McLaren turns back the clock with special heritage British GP livery

McLaren is taking a trip back to its roots at this weekend's British Grand Prix, unveiling a special one-off Google Gemini livery inspired by the team's very first Formula 1 challenger.

The Woking squad will race at Silverstone in a predominantly white and green colour scheme that pays tribute to the McLaren M2B, the car that made the team's Formula 1 debut at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix.

The nostalgic look also continues McLaren’s recent celebrations of its rich heritage after the team marked its 1,000th Formula 1 start earlier this season in Monaco, where 1998 and 1999 world champion Mika Hakkinen took the original M2B for a demonstration run through the principality’s famous streets.

Now, as Formula 1 arrives at Silverstone, McLaren is blending its past with its present through its ongoing partnership with Google, which has been a team partner since 2022.

Honouring the past while embracing the future

McLaren says the special Silverstone design is about much more than a change of colours. It is intended to celebrate the team's origins while reflecting the innovative mindset that continues to shape its future.

Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer at McLaren Racing, said:

“Our Silverstone livery is a celebration of where we began and everything we have built since.

“The McLaren M2B represents the start of a journey defined by relentless innovation and a belief in possibility, and this design brings that spirit to life.

“Our partnership with Google Gemini is grounded in those same principles. Together, we are exploring how technology can unlock new ways to innovate, iterate and push performance forward, both on and off the track.

“This livery is a powerful expression of that shared mindset, honouring our heritage while looking firmly to the future.”

The celebration extends beyond the racetrack. Fans will have the opportunity to see the special livery up close at a joint McLaren and Google Gemini activation taking place at the Truman Brewery in East London on Thursday ahead of the Grand Prix weekend.

Google also sees the partnership as an opportunity to demonstrate how artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly valuable tool both inside and outside Formula 1.

Marvin Chow, Vice President of Consumer and AI Marketing at Google, added:

“From sparking creative ideas with the Gemini app to securely turning complex datasets into real-time trackside intelligence with Gemini Enterprise, McLaren is showing what it means to harness the power of AI.

“We're excited to continue exploring new ways Gemini can fuel their creativity, business, and trackside strategy.”

The timing feels fitting. One year after Lando Norris thrilled the home crowd with an emotional British Grand Prix victory, McLaren will return to Silverstone dressed not in the papaya colours that have become synonymous with its modern success, but in a livery that nods to where the journey first began nearly six decades ago.

For one weekend, McLaren is taking a nostalgic trip back to its roots – while keeping its eyes firmly fixed on the future.

Read also: Brown insists McLaren ‘not in the market’ for Max Verstappen

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook