Earlier this year, the McLaren Formula 1 Team and Principal Partner VELO joined forces to give nine superfans the chance to design a special-edition race car livery enhancement. The “golden ticket” experience emerged from VELO’s wider “Live Your Fandom” initiative, connecting the McLaren Formula 1 Team with its racing enthusiasts across the globe.
For this particular project, fans gathered at the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre, where they were invited to go behind the scenes of the British motorsport team. What started as a day of tours, alongside McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and McLaren Formula 1 Team driver Lando Norris, soon became a surprise collaborative workshop, with the group turning their favorite racing memories into detailed drawings.
Once the artwork was taken away and secretly transformed into a livery for the MCL39 race car, VELO returned to McLaren’s HQ to unveil the special-edition design, letting the superfans and Hypebeast in on an exclusive first look. Taking center stage in the futuristic innovation center, the livery was met with an emotional reception from the fans with its bold yet intricate design that commemorates the McLaren Formula 1 Team legacy.
On part of the sidepods, a panel of vibrant interlocking lines are emblazoned with symbols inspired by the fan drawings. These include a 200 race wins and home wins-inspired icon, a trophy motif representing the back-to-back Constructors’ Championship titles, a 1-2 symbol selected to represent the McLaren Formula 1 Team’s 50th 1-2 finish at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix from the season, and a stopwatch which features the time of its fastest pitstop of the season.
As well as immortalizing the team’s stand-out moments, the livery also features a Papaya Family icon and a Forever Forward Friendship Bracelet motif that celebrates the fandom surrounding the McLaren Formula 1 Team. Upon seeing the livery, one fan shared, “I’ve made so many friends from being a McLaren fan so I really like the addition of the Friendship Bracelet.”
The designs will be showcased for the first time at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend. In addition to featuring on the MCL39 car driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the artwork is set to be adorned across garage walls and beyond as part of a wider race-day takeover. A cherry on top of the “Live Your Fandom” experience, the nine fans will also be in attendance at the public livery reveal in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the collaboration.
Get a closer look at the special-edition fan livery in the galleries above. To find out more about VELO’s “Live Your Fandom” campaign, head to its Instagram page now.
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