After a glitzy event at the London O2 Arena on 18 February 2025, fans, teams, and drivers will be getting ready for the cars to hit the track in Bahrain testing and the inevitable round-one race weekend down under in Australia.
What to know
- Formula 1 officially kicked off its 75th anniversary season with F1 75 Live at London’s The O2.
- 8 out of the 10 teams changed their driver lineup for the 2025 season; the event would be an opportunity to see the complete grid together ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
- Musical performances from Take That, country music wonder Kane Brown, composer Brian Tyler’s Are We Dreaming, and award-winning singer-songwriter mgk took to the stage.
As die-hard fans sceptical of the event, F1 75 Live was an entertaining experience. With Jack Whitehall fronting the show, his performance and roasting of the teams and drivers, particularly the FIA, went down well with the live audience and across streaming services and live TV.
All 10 Formula 1 teams launched their 2025 liveries in a historic launch event at The O2 in London. The biggest draw was, no doubt, Lewis Hamilton making his first official public appearance as the newest Ferrari driver after his sensational announcement 12 months earlier.
The event also welcomed the 2025 F1 Season rookie drivers to the grid. After Liam Lawson‘s 11 Grand Prix races, it was hard to class him as a rookie, but without an entire season under his belt, Lawson was promoted from Racing Bulls to the parent Red Bul Racing team in mid-December following the departure of Sergio Perez, it was soon announced on 20 December that Isack Hadjar would fill the vacant seat at Racing Bulls alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Adding Hadjar’s name to the grid would bring the number of rookies in 2025 to five, alongside Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Oliver Bearman (Haas), and Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes).
The 2025 season promises to be one of the most tightly fought in decades as teams converged in 2024, having gotten a handle on the ground-effect era, and with 2025 the final year of the 2022 rule changes before the new far-reaching engine and aero directive kicks in for 2026.
McLaren – MCL39
The defending Constructors’ Champions unveiled their 2025 livery for the MCL39, which Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, arguably one of the strongest pairings for the season, will race in as they aim to retain their teams’ title and fight for the coveted Drivers’ Championship as well.
The design maintained McLaren’s signature papaya colour scheme, accented with anthracite and a touch of teal—a nod to the team’s tradition of evolving its livery ever so slightly after celebrating championship success.
Ferrari – SF-25
This was perhaps the only livery reveal where the crowd—and millions watching from home—were more eager to see a driver in his race suit than the car itself. After all, the colour was never in question—it was always going to be Ferrari red.
The anticipation was heightened by a stunning projection showcasing Ferrari’s iconic cars through the decades, paying tribute to founder Enzo Ferrari. Then, at last, Lewis Hamilton stepped onto the stage alongside teammate Charles Leclerc and team principal Frédéric Vasseur.
Reflecting on the moment, Hamilton said: “The word that I am thinking of is invigorated because I feel so full of life and so full of energy because everything is new. Just focused on what’s up ahead. I’m so proud to be part of the team, so new and exciting for me.”
Red Bull – RB21
Red Bull delivered one of the most creative spectacles of the night, captivating fans with a dynamic truck that engaged with the crowd en route to the event.
Team principal Christian Horner took the stage to introduce Max Verstappen, who arrived fresh off securing his fourth consecutive drivers’ title, alongside his new teammate, Liam Lawson.
As expected, the livery remained true to Red Bull’s signature colours, with the familiar blend of blue, red, and yellow continuing to define their identity on the grid.
Mercedes – W16
Mercedes maintained its classic black and silver livery on the W16 and put its own spin on the reveal, bringing a pit crew on stage to simulate a high-energy pit stop. In a comic moment, the front left tyre looked hard to remove. Mercedes undoubtedly hoped the actual pit crew would be smoother throughout the season.
Team principal Toto Wolff praised the spectacle, taking the stage alongside newly appointed lead driver George Russell and Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, marking the dawn of a new era for the Silver Arrows.
Aston Martin – AMR25
Aston Martin put on a full-scale production, kicking off their reveal with a (no surprise) James Bond-inspired skit starring their drivers. This was followed by a special performance from star musician Tems, who serenaded the car onto the stage.
Standing alongside teammate Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso confidently told the crowd they had just witnessed the most beautiful car of the evening—a statement delivered with the flair and conviction he often demonstrates.
Alpine – A525
In a different approach to Aston Martin, Alpine opted for a more understated entrance, arriving on stage to the beats of an electronic DJ set.
Pierre Gasly was joined by his new rookie teammate, Jack Doohan, as they unveiled a refined take on the team’s signature pink and blue livery, influenced by their title sponsor BWT, featuring subtle updates for the 2025 season.
Haas – VF-25
The American-owned Haas brought some star power to their reveal, enlisting U.S. country singer Kane Brown to help unveil the VF-25.
In another all-new line-up for a team in 2025, British rookie Oliver Bearman took the stage alongside his new teammate, Esteban Ocon, as the team’s fresh driver lineup presented a familiar black-and-white livery for the 2025 season.
Racing Bulls – VCARB 02
The newly rebranded Racing Bulls made a bold statement at The O2, delivering both a fresh reveal and a striking new look.
Comedian and social media star Munya Chawawa set the tone with a signature skit before joining Yuki Tsunoda and rookie Isack Hadjar on stage for the big moment.
But the real showstopper was yet to come—a sleek, all-white livery for the VCARB 02, a stunning nod to the Red Bull brand that instantly set the team apart.
Williams Racing – FW47
Williams delivered a powerful and emotive unveiling of the FW47, opening with the voice of the late Sir Frank Williams and building to a fan-driven crescendo. The moment culminated with team principal James Vowles joining drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon on stage alongside the car.
The new livery reflects the team’s new title sponsor, Atlassian, featuring a graduated blue, from Williams’ classic navy at the front to Atlassian’s signature blue on the engine cover. Subtle white and blue accents pay tribute to the team’s historic past while ushering in a fresh era.
Sauber – C45
Sauber set the tone for the evening with a dramatic unveiling of the C45, showcasing a bold green and black livery that carries over from the previous season.
Their refreshed driver lineup features the seasoned Nico Hulkenberg alongside rookie and reigning F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto. Both drivers took the stage alongside chief operating and technical officer Mattia Binotto, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the team, the final year as Sauber, before becoming the works Audi team in 2026.
What is the best 2025 F1 Car Livery?
Well, that’s open to personal choice. But, considering almost every F1 team’s livery for their 2025 car is a simple evolution of 2024, we’d have to say that Racing Bulls – VCARB 02 is the best 2025 F1 car livery. It’s not unlike Red Bull Racing’s special livery for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix we witnessed on the RB16B. Racing Bulls 2025 livery is no doubt a head-turner.
Hamilton’s arrival in Scuderia red may have overshadowed Ferrari’s SF-25 2025 F1 car livery, but it left some debating the wide white area reserved for the title sponsor, HP, across the engine cover bodywork. For the purists, it was maybe a step too far.
While Red Bull Racing is known for bringing flair to the grid with its energy station, which graces the paddocks through the calendar and side events the brand puts on, the new RB21 is yet another disappointment on the livery front. Luckily, their sister team won that sibling rivalry.
Looking ahead. Fans may see significant changes to the cars’ liveries in 2026 as the new rule set begins.
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