McLaren Ditches Papaya for White and Green at Silverstone in Tribute to Its First F1 Car
McLaren has unveiled a one-off white-and-green livery for the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, drawing direct inspiration from the team's first Formula 1 car, the 1966 McLaren M2B. The design, produced in partnership with Google Gemini under the tagline 'Spark What's Next', will run on the MCL40 and marks 60 years since Bruce McLaren scored the team's maiden championship point at the same event.
A white-and-green MCL40 takes to Silverstone
McLaren has unveiled a one-off livery for the 2026 British Grand Prix, replacing its familiar papaya orange with a predominantly white colour scheme and a green central stripe, in direct tribute to the team's first Formula 1 car. [2]
The design takes inspiration from the McLaren M2B, the car with which the Woking-based team made its debut as a constructor at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix. [1] In that same season, founder Bruce McLaren finished sixth at the British Grand Prix, giving the team its maiden championship point at the very circuit where the 2026 livery will race. [4]
The MCL40 will carry the new look at Silverstone this weekend as part of what the team describes as its 60th-anniversary celebrations. [5] The livery was produced in partnership with title sponsor Google Gemini under the campaign tagline "Spark What's Next." [1]
McLaren chief marketing officer Louise McEwen said the design is "a celebration of where we began and everything we have built since," adding that the M2B "represents the start of a journey defined by relentless innovation and a belief in possibility." [3]
The M2B in context
The M2B was driven in 1966 by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, and although it was not among the most competitive cars of that era, it scored points in two races. [4] Bruce McLaren took sixth at the British Grand Prix held at Brands Hatch and fifth at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. [4]
McLaren's original white-and-green colour scheme came about in connection with the seminal Formula 1 film Grand Prix, which was being filmed at the time of the M2B's debut season. [3] The team has regularly adapted its livery for its home race in recent years, but this edition reaches back further than any previous effort. [3]
Where McLaren stands heading into Silverstone
:::analysis The choice to mark 60 years in Formula 1 at Silverstone carries genuine symbolic weight. The British GP was where McLaren first scored a point, so the heritage livery closes a neat historical loop rather than simply serving as a marketing exercise. Whether the MCL40's on-track performance matches the elegance of the paint job is the more pressing question for a team yet to take a 2026 race victory. :::
McLaren arrives at Silverstone sitting third in the constructors' championship, behind Ferrari and Mercedes, with race wins still to come in the 2026 season. [4] Lando Norris claimed victory at the 2025 British Grand Prix, giving the team a recent reference point for strong Silverstone performance. [4]
Related reading
[1]: McLaren Racing. "McLaren Racing and Google Gemini unveil heritage-inspired livery for the British Grand Prix." mclaren.com, 30 Jun 2026. https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2026/british-grand-prix/heritage-inspired-google-gemini-livery/ [2]: Formula 1. "Gallery: Check out McLaren's heritage-inspired livery for the British Grand Prix." formula1.com, 30 Jun 2026. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/gallery-check-out-mclarens-heritage-inspired-livery-for-the-british-grand-prix.3LDBOQciM7Exdrist6NacH [3]: PlanetF1. "McLaren British GP 2026 livery: white-and-green colours inspired by original M2B racer." planetf1.com, 30 Jun 2026. https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-british-gp-2026-livery-white-green [4]: Crash.net. "First Look: McLaren unveils striking new livery for the F1 British Grand Prix." crash.net, 30 Jun 2026. https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1099948/1/first-look-mclaren-unveils-striking-new-livery-f1-british-grand-prix [5]: Motorsport Week. "McLaren harks back to F1 origins with special British GP livery." motorsportweek.com, 30 Jun 2026. https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/06/30/mclaren-f1-british-gp-livery/
- [1]McLaren Racing and Google Gemini unveil heritage-inspired livery for the British Grand Prix (mclaren). Accessed 2026-06-30.
- [2]Gallery: Check out McLaren's heritage-inspired livery for the British Grand Prix (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-30.
- [3]McLaren British GP 2026 livery: white-and-green colours inspired by original M2B racer (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-30.
- [4]First Look: McLaren unveils striking new livery for the F1 British Grand Prix (crash). Accessed 2026-06-30.
- [5]McLaren harks back to F1 origins with special British GP livery (motorsportweek). Accessed 2026-06-30.