McLaren unveils 1,000th-start Monaco livery for MCL40s

McLaren unveiled a one-off livery for the Monaco Grand Prix to mark the team’s 1,000th F1 start. The MCL40s for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will carry the special paint, feature a large “1,000” on the sidepods and include hidden references to McLaren’s first race, major victories, championship successes, Triple Crown links and the team’s world‑record pit stop. McLaren billed the design “McLaren Never Quits.” Some reports described the paint as metallic papaya and anthracite; others called it orange and black. McLaren said the design was created for Monaco and will also be used at the Spanish GP. McLaren will stage a special moment on the grid on Thursday, June 4 when the team’s first F1 car, the M2B, will be displayed alongside the MCL40. The original M2B is owned by Richard Mille. Senior figures expected to attend include CEO Zak Brown, team principal Andrea Stella, the drivers and F1 president Stefano Domenicali, and McLaren has invited its living grand prix winners. The drivers will wear matching special overalls for the occasion. Zak Brown said the celebration recognises the team’s “grit and determination,” and CMO Lou McEwen said the livery honours the challenges and resilience that define McLaren. The 1,000th start milestone ties back to McLaren’s F1 debut in Monaco in 1966 and coincides with the 60th anniversary of that first appearance. McLaren is the second team in F1 history to reach 1,000 starts, after Ferrari reached the mark in 2020. The team highlighted its historical record in the announcement, citing 203 Grand Prix wins, 561 podiums, 177 poles, 13 Drivers’ Championships and 10 Constructors’ Championships. McLaren noted the Monaco special is the fifth one-off livery it has produced in six years, following a pale blue Gulf scheme in 2021, a “Triple Crown” design in 2023, a 30-year Ayrton Senna tribute in 2024 and a 1960s‑inspired livery in 2025 when Lando Norris won the race.