Formula One sponsorship liveries
Formula One sponsorship liveries have been used since the late 1960s, replacing the previously used national colors. With sponsors becoming more important with the rising costs in Formula One, many teams wanted to be able to display the logos of their sponsors as clearly as possible.
The liveries are usually changed for every season in the sport, marking the marketing ideas of the sponsors. Many teams keep some consistency over the years however, like the red color of Ferrari, which has its origin in a shade of red known as rosso corsa being the national racing color of Italy. At certain events where tobacco sponsorships are prohibited, teams may use an alternate non-tobacco livery. At historical events, cars are allowed to use the livery which was used when the car was actively competing.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo was a Formula One constructor between 1950-1951 and again between 1979-1985.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1950-1951 | Red | none | none | none |
1980-1983 | Red, White | none | Marlboro | none |
1984-1985 | Green, Red | none | Benetton Group | none |
Benetton
Benetton Formula Ltd., commonly referred to simply as Benetton, was a Formula One constructor that participated from 1986 to 2001. The team was owned by the Benetton family who run a worldwide chain of clothing stores of the same name. In 2000 the team was purchased by Renault, but competed as Benetton for the 2001 season. In 2002 the team became Renault F1. From the 1992 to 1993, Camel sponsored the Benetton team, but, from the 1994 to 2001 the main sponsor was Mild Seven.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco/Alcohol livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1986-1991 | Red, Green | Blue, Yellow | Benetton Group | None | None |
1992-1993 | Yellow | Green | Camel | Mobil 1, Sanyo, Technogym (1993), Elf (1993), Denin (1993) | "Camel" letters were covered with blue gaps, while the logo was replaced with a dot |
1994 | Blue | Green | Mild Seven | Ford, Mobil 1, Elf, Sanyo | "Mild Seven" was replaced with "Benetton" |
1995 | Blue | Dark Blue | Mild Seven | Bitburger, Mobil 1, Elf, Renault | "Mild Seven" was replaced with "Benetton" and "Bitburger" was replaced with "Drive Alcoholfrei" |
1996-2001 | Blue | White | Mild Seven | FedEx (1996-1999), Agip (1996-2000), Prince Sports (1996-1997), Kingfisher Airlines (1996), Mobil 1 (1996-1997), Akai (1997-1998), Supertec (1999-2000), Playlife (1999) , D2 Mannesmann (1999-2000), Bridgestone (1999-2000), Marconi (2000-2001), Elf (2001), Renault (2001) Korean Air (1997-2001) | "Mild Seven" was replaced with "Benetton" |
BMW Sauber
After having been an engine supplier in the 1980s and again since 2000, BMW entered Formula One with a works team of its own in 2006 Formula One season. Although the cars have many sponsorship logos on them, the main pattern is based on the traditional BMW Motorsport team colors of white with light blue, dark blue and a little red (in an almost purple shade). White is also the original national racing color of Germany, while white and blue are the colors of Bavaria and of BMW itself.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006– | White | Blue, red | Petronas, Intel, T-Systems | Syntium |
British American Racing
British American Racing competed in Formula One from 1999 to 2005. The name of the team was taken from British American Tobacco which provided the main sponsorship and was livery sponsor through two of its main cigarette brands.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Blue, Red | None | 555, Lucky Strike (both British American Tobacco) | None | 555 logo changed, Lucky Strike logo blocked out |
2000–2005 | White | Red, Black | Lucky Strike (British American Tobacco) | Honda, Intercond, Tiscali, 555 | Lucky Strike logo blocked out, "Luckies" changed to "Lookies"(2000), "Lucky Strike" was replaced with "Look Alike"(2001), Lucky Strike was replaced with "Don't Look", "Look Left" and "Look Right" while the logo was replaced with a barcode(2004),"Lucky Strike" was replaced with "Speed Freak"(2005) |
Ferrari
In keeping with their Italian roots, Ferrari has always kept a red color in the tradition of rosso corsa, the national racing color of Italy, except for two races in 1964 when Enzo Ferrari let his cars enter by NART in American blue and white colors to protest against Italian racing authorities. Over the years, rosso corsa has been combined with white parts and with various sponsorship schemes, but Ferrari has never fully let their cars be dominated by the sponsorship livery like many other teams have.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968– | Red | White or black | Marlboro, Vodafone (2002–2006) | Shell, Asprey (1996-1998), Pioneer (1993-1998), Agip (1993-1996), FIAT, Etihad (2008-), Alice (2006-), Banco Santander(2010-), Martini (2006-) | Marlboro logo removed completely or replaced with white space (2000-2004), Marlboro logo changed to "bar code" (1994-1999/2005-present) |
Niki Lauda driving the Ferrari 312T at the 1976 German Grand Prix. By this time, the Ferrari livery included the logos of team suppliers such as Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Agip.
