F1 Japanese Grand Prix: McLaren Unveils Special One-off Livery Ahead of 2024 Suzuka Race

The McLaren Formula 1 team has revealed their newest visually stunning look that will be raced on the track for the next Japanese Grand Prix. This design is a result of a partnership with sponsor VUSE. This season's Suzuka race has a revamped livery thanks to McLaren's collaboration with VUSE, carrying on a tradition started in previous seasons. McLaren intends to honour emerging artists in the international motorsport arena with its participation in the "Powered by Change" campaign led by BAT brand VUSE.

The design, created by the Japanese artist MILTZ, skillfully combines traditional Japanese calligraphy (Edomoji) with modern art and culture. The livery of the vehicle maintains McLaren's recognisable colour scheme but also includes dynamic patterns that represent the fast and agile nature of an F1 car. These patterns show a dragon skillfully manoeuvring through clouds. This original design is part of a series of unique liveries that McLaren displayed in the previous season. One of these liveries was the special Suzuka edition, which was worn by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri when they achieved podium finishes.

In the previous year's Japanese Grand Prix, Norris and Piastri achieved second and third places respectively, signifying a notable comeback for the team during the course of the season. McLaren is now ranked third, after Red Bull and Ferrari, after the first three races of the 2024 season. As they go to Suzuka, McLaren has a little lead over Mercedes.

Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Racing, said: “We are really excited to bring Driven by Change to Japan for the 2024 iteration of the campaign alongside our partner Vuse. Now in its fourth year, we have seen the successes of the campaign in showcasing the incredible creativity of these talented and undiscovered artists for the world to see on our race cars.”

MILTZ said: “When I first became a freelance artist, I never thought an opportunity like this was possible - this is the biggest international project I have ever done! As I continue to build my profile as an artist, I want my artwork to champion the rich traditions of Japanese writing culture, such as Edomoji, but with a modern twist. From my work with local businesses in Japan to the McLaren Formula 1 team, there are so many beautiful stories to tell through art.”

Throughout the 2023 season, McLaren displayed a penchant for distinctive liveries, showcasing an array of attention-grabbing designs. Notably, the striking chrome livery at Silverstone. In Monaco and Barcelona, McLaren honoured its Triple Crown victories with unique liveries, celebrating its rich racing heritage. In Abu Dhabi, McLaren unveiled a special "Driven for Change" design, emphasizing its commitment to societal impact. Additionally, custom-made designs for races like Las Vegas, Singapore, and Japan added excitement and innovation to the racing spectacle.