McLaren has revealed an incredible one-off livery in the iconic Gulf colours that will be run by the team at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix.
When McLaren welcomed Gulf Oil International as its strategic partner in July 2020, the two revived a relationship that dates back to 1968 and the days of team founder Bruce McLaren.
For the Monaco weekend, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo’s cars will sport the distinctive blue and orange paintwork that previously adorned the #41 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail at the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Both drivers will also sport helmets with “bespoke retro designs” that will be raffled to raise money for the team’s mental health charity partner, Mind.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said: “This will be McLaren’s homage to Gulf’s celebrated race car design. 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.”
The Gulf ‘theme’ will extend across the team’s social media platforms with team personnel also set to be fitted in one-off kit.
Gulf Oil CEO Mike Jones added: “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 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.”
