Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
In part two of a special feature, former Mclaren F1 graphic designer Andy Blackmore details a rarely-discussed topic - the liveries on the 2009 Formula 1 grid. You can read part one HERE.
Mclaren
Mclaren have been leaders in livery design for decades, helping to establish the Marlboro chevron branding in the 70’s, still carried by Penske in IRL.
Such was the popularity of the Marlboro livery, that many knew the cars simply as ‘Marlboro’. I remember, as a child, watching a quiz-show on TV, where someone was asked which car Alain Prost drove. The answer was incorrectly given as a Marlboro. That is the power of sponsorship!
In 1997, West Tobacco became title sponsor of McLaren, and the car was rebranded with a Silver, Black and White airbrush design. Despite numerous comments that this was a Mercedes livery, it was designed internally within McLaren with the help of a design agency to be future proof as sponsors come and go. Twelve years on, and the basic concept remains.
West has since departed and replaced by Vodafone. McLaren’s ‘Rocket Red’ color is used more extensively, as it works with Vodafone’s corporate identity, giving a cohesive design. The silver has been replaced with a chrome effect and the airbrushing simplified. The chrome works well as its gives a muted reflection, rather than a mirror finish. This enables the sponsors to be read.
The livery is now regarded as a ‘McLaren design’ rather than any given sponsor. Notice all the logos are either black or red. Using coloration from the main sponsor, gives a more professional high class look than the multi-colored collection of logos on some other cars. One of the first examples of this was back in 1972, when John Player Special first sponsored Lotus. Other sponsor logos were in the same gold (and later beige) as JPS.
This year’s car looks big and bulky. The red on the sidepod dominates the look and to my eyes, it a little too big given the proportions of the Vodafone logo. Despite this, it is one of the most professional designs on the grid.
Ferrari
You probably think this is a Ferrari livery. Technically, it is owned by Marlboro, who no longer show their branding on their car. They sell space to sponsors. Research has shown the red and white box with barcode graphics still connects back to Marlboro for many people. The red base color has changed a number of times over the past decade in deference for Marlboro, but this darker hue is an improvement.
Personally, I would love black front and rear wings, a throw-back to the Ferraris of the 80’s, piloted by the likes of Arnoux, Tambay and Johannson. It would also help to disguise the huge front wing!
It’s a relative clean, if uninspiring livery. Greens, reds, whites and yellows make this quite a busy design in places, but for most, the fact it’s red and has a prancing horse on the side is enough!
