On February 9, McLaren revealed its livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season during a launch event. Although the team from Woking was one of the last to disclose its design, many supporters expressed that the anticipation surrounding the reveal exceeded the actual outcome, noting the similarities to last year’s version.
The team, led by Zak Brown, has chosen to maintain its eye-catching papaya orange aesthetic, complemented by black highlights and diagonal stripes on the sidepods.
One fan on Reddit remarked, “Spoiler alert: it’s the same. As Zak mentioned during the presentation: We don’t aim to alter what has proven effective, and the papaya looks fantastic.” Another comment reflected disappointment, stating, “Essentially, McLaren will continue with the same livery until they revert to producing less competitive cars.”
Another user expressed their lack of enthusiasm, saying, “It’s pretty much the same. Meh. I suppose it’s alright, but I was genuinely looking forward to something a bit more innovative.” A different fan commented, “McLaren seems to want to align itself with Ferrari’s branding, suggesting we can expect more of the same in the future. The papaya hue is likely to become their signature style moving forward.”
One fan noted, “The black stripe appears to be narrower this time, but other than that, it’s unchanged,” while a more optimistic admirer added, “This might be an unpopular opinion, but I really appreciate the papaya designs and don’t believe they need to implement drastic changes.”
During the launch, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown elaborated on the rationale for the minimal updates. “This is a deliberate choice,” he stated. “We aim to preserve what has worked well. The papaya color is stunning. Our partners are exceptional. We have incredible companies like Mastercard, Gemini with Google, and OKX backing us.”
Brown continued, “The cars are slightly smaller this season. When you hear the engine, it sounds impressive. The HPP Mercedes engine is remarkable. I’m genuinely excited about the upcoming races.”
