McLaren have unveiled a striking white livery for the 2026 British Grand Prix, marking a departure from their signature papaya orange. The change honours the 60th anniversary of the team's Formula 1 debut and pays homage to the McLaren M2B, the first F1 car built by Bruce McLaren in 1966.
Retro Design and Colour Palette
The cars feature a bright white base with a subtle British Racing Green stripe, exactly mirroring the paint job used during the constructor's earliest days in motorsport. This vintage aesthetic is a direct callback to the M2B's appearance when it first raced six decades ago.
Why Silverstone?
Silverstone was chosen for this tribute because the British Grand Prix holds massive historical significance for the team. Founder Bruce McLaren scored the constructor's very first world championship point at this exact race 60 years ago, making the venue a fitting location for the anniversary celebration.
Collaboration with Google
The commemorative livery was developed in close collaboration with primary sponsor Google as part of a joint historical campaign. According to the team, the partnership aims to celebrate the innovative spirit and bold ideas that originally launched Bruce McLaren's legendary racing enterprise.
Driver Tributes
To complete the vintage look, drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are wearing bespoke white racing suits for the entire race weekend. These special overalls also feature Bruce McLaren's signature carefully embroidered on the back as an extra touch of respect.
A Year of Milestones
This Silverstone special continues a year-long theme of heritage celebrations following the team's milestone 1,000th Grand Prix earlier in the 2026 season. It acts as a companion piece to other historical liveries run this year, keeping the team's rich legacy in the spotlight.
One-Off Appearance
Despite the positive reception to the white and green design, it will only be used for the British Grand Prix weekend. The team will return to their highly recognizable papaya orange colour scheme for the remainder of the 2026 calendar.
