As all 10 F1 teams are required to reveal their official 2025 liveries at the F1 75 Live event at London’s O2 arena on Tuesday, McLaren showcased the MCL39 in a unique camouflage color scheme for now. This features the team’s signature papaya orange color in a geometric pattern, complemented by black accents.
Williams will also reveal its 2025 car, the FW47, at the same venue on Friday and will be subject to similar livery restrictions.
The 2024 F1 constructors’ champions, McLaren, are holding a filming day at Silverstone on Thursday, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both in attendance. Norris will be the first to drive the MCL39, followed by Piastri.
Images released by McLaren show that the MCL39 retains several key design elements from previous models, including the pull-rod front suspension layout. However, there are noticeable changes, particularly around the engine cover, which now features a more ovoid air intake compared to the MCL38.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown described Thursday’s event as “a big milestone in our journey in the fight for the 2025 title.”
He continued, “It’s exciting to get our championship challenger, the MCL39, on track for the first time and to unveil the result of the team’s hard work.”
Brown acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting, “We must be realistic that every team will have made progress over the winter. Last year showed how much the grid has closed up, which is fantastic for the sport.”
“We believe we’ve taken further steps forward since the championship-winning MCL38, but we won’t know exactly where we stand until we’re on track for qualifying in Australia [2025’s first race].”
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, emphasized the competitive nature of the grid. “While we finished last year as champions, 2024 showed just how competitive the field is, and that will continue into this year’s championship,” he said.
“We must remain focused to stay competitive at the front in this tight field. It’s going to be an exciting but challenging year ahead. The team has worked extremely hard to prepare for the start of the season, and we’ve learned a lot from our battles last year, which will drive us toward our goals this year.”
Lando Norris, commenting on the camouflage livery, said, “It’s a fun design, and it’s great to showcase something different before we reveal our full livery at the official F1 75 launch.” Oscar Piastri added, “It’s fantastic to get behind the wheel of the MCL39 for the first time as we prepare to test it in Bahrain.”
Stella, Norris, and Piastri are set to address the media during Thursday’s promotional event.
While McLaren secured its first constructors’ championship in 26 years last season, it is still waiting for a drivers’ title since 2008, with Norris finishing runner-up to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in 2024.
With 2025 expected to be a fiercely contested season, McLaren has a chance to claim its first championship double since Mika Häkkinen led the team to both titles in 1998.
