McLaren will celebrate a major milestone at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix by unveiling a commemorative livery to mark the team’s 1,000th Formula 1 race, becoming only the second constructor after Ferrari to reach the landmark.
The Woking-based outfit has chosen Monaco as the stage for the celebrations for good reason. The Principality was the venue of McLaren’s Formula 1 debut in 1966, when founder Bruce McLaren drove the team’s first Grand Prix car, the M2B, through the streets of Monte Carlo. Sixty years later, the team returns to the same circuit with a special edition design for its MCL40 challenger.
The anniversary livery features a metallic papaya orange and anthracite colour scheme, incorporating a prominent “1000” graphic on the sidepods. Hidden references to key moments in McLaren’s history have also been integrated into the design, paying tribute to championship victories, famous race wins, the team’s Triple Crown achievements and its record-breaking pit stop performances. Both drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, will wear matching race suits throughout the Monaco and Spanish Grands Prix.
As part of the celebrations, McLaren will stage a special ceremony on the Monaco grid featuring the original M2B alongside the current MCL40. Current team leadership and drivers will be joined by former McLaren race winners in a tribute to one of Formula 1’s most successful teams.
Since its first appearance in Monaco six decades ago, McLaren has amassed more than 200 Grand Prix victories, 13 Drivers’ Championships and 10 Constructors’ titles, establishing itself as one of the sport’s most decorated teams. The milestone arrives at a particularly successful period for the team, which returned to championship-winning form in recent seasons.
The new design has already generated plenty of discussion among Formula 1 fans online, with reactions ranging from praise for the historic tribute to calls for a more dramatic retro-inspired look.
For McLaren, however, the focus remains firmly on celebrating a journey that began in Monaco in 1966 and now reaches a remarkable 1,000 Grands Prix.