McLaren offers Alonso one-off special livery for Abu Dhabi

©McLaren

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The curtain will fall this weekend on Fernando Alonso's 17-year career in Grand Prix racing, and to mark the milestone McLaren have prepared a special gift for its driver.

For this weekend's Abu Dhabi GP, the Spaniard's McLaren MCL33 will feature his trademark Asturias blue, yellow and red helmet colors on the its rear bodywork, along with a specially commissioned FA insignia on the top and sides of the cockpit.

Alonso fully focused on 'emotional' last F1 weekend

"We’re incredibly pleased and proud to be able to race a special one-off livery for Fernando in Abu Dhabi this weekend," commented McLaren boss Zak Brown.

"We want his last grand prix to feel special in every way, and this was just one of the ways we could reflect that.

"We worked closely and collaboratively Fernando, and then with the FIA and Formula 1 to make the change for this one race, and they were all hugely supportive of the move," added Brown.

"Hopefully, this will give Fernando’s fans a little something extra to look forward to at what is bound to be an especially emotional weekend."

Looking back at the history of one-off liveries, this weekend's design will mark the first time a McLaren has featured a special paint job since Keke Rosberg raced a yellow-branded Mp4/2C at the 1986 Portuguese GP.

©McLaren

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.