McLaren goes retro for Monaco with one-off Gulf livery!

McLaren and sponsor Gulf Oil unveiled on Sunday a one-off special powder blue and papaya livery for next week's Monaco Grand Prix that will celebrate the two companies historic partnership.

McLaren and Gulf Oil first came together in the late 1960s and continued their partnership into the 1970s, with the pair enjoying success together in F1, Can-Am and IndyCar, achieving over 40 race wins.

The association was then renewed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the 1990s, with the famous McLaren F1 GTR running in Gulf colours throughout the decade.

At next week's fifth round of the 2021 F1 World Championship at Monaco, McLaren's pair of Mercedes-powered cars will revive Gulf's classic design, while drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo will carry the iconic colors on their race suits and helmet.

Furthermore, Norris and Ricciardo's helmets featuring bespoke retor designs specially created for the event will raffled for the team’s mental health charity partner, Mind.

"This will be McLaren’s homage to Gulf’s celebrated race car design," said McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown. "We’re enormous fans of brave and bold design, and the striking Gulf blue is among the most loved liveries in racing, a celebrated piece of culture which transcends the world of motorsport.

"Design has always been important to McLaren – you see this in everything we do from our return to papaya to our stunning headquarters, the McLaren Technology Centre.

"We’re excited to exhibit this as a team and celebrate our proud association with Gulf in Monaco."

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Mike Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Oil said:

"Gulf and McLaren have a relationship that dates back to 1968 and is one of the most successful partnerships in motorsport.

"We are incredibly excited to pay tribute to this heritage with our classic livery design at the Monaco Grand Prix, the most spectacular and stylish event on the Formula 1 calendar.

"To see the reaction of both Lando and Daniel as well as the whole McLaren team to this livery has been really special and we are thrilled to unveil it to motorsport fans around the world.

"The distinguished racing blue and fluro orange Gulf colourways are iconic, so to mark our return to Formula 1 and showcase the livery in Monaco with McLaren is a great celebration of our bold and colourful place within the sport."

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