2025 is F1’s most polite title battle ever – Up/Down in Austria
Describing this year's championship race as a 'battle' might be slightly over-egging it, writes James Elson
McLaren might be about to make a popular decision
In a nod to its past, or at least an iconic few years, McLaren looks set to be reverting to its famous papaya orange for its 2017 McLaren-Honda. Or at least incorportating it into its new livery.
Nothing is confirmed yet, but the teaser images coming out of the marketing department in Woking are making it plain: change is coming, and it involves orange.
Its roots lie in sports cars, and on someone else’s Can-Am. Teddy Mayer was taken by the bright orange rival, and reasoned it would show up on television more clearly – and in the mirrors of rivals. So they painted the dominant Can-Am car orange, and the M7A was the first McLaren to wear papaya orange in Formula 1, in 1968. By 1974, the growing importance of sponsorship meant it was discarded in favour of Marlboro’s red and white. It made a brief comeback in 2006, during testing, but has since been reserved for the team’s GT racing exploits.
So look back at some orange McLarens of old, and recent times.
Describing this year's championship race as a 'battle' might be slightly over-egging it, writes James Elson
You had to read between the lines at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix as George Russell dropped hints over about his dissatisfaction, and F1 sent a message to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem
From zero to hero: in a pacy McLaren, at one of his favourite F1 circuits, Lando Norris picked himself up from a disastrous Canadian race to reign supreme in the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix
Full F1 schedule for the year, including the next F1 race of 2025: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the whole calendar and circuit guides for the 24-race Formula 1 season