, felt underutilized.

Liberty has since introduced televised preseason tests and other promotional activities to build anticipation ahead of race weekends. A notable step was in 2022 when F1 held a grid photo of all team cars and drivers before the first day of testing, though the images were somewhat marred by aerodynamic testing equipment.

The 75th anniversary celebration

For the 75th anniversary, F1 is offering each team equal time to present. Each team will have seven minutes to showcase their car and drivers, with obligatory on-stage interviews. Presentations will follow the reverse order of the 2024 World Constructors' Championship standings, allowing smaller teams like Haas to generate more attention before the larger teams take the stage.

This setup has been welcomed, with upper-echelon teams acknowledging the benefits of equal exposure. Haas, for instance, often launches their cars in a low-key manner but will significantly benefit from the amplified visibility at the O2 event.

A testing ground for future events?

The success of the London event could influence the structure of future preseason activities. Officially, this format is a one-off for the 75th anniversary, but its reception may pave the way for an annual tradition. Liberty Media's efforts at fan engagement have been widely praised, such as the popular Netflix series "Drive to Survive," suggesting this new launch format could potentially become a staple.

Mixed reactions from drivers

While the event is set to be a hit with fans, driver opinions remain varied. Max Verstappen, the reigning World Champion, quipped last year that he hoped to be "sick" to avoid the glitzy season opener, indicating a preference for minimizing non-racing commitments.

Continuation of team-specific launches

Post-anniversary event, teams will return to traditional launch methods. Ferrari plans to debut their new car in Italy, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc driving it around the Fiorano test track. These “filming days” are crucial for teams to perform operational and system checks, providing invaluable data without sacrificing limited preseason testing time.

In an era where every second on the track counts, teams are making sure no stone is unturned as they gear up for the new season. The unique and innovative 2025 F1 launch season is poised to set a new benchmark for the sport.

Up Next