The 2024 season is just around the corner, and I can practically feel its arrival.
What does it feel like? It’s like a hastily brewed cup of coffee that gives me the energy to get through an early Sunday morning Grand Prix.
Delightful.
With only two weeks left until all 10 teams hit the track for testing in Bahrain, we’re starting to get a glimpse of the cars they’ll be using this season.
As of Wednesday, five teams — McLaren, Alpine, Haas, Stake F1, and Williams — have unveiled their liveries for the upcoming season.
While these may not be the final cars we’ll see in Bahrain, the liveries give us a taste of what’s to come.
So, let’s take a closer look at the first 5 liveries that have been revealed and see which ones stand out — and which ones fall short — in this initial batch.
I must admit, it’s been a strong year for liveries so far. However, someone has to come in at number 5, and that honor goes to Alpine.
Alpine’s livery features an interesting combination of their signature blue and the pink color used by their title sponsor BWT.
It creates a cool look, but this year’s version is weighed down by a lot of black.
The black isn’t a design choice; it’s there to reduce weight. This is a trend seen in most liveries. Exposed carbon fiber in black helps shed some weight, and considering how heavy F1 cars are nowadays, any weight reduction is welcome.
Overall, it’s a decent look for the French team, but I would rate it 6 out of 10.
Haas has stuck with their familiar red, black, and white scheme for their first season without former team principal Guenther Steiner, and it looks pretty good.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly fine livery. It just doesn’t have that “wow” factor.
It’s an evolution of Haas’ livery from last year, with a touch more black. However, I don’t think it’s an improvement over the previous year. The black along the nose is a nice touch, though.
I would give Haas’ new livery a score of 6.5 out of 10.
We miss you, Guenther…
McLaren has made some changes to their livery, dropping some of the blue from last year and adding more black.
The team’s iconic papaya orange takes center stage, and I have to say, it’s one of McLaren’s cleaner looks in recent years. They’ve had some busier liveries in the past.
I also appreciate the chrome numbers, which pay homage to McLaren’s successful era in the mid-2000s when they were consistently fighting for championships.
With their strong finish in 2023 and a talented driver lineup featuring Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren has a chance to be at the front once again.
I would rate this livery a solid 7.5 out of 10.
The team with the second-best livery among the first five unveiled is Stake F1, despite having one of the worst team names on the grid.
Even before the launch, Stake F1 teased us with hints of bright green, and they didn’t disappoint.
In a grid filled with dark-colored cars, their livery stands out. That shade of green, which they cleverly named “Fluo-Racing Green,” is eye-catching. Just imagine that car speeding down the Las Vegas Strip under the lights.
We might only see this color for a couple of years, as Audi takes over in 2026. So, let’s enjoy it while we can.
I would give Stake F1’s livery a score of 8 out of 10.
Williams has struggled with their liveries in recent years. While they had some fantastic liveries in the past, including the iconic Martini & Rossi designs in the mid-2010s, they’ve been trying to move forward and avoid repeating the same livery year after year.
This approach has resulted in some misses, like the Williams FW43B. However, I believe they’ve struck the perfect balance between past and present with the FW46 in 2024.
Personally, I love the Duracell battery roll-hoop. I can’t explain why; I just think it’s cool.
Williams has stuck with a predominantly blue look, featuring different shades and red accents, and it looks fantastic. The Gulf decals are a nice touch, and hopefully, their continued partnership will bring us another special livery this year.
But the highlight of this livery is the pin striping around the nose. It’s a throwback to the classic Williams cars from the ’80s and ’90s.
Overall, it’s a great look for a team aiming to compete in the midfield.
In honor of Logan Sargeant, the only American driver on the grid, I would give Williams’ livery a score of 8.5 out of 10.
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What are your thoughts on the first batch of F1 liveries? Feel free to share your opinions by sending an email to [email protected].