McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo will be driving cars with a different colour from their usual orange and blue during the F1 race at the Monaco Grand Prix. Why is McLaren racing in cars with a different pattern?
McLaren will be hoping to push for a second podium of the season this weekend, when Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo head to Monaco. But McLaren fans will be treated to a special edition car for the upcoming Grand Prix.
Both Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are having impressive seasons for McLaren.
After four races, Norris is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship – just six points behind Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.
Ricciardo, meanwhile, is sat in seventh place, ahead of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.
But, ahead of the highly-anticipated Monaco GP this weekend, McLaren has revealed their drivers will be using cars with a special edition livery.
The cars will be decked in the legendary pale blue, with the iconic orange stripe down the middle of the chassis.
The livery is one of the motorsport’s most well-loved looks, and was famously used by Ford and Porsche sportscars.
It’ll be the first time it’s used in F1, however, and both drivers will be wearing accompanying helmets.
Gulf Oil became a strategic partner of McLaren in July 2020, but they first worked together in the 1960s.
Norris admitted it will be “really cool” to be decked out in the blue and orange in Monaco.
“I’m very excited to go racing in Monaco again,” he said. “It’s an awesome track with a lot of history, and one of the most challenging circuits in Formula 1.
“It’s also really cool to be racing there in Gulf colours and to be writing history with the team. The blue and the orange work really well together on a race car and I think the fans are going to love seeing it racing around the streets of Monaco.
“I’ll also be running a special race helmet for the weekend, inspired by Gulf’s iconic colours, so keep your eyes peeled for that too.”
Ricciardo revealed that Monaco is his favourite race of the calendar.
The former Red Bull and Renault driver won in Monaco three years ago, and is hoping to earn his first podium of the season this weekend.
“We’ve been making a lot of progress over the last few races, and I think that really showed in Spain,” he said.
“I’m really starting to get to grips with the car and build my confidence. We know we’ll have our work cut out for us in Monaco, given how important qualifying is and how close we are to the competition, but we’ll give it our all and try to bring home some solid points for the team.”
The Monaco Grand Prix was cut from the F1 calendar last season, following the prolonged break during the coronavirus crisis.
Lewis Hamilton won the last race, two years ago, and the Brit will be hoping to win for the fourth time in the Principality on Sunday.
But, McLaren hold to record for the most victories in Monaco with 15.
The last time McLaren had a winner in Monaco, however, was back in 2008 with Hamilton.
