Part Two: TLBRB's thoughts on the 2026 F1 liveries

As the 2026 Formula One season launches get underway, the members of The Laid Back Race Blog thought that we should share our opinions on the liveries.

Williams

📸: Williams F1

Alex: Pretty much what we’ve come to expect from Williams the last few years. Simple, fits in and looks smart. Purple on the wheel covers is nice, I hope that’s a permanent feature! There’s a little more white too, it looks pretty sharp.

Topher: It does the job as a Williams livery, but it's another livery I feel could be better in places. Not at all bad, but maybe could have some with flashes of yellow as a hark back to the 1990s.

Teagan: It’s quite busy, there is a lot going on in terms of sponsors but I think that the blue is nice.

Cadillac

📸: Cadillac F1

Alex: 1999 BAR meets present day Mercedes. An odd half and half car was so not the direction I had hoped Cadillac would go with this. It’s simple, and I suppose is a livery but that’s about the height of it.

Topher: I don't dislike the Cadillac livery, but it's a lot blander than I expected given some of the bangers they have in sportscars. I was hoping to have something akin to the black/yellow blend they showcased in IMSA, so what they went for I found to be disappointing. I like the asymmetry of the livery, but not enough to save it for me.

Teagan: I expected better tbh, I like that it was unveiled during the Super Bowl but I feel like they needed something more punchy for their first livery. The black and white look is sleek but not amazing.

McLaren

📸: McLaren F1

Alex: It’s Papaya. The colour scheme has become synonymous with the team as they’ve regained an identity since 2017. This is now as recognisable as the Marlboro livery was, how the Silver Arrows and the matte Red Bull became…and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Topher: Instantly recognisable as a McLaren, the reigning champions didn't really have any reason to change its look. As Alex said, this is McLaren’s identity now and it works.

Teagan: I’m not shocked, it’s Papaya. As Alex and Topher have said, it fits their brand identity and it’s almost as synonymous as Ferrari’s red. I wish they had added some blue though.

Aston Martin

Alex: Aston are another whose livery is a little bit of them having an identity, and although Aston is recognisable on the grid, it doesn’t carry the same weight the McLaren does or the Red Bull did. This particular one, as Topher says, is a continuation. Doesn’t jump out at you, but we knew that’d happen. Boring, I guess.

Topher: I've always liked the Aston Martin liveries, but this year's car just seems to be a continuation from last year, albeit on a different car shape. It does the job of an Aston Martin, I'm more intrigued how much Adrian Newey's influence will have on its competitiveness.

Teagan: I feel like it’s just a bit boring. Yes it fits with their identity and could be considered their iconic colour but I just want a bit more excitement, like when they had the pink stripes.