Ranking the 2025 F1 liveries
Photo Credit - Zak Mauger/Getty Images
Stars and cars from the world of F1 meet at the O2
This week saw all ten teams from the F1 grid and their driver lineups congregate at London’s O2 Arena for the F1 75 live event, where every livery for the 2025 season was unveiled in front of 15,000 die-hard fans as the sports kicked off its 75th anniversary year.
Tickets for the event sold out in 45 minutes when they went on sale last November. While this could be explained by the growing disruptive presence of ticket touts, it may also give credence to the theory that F1 has been rapidly growing in popularity year after year since the introduction of Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary series.
I was switching back and forth between the event’s coverage on Sky Sports and Bayern Munich vs Celtic but eventually stuck with the football after one team’s reveal began with someone DJing for what felt like an hour. I did, however, watch the event’s coverage the next day (on fast forward, I admit) and decided the best way to sum up the night would be to rank the liveries from worst to best. It’s my own opinion, of course, and no bias has come into it. Other sites will have provided their own opinions, I’m sure.
I must warn you before you read the rest of the article that this isn’t an in depth look into the technical and mechanical workings of each team’s car, it is purely judged on aesthetics. So, let’s get into it…
P10 - Sauber
Oh, Sauber. I understand that design-wise, your hands are most likely tied by the Kick sponsorship and that the lime green colour must be most prominent, but it feels like the car has been rolled over from last year. There is also the issue of exposed carbon fibre, which seemed to have been mandatory for all teams in 2024. I was hoping that all teams would try to choose a single colour this year and stick to it. Alas, they have not. More on that later.
Anyhow, roll on 2026 and the debut season of Audi.
P9 - McLaren
Before I get to the livery, I must say congratulations to McLaren on their World Constructors’ Championship win last year. It was the team’s first since 1998 (Coulthard and Häkkinen etc) and is a testament to their improvement and solid driver lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
However, the livery. While we all love the Papaya Orange, it is again dwarfed by the contrasting carbon fibre black in a similar way to last year. Could McLaren have pushed the boat out and gone all Papaya? That was certainly what I had hoped. Oh well, let’s hope their performances continue to be solid in 2025 and that Lando Norris can push Verstappen again in the fight for the Driver’s Championship title.
P8 - Red Bull
Photo Credit - Red Bull Racing / Red Bull Content Pool
Have we met before?
Red Bull’s time in Formula 1 recently surpassed 20 years and their recent dominance is of no surprise to anyone when you combine the talents of Max Verstappen, Adrian Newey and the rest of the team in Milton Keynes.
The level of success and favourites tag for 2025 is undeniable but I’m afraid that this livery is all too similar to what we’ve seen over the last two decades. In fact, this picture could be from 2010 and, at first glance, I’m not too sure many people would notice. I’m still expecting to see it at the front of the grid in most races though.
P7 - Mercedes
Photo Credits - Mercedes F1
Come on, guys, try and change it up a little. Like Red Bull, McLaren and Sauber before them, Mercedes have stuck with a similar design to their 2024 car.
I’m not sure what else to say about it other than good luck to debutant Kimi Antonelli, who becomes George Russell’s new teammate after Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari. I read recently that he had just passed his driving test. It is crazy that someone can drive a F2 car in competitive racing but not be allowed behind the wheel of a Ford Focus.
Bonus points to Russell and Antonelli for getting the tube, though, as the picture above suggests. And the new Adidas race suits look the business.
P6 - Aston Martin
Photo Credit - Aston Martin F1
It’s happened again…okay, this appears to be the last one, I promise.
I’m going to let Aston Martin off the hook a little, though, as I do love that signature green colour. It will be interesting to see what impact Adrian Newey will be able to have on the team, initially, although I imagine 2026 will be the year that the Oxfordshire-based team can truly become a contender.
P5 - Haas
Here we go, something a little different.
While the Haas 2025 car shares the same colour scheme as 2024, the use of white has been more prominent this time and they’ve at least tried to change it up somewhat. It definitely looks its best from above and with Ocon behind the wheel, it’s safe to say that anything could happen.
P4 - Ferrari
If you think Ferrari, you think red. So why all the white and blue? Ah yes, that is down to the Prancing Horse’s new partner HP which is now also referenced in the full team name. Could they not have chosen a partner with a red logo? Even yellow would have been acceptable.
Anyhow, the main story here is that Lewis Hamilton’s lifelong wait to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari at a Grand Prix is nearly upon us. Even as a Brit, I’d love to see Ferrari back challenging for titles again.
And Hamilton going back to his Senna-inspired yellow helmet? It’s a tick from me.
P3 - Alpine
Alpine appear to have got the memo that I sent earlier in this article and the French team’s livery is a welcome splash of colour to the exposed carbon fibre heavy grid. I’m all for it and the pink and blue complement each other nicely. As for the race suits…yeah.
That livery though!
P2 - Williams
Do as I say, not as I do…or something like that.
Yes, I know. Williams have a similar livery to last year at first glance. But scratch a little beneath the surface and you’ll see a beautifully blended blue from light to dark…or the other way around depending on where you start.
The car just looks cool. And while it goes against the principles that I’ve banged on about for the majority of the article, I had to give it a runners up trophy for pure coolness. So there, although I do miss seeing the Martini logo.
And the winner is….
P1 - Racing Bulls
Photo Credit - Visa Cash App RB / Red Bull Content Pool
Champagne is sprayed everywhere as Racing Bulls (formerly RB, Alpha Tauri, Toro Rosso etc) cross the line to take home the 2025 livery championship title.
Last year’s RB situation appears to have confused a lot of people, both with the team name and car being too similar to their sister team Red Bull. Hopefully, this is all cleared up in 2025 as the Racing Bulls take their position on the grid in a lovely white livery accompanied by blue, black and the Red Bull logo red and yellow.
A special mention to the race suits, too, which look more like space suits and have a lovely green lining on the neck and arms. I’m sure that is of some consolation to Yuki Tsunoda, who was widely reported to be keen on the second Red Bull seat that eventually went to Liam Lawson. Don’t worry Yuki, you’re better off at Racing Bulls anyway. They have the best livery of 2025.
words: Mike Booth