In what is a brilliant nostalgia trip for long-time fans, McLaren are bringing back chrome on their car’s livery for this year’s British GP.
The Woking-based outfit are not averse to a one-off paint scheme having already ran one this year. At the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren used a “Triple Crown” paint job to celebrate their previous wins at the Indy 500, Le Mans 24 Hours, and in Monte Carlo.
Now, though, the British team are tapping into their past once more as part of a tie-in with sponsor, Google Chrome. In a change-up from their typical MCL60 livery, McLaren are rocking a chrome/orange combo around Silverstone for the British GP.
The metallic sheen dominates the car, covering the engine cover and significant portions of the sidepods. Meanwhile, the team’s typical “papaya” colour remains in sections of the wings, sidepods, nose, and on the halo.
This stunning effort from McLaren evokes many great memories of past chargers from the team – with some bringing incredible success.
McLaren and Chrome: the history that inspires their British GP livery
For many, chrome is synonymous with McLaren’s days of Vodafone sponsorship. However, they utilised the shiny effect one year before their partnership with the phone provider began in 2007.
In 2006, McLaren unveiled their McLaren Mercedes MP4-21, featuring chrome on the bulk of the chassis. Elsewhere, black sidepods housed “Johnnie Walker” whiskey sponsorship. Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya were the drivers that year.
But both they and the whiskey sponsor were gone from the car for 2007. In their place, then-reigning champ Fernando Alonso joined the team, alongside a British rookie called Lewis Hamilton.
The pair rivalled each other in their respective chrome Vodafone McLaren Mercedes throughout the 2007 season. Despite this, they both came up short, losing the driver’s championship to Raikkonen at Ferrari by just one point.
Hamilton bounced back one year later, though. In dramatic circumstances, he won the 2008 WDC at the death –thus immortalizing McLaren’s chrome paint scheme.
The metallic effect continued on the team’s cars until the end of 2014. Their sponsorship with Vodafone – so closely intertwined with Chrome – ended in 2013. So, in the last season, McLaren ran plain metallic silver.
This period in the team’s history, where supporters watched Lewis Hamilton emerge as one of the greatest drivers to ever grace the sport, is remembered fondly. So, thanks to their tie-in with Google Chrome, McLaren are paying a fitting tribute with this British GP livery.
You can watch Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race this sublime piece of work at the British Grand Prix this weekend.
Featured image credit: McLaren/Twitter
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