Force India
Force India is the fourth different edition of the former Jordan in as many years.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Burgundy | White | Kingfisher Airlines | ICICI |
2009 | White | Green, Saffron | Kingfisher Airlines | ICICI, Medion, Reliance Industries, Royal Challenge, Whyte & Mackay |
Honda
Honda first raced in Formula One from 1964 to 1968. The cars were entered in an all-white livery with a red circle, duplicating the Japanese flag. The company won several races but left F1 at the end of the 1968 season, before returning as an engine supplier in the 1980s. After a decade away from the sport, Honda returned again as an engine supplier in 2001, before buying the British American Racing team and entering F1 as a constructor in 2006.
For the 2006 season, Honda continued with the BAT sponsorship with the Lucky Strike logo, but BAT pulled out for 2007. From 2007, the only logos on the car are the Honda badge, the Bridgestone logo, and the logo of Honda's environmental awareness program, Earth Dreams. For 2007, the livery itself was a picture of the Earth on a black background. For 2008, however, there are only pieces of the image of Earth on a mainly white background, as opposed to the whole of the Earth being on Honda's car.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | White | Red | Lucky Strike (British American Tobacco) | Intercond | Lucky Strike logo changed to "Racing Revolution", "Look Left", "Look Right" and during the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix "Last Blast" was on the rear wing. |
2007 | Earth | Black | myearthdream.com (Honda) | None | None |
2008 | White | Earth | Earth Dreams (Honda) | None | None |
A 1965 Honda RA272 in the racing colors of Japan.
Upon its return to F1 in 2006, Honda continued with virtually be same livery as had been used by the British American Racing team in preceding years. This is Rubens Barrichello at driving the Honda RA106 at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix.
The 2007 Honda RA107 in its distinctive Earth livery, being driven by Rubens Barrichello at Malaysia.
The earth-themed livery was revised for 2008, as shown by Jenson Button at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Jaguar
Jaguar used green to reflect its British nationality, just like British teams in the first decades of Formula One all used British racing green.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-Alcohol Livery Changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000–2004 | Green | White | HSBC | Beck's | Beck's was replaced by "BEST'S" |
Jordan
Jordan Grand Prix competed in Formula One from 1991-2005. During 1997-2005, they were known for their distinctive bright yellow livery.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Green | 7-Up | FujiFilm | ||
1992-1993 | Blue | White, Red | Sasol | Barclay | None |
1994 | Blue | Silver, White | Sasol | Arisco | None |
1995 | Aqua Green | Red, White, Blue | Peugeot | Beta | None |
1996 | Gold | None | Benson & Hedges | None | Benson & Hedges logo changed to "Bitten Hisses" |
1997-2005 | Yellow | Black | Benson & Hedges (up to 2003), none (2004), Sobranie (2005) | Repsol (1998), Deutsche Post (2002), Galp Energia (2005) | Benson & Hedges logo changed to "Bitten Hisses" or driver surnames (1997), "Buzzing Hornets" (1998 to 2000), "Bitten Heroes" (2001),and "Be On Edge" (2002 to 2004), Sobranie logo changed to "Be On Edge" (2005) |
Michael Schumacher driving the Jordan 191 at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, with primary sponsorship from 7 Up.
Giancarlo Fisichella driving the Jordan EJ12 at the 2002 United States Grand Prix.
Ralph Firman's Jordan EJ13 shows the non-tobacco "Be On Edge" livery at the 2003 French Grand Prix.
Giorgio Pantano driving the Jordan EJ14 at the 2004 French Grand Prix. You can see the lack of sponsorship on the sidepods, which instead has a Jordan logo.
