If I had to describe the vibes from Tuesday’s F1 75 Live - I’d say it was a cross between a pep rally and the Quarter Quell (which, for those who remember Catching Fire, was the 75th Hunger Games). The event overall was fun, lighthearted, and accessible. While an anniversary celebration might not apply to the next few years, aspects of it (liveries, highlight reels, Jack Whitehall roasting everyone, all twenty drivers, and team principals, etc.) ought to be something that continues. It certainly did the trick to launch the season - all the F1 aficionados (including yours truly) have been meditating on it for a few days.
Though I enjoyed seeing all ten liveries at once, I must admit that my favorite part of the night was the launch reveals. While some teams kept things relatively tame (and, dare I say… corporate), others leaned into the fanfare and cleverly used it to hone their branding and build hype. Needless to say, the theatre (and chronically online) kid in me was living for the latter.
This might be a good time to mention that we at Vintage & Coupe have shared our livery picks on Instagram. With that in mind, here are my thoughts on the respective team livery launches:
McLaren
Displaying the cars driven by notable F1 legends, including Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton, was not only a reminder of their enduring legacy as a team of champions; it’s an ode to history, victory, and glory. It’s a glimpse of things to hopefully come to fruition (pun intended) with the iconically papaya-clad livery. This simple launch sent a clear message: they’ve won the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships before, and this year, they’re aiming for the jugular to win both again.
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls
A quick history lesson - this is a team that’s gone by way too many names to keep track of. They were formerly known as Scuderia Toro Rosso (2006 to 2017), Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda (2018 to 2019), and Scuderia AlphaTauri (2020 to 2023) before landing on its current iteration. They tried making shortened abbreviations, RB and Racing Bulls, happen, but it didn’t stick. Thus, VCARB.
The street interview format, reminiscent of TikTok videos, was a great team reintroduction with humorous self-awareness. It brings up the much-needed upbeat and youthful energy often missing in Formula One without sounding cringey. Some teams might have tried to take themselves too seriously in its branding, but Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, while still admittedly a mouthful of a name, set itself apart with its nonchalant energy.
Ferrari
The rosso corsa lighting? That simple but powerful theme that reminds you of superheroes without being cheesy? The animations of old racing car designs? Yeah. Scuderia Ferrari is that team, and they need no outlandish introduction. They know who they are, and we know who they are. Ferrari doesn’t just belong to racing - they are racing. Having Lewis Hamilton up on that stage was the cherry on top.
On a side note, I’m unsure if F1 75 Live was intentionally planned to align with Enzo Ferrari’s birthday, but the timing was perfect.
Aston Martin
This was the best launch of the night. It reminded everyone of its history in motorsport while leaning into the James Bond energy associated with both the luxury car brand and the team - James Bond drove Aston Martins in the film series, and the internet has jokingly referred to Lawrence Stroll (team owner and Lance Stroll’s dad) as a Bond villain.
I think, ultimately, that’s what made this launch great - the embrace of the inherently posh, Slytherin energy that everyone loves about this team. I mean, two action-packed opening videos, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll walking into the O2 to the 007 theme in their suits and helmets, followed by a live orchestra-backed performance of Tems in full Bond Girl glory? It’s cinematic.
Whoever came up with the creative direction for these launches didn’t try to replicate what they think Formula One launches should do - they stayed true to themselves and leaned into aspects of the teams that fans appreciate. The other teams should definitely take notes.
Now that the liveries have finally been revealed, the countdown to the Australian Grand Prix officially begins. In the meantime, I’d like to pose a question - what was your favorite livery launch?
This year, Vintage & Coupe will be covering the 75th season of Formula One from March to December 2025. Stay tuned for upcoming content.
