McLaren have unveiled their 2026 Formula 1 car livery as the team prepares to defend both the drivers' and constructors' championships. The car features the trademark black and orange design seen in recent years, with added multi-coloured branding from new sponsor Gemini, Google's AI tool, on the wheels.
The reveal took place at a launch event in Bahrain, where the team will conduct pre-season testing ahead of the season opener in Melbourne in March. The car had previously appeared in a special pre-season livery during testing two weeks ago.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed confidence in driver Lando Norris, who will defend his world championship. 'Lando's confidence is very high, even higher than it was before. He is highly motivated,' Brown said, comparing Norris to champions like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen who strive for multiple titles.
McLaren have won the past two constructors' championships but may face a challenge from Mercedes, who appear to have an early advantage under new regulations. Some teams have claimed Mercedes exploited a loophole to increase engine compression ratio beyond the limit, gaining critical lap time.
Brown dismissed the controversy as 'typical politics of Formula One,' stating that the engines are fully compliant and have passed all tests. 'We will have all the Mercedes-powered teams on the grid in Australia, I am sure,' he added.