Lotus
Lotus was the first team to abandon the national color system when the possibility to do so was created in 1968. Lotus also had one of the longest sponsorship cooperations in Formula One history, making the black and gold of its 1972–1986 John Player Special seasons one of the most well known liveries to this day.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968–1971 | Red and white | Gold | Gold Leaf (Imperial Tobacco) | |
1972–1978 | Black | Gold | John Player Special (Imperial Tobacco) | Olympus (1978) |
1979 | British racing green | Red, white and blue | Martini | Tissot |
1980 | Dark blue | Red and white | Essex | Tissot |
1981–1986 | Black | Gold | John Player Special (Imperial Tobacco) | Essex, Tissot, Courage (1981); Olympus (1985); DeLonghi (1986) |
1987–1990 | Yellow | Blue | Camel | DeLonghi (1987); Epson (1989) |
1991–1992 | Green | White (1991); Yellow (1992) | BP | Hitachi, Tamiya |
1993–1994 | Green, white and red | Black and yellow | Castrol | Hitachi, Tamiya |
Prior to commercial sponsorship, Lotus cars ran in a livery of British racing green. This is a Lotus 33 being demonstrated at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Lotus pioneered sponsorship in F1 through its deal with Imperial Tobacco]], which resulted in the cars racing with a "Gold Leaf" livery. This is Graham Hill driving a Lotus 49B at the 1969 German Grand Prix.
A Lotus 77 in the famous John Player Special colors.
Lotus briefly parted ways with JPS in the early 1980s, as is evidenced by this Lotus 88 originally from 1981.
McLaren
McLaren had the longest sponsorship deal in F1 history with Marlboro, whose red-and-white pattern appeared on the team's cars for 23 straight years.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972–1974 | White | Black and red | Yardley of London | None | |
1974–1996 | Red and white | Marlboro (Altria Group) | TAG Group | Marlboro logo was replaced with barcode (1988-1992) or with McLaren (1992-1997) | |
1997–2005 | Silver | Black | West (Imperial Tobacco) | Mercedes-Benz | "West" replaced with West logo (1997-1999) or with drivers' first names (1999-2005) |
2006 | Silver | Red | Emirates Airline | Mercedes-Benz, Johnnie Walker (Diageo plc) | None |
2007-2008 | Silver | Red | Vodafone | Mercedes-Benz, Johnnie Walker (Diageo plc), Aigo, Banco Santander | None |
Midland
Midland F1 competed for only one year, 2006. They took over Jordan in 2005, but Midland sold it in late 2006 to Spyker. They were the first, and so far only, F1 team to compete with a Russian license. (After Spyker's takeover in mid-2006, the team changed its livery to orange and name to Spyker MF1 Racing. In 2007, the team competed as Spyker F1.)
Year | Main color | Additional colors | Livery sponsor | Additional major sponsors |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Grey | White, Red | Midland | Rhino's, Mingya |
2006 (after Spyker takeover) | Orange | Silver | Spyker, Rhino's | Mingya |
Minardi
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Black | None | Go KL (Kuala Lumpur), European Aviation | None |
2003-2004 | Black | White | Trust (2003), Wilux (2004) | OzJet (2004) |
2005 | Black | White | OzJet | co2neutraal.tv, Lost Boys |
Prost
Prost competed in Formula One for five seasons, all the time with basically the same livery even if the sponsors changed.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997-2000 | Blue | Black | Gauloises, Playstation 2, Yahoo (2000) | Société Bic Alcaltel | Gauloises changed to "bar code" |
2001 | Blue | Black | Prost Grand Prix, Acer | Dark Dog | N/a |
Red Bull
Red Bull Racing are of course sponsored by Red Bull and various others.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005- | Blue | Red, Yellow, Silver (2005-2006) | Red Bull | Red Bull Hangar-7 (2005-2006), Metro International (2007), Leica (2008) |
Renault
Renault entered Formula One in 1977 and withdrew as a team after the 1985 season. Renault returned to Formula One in 2002 by buying the Benetton team. Renault had a contract with Mild Seven from 2002 to 2006, and now has a title contract with ING Group.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977-1985 | Yellow | Black, White | Elf Aquitaine | None | |
2002-2006 | Blue | Yellow | Mild Seven | Chronotech, Elf Aquitaine, Telefónica (2004-2006) | "Mild Seven" was replaced with "Blue World" (2002-2004) replaced with drivers full name (2004), changed to "Team Spirit" or concept art (2005 to 2006) |
2007- | Yellow | White, Orange | ING Group | Chronotech Mutua Madrileña (2005-2006/2008) Pepe Jeans (2008) |
Spyker
