---
title: "Here’s How the 2018 Formula 1 Liveries Should’ve Looked"
description: "Formula 1 car liveries have certainly gotten sexier in recent years, but there's always room for improvement."
date: "2018-03-01"
modified: "2018-03-01"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18735/heres-how-the-2018-formula-1-liveries-shouldve-looked"
categories:
  - "F1"
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
---

# Here’s How the 2018 Formula 1 Liveries Should’ve Looked

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/3b165b62032259-5a829b788d3fc.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Formula 1 car liveries are just as important to the sport as the engines that power them and the drivers who pilot them. Just think of McLaren-Honda's famous Marlboro livery on the [MP4/4 piloted by Senna](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18057/ayrton-sennas-grand-prix-winning-formula-one-car-is-going-to-auction>). It's an iconic car, one that'd be recognized by people around the world who couldn't care less about F1, manufacturers or championship standings. A livery is marketing and marketing is crucial for racing organizations that "invest" hundreds of millions of dollars in the [business of racing](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/17428/race-car-driver-scott-tucker-gets-16-year-sentence-for-payday-loan-scam>).

![message-editor%2F1519922597292-18556.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922597292-18556.jpg>)
*Ayrton Senna's McLaren-Honda MP4/4, *ESPN**

As a result, [Formula 1 teams](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18791/toro-rossos-surprisingly-trouble-free-first-day-with-honda>) must make their liveries sexy and appealing, but not too over the top that they're just confusing and off-putting, like British American Racing's half-and-half livery from 1998. Sure, the liveries unveiled for the 2018 racing season all look pretty darn good, especially [Sauber's](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18618/this-is-the-alfa-romeo-sauber-c37-formula-1-car>), but the truth is that they always leave something to be desired. A little, oomph.

Graphic designer and F1 aficionado Sean Bull recently came up with a few alternatives to today's liveries, and needless to say, they look pretty darn hot. Bull used his talents to redesign the Halo safety device on the [new McLaren-Renault](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18784/alonsos-mclaren-renault-makes-it-6-laps-into-the-pre-season-test>), but he also awarded the new MCL33 the Vodafone sponsorship from a decade ago. Similar ideas went into his renderings of Red Bull Racing's RB14, Mercedes-AMG's W09, and [Renault Sport's R.S.18](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18624/say-good-morning-to-the-renault-sport-r-s-18-formula-1-car>).

Do you wish any of these had made it on the official car?

## McLaren-Renault

![message-editor%2F1519922701422-3a327662032259.5a829b788d71f.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922701422-3a327662032259.5a829b788d71f.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922711873-dd51ac62032259.5a829b788d0b1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922711873-dd51ac62032259.5a829b788d0b1.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922722269-f23b0662032259.5a829b788e9aa.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922722269-f23b0662032259.5a829b788e9aa.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

How cool would it be to see the return of a chromed McLaren? It certainly looks better than Papaya Orange.

## Renault Sport

![message-editor%2F1519922780555-3fa0a761536635.5a71bac447744.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922780555-3fa0a761536635.5a71bac447744.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922792975-b2893d61536635.5a71bac448c8f.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922792975-b2893d61536635.5a71bac448c8f.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922802390-92e6cb61536635.5a71bac447357.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922802390-92e6cb61536635.5a71bac447357.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

Renault Sport's very yellow racer could certainly use a hint of white, like in Bull's first design.

## Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1

![message-editor%2F1519922846684-fe1c8559729597.5a2d82cb6b769.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922846684-fe1c8559729597.5a2d82cb6b769.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922858295-42f87259729597.5a2d82cb69742.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922858295-42f87259729597.5a2d82cb69742.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922868711-9a8d1059729597.5a2d82cb6b46a.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922868711-9a8d1059729597.5a2d82cb6b46a.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

Hamilton and Bottas' championship contender is far from bland, but these subtle design changes are simply stunning.

## Aston Martin Red Bull Racing

![message-editor%2F1519922948034-80e63559974215.5a36d7bde8d5b.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922948034-80e63559974215.5a36d7bde8d5b.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922963142-bb453059974215.5a36d7bde9dea.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922963142-bb453059974215.5a36d7bde9dea.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

![message-editor%2F1519922971019-58ae2159974215.5a36d7bde989b.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519922971019-58ae2159974215.5a36d7bde989b.jpg>)
*SEAN BULL*

Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo would certainly feel right at home in these liveries. How about that highlighter yellow?

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)