Spyker took part in only one season of Formula One. The main color of the car did not directly reflect the sponsorships but was the orange racing color of the Netherlands.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Orange | Black | Etihad, Aldar Abu Dhabi | Superfund Group, Medion |
Stewart
Stewart lasted for only 3 years before being bought out by its engine supplier, Ford, and being rebranded as Jaguar, but managed to win a race in its final season, 1999. Stewart had a tartan decoration on its cars to signify its Scottish nationality.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 to 1999 | White | Blue, Yellow-Green | Ford, HSBC (1999) | Texaco, Lear |
Super Aguri
Super Aguri was set up before the 2006 season by Aguri Suzuki, with the help of Honda Racing, to provide a drive for former Honda driver Takuma Sato.For the 2006 season's SA05 and SA06, their car was based on the 2002 Arrows A23, after which, for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, they ran cars based on the previous year's Honda chassis.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | White | Red | None | Samantha Kingz, Honda |
2007 | Red | White | S.S. United, then Four Leaf | Samantha Kingz, Honda |
2008 | Red | White, Black | Samantha Kingz | Honda |
Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso is the sister team of Red Bull Racing.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006- | Dark Blue | Red, Gold | Red Bull | Cosworth (2006), Magneti Marelli (2008-) |
Toyota
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Main sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Red | White | Panasonic | Esso |
2002- | White | Red | Panasonic | Denso, Esso |
Tyrrell
Tyrrell Racing competed in Formula One from 1970-1998. Its traditional color was blue and white, or a combination as such, for most of the 1970s and 1980s. The cars were more white during the mid to late 1990s.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970-1976 | Blue | Elf | ||
1977-1978 | Blue and white | Elf | First National City Bank | |
1979-1980 | Blue and white | Red | Candy | |
1981 | Blue and white | |||
1982 | Blue and white | Red | Candy | |
1983 | Green | Benetton | ||
1984 | Blue / Black | DeLonghi (1 car) | ||
1985 | Blue | |||
1986-1987 | Black and white | Data General | ||
1988 | Black | |||
1989 | Blue and yellow | Camel | ||
1990 | Blue and white | Epson | Calbee, Nippon Shinpan | |
1991-1992 | Black and white | Braun | Calbee, Nippon Shinpan | |
1992-1993 | Blue and white | |||
1994 | White | |||
1995 | Blue and white | Nokia | ||
1996 | White | |||
1997-1998 | Black and white | PIAA |
The Tyrrell P34 six-wheeler, driven by Jody Scheckter at the 1976 German Grand Prix, in blue Elf livery.
Tyrrell had PIAA sponsorship in 1997 and 1998. This is Toranosuke Takagi driving the Tyrrell 026 at the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix.
Williams
Williams, as a major constructor, is rare in modern F1 in that they have no manufacturer backing. Over the years, their supply of engines and other major components has often changed, meaning that their livery is renewed more often than most of their rivals. Sponsors of Williams can often have the livery dramatically changed (for the right price, of course), which has helped to keep Williams competitively financed since 1978, when Williams first entered as a constructor.
Year | Main color(s) | Additional color(s) | Livery sponsor(s) | Additional major sponsor(s) | Non-tobacco livery changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978–1979 | White | Green and Black | Saudia, TAG | Denim | |
1980-1983 | White | Black | Saudia | Denim, Leyland (1981), TAG (1982-1983) | |
1984 | White | Yellow | Denim | ICI | |
1985-1989 | Yellow and White | Blue | Canon | ICI | |
1990-1992 | Blue and Yellow | White | Canon | Elf | |
1993 | Yellow and White | Blue | Canon, Camel (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company) | Elf | |
1994-1997 | Blue | White | Rothmans | Elf | "Rothmans" was replaced with "Williams", "Racing", "bar code", "?" (1997 French Grand Prix) or "R.?" |
1998 | Red | White | Winfield | "Winfield" was replaced with "Williams" and the Winfield logo was replaced with a black kangaroo or a black boomerang on an orange diamond | |
1999 | Red and White | Blue | Winfield | Castrol | |
2000-2005 | Blue and White | Compaq (2000-02), HP (2003-05) | Castrol (2000), Allianz (2001-05), BMW, FedEx, RBS (2005-) | ||
2006 | Deep Blue | White | Allianz | RBS, FedEx, Tata | |
2007 | Blue | White | AT&T, Lenovo | RBS, Allianz, Petrobras, Hamleys | |
2008 | Dark Blue | White | AT&T, RBS, Hamleys | Phillips, Lenovo, Allianz, Petrobras, Oris | |
2008 | Black | Dark Blue | AT&T, Phillips | RBS, Allianz, Thomson, Oris |