McLaren has reunited with former sponsor Gulf, whose branding will appear on their Formula 1 cars from the next round of the world championship at Silverstone this weekend.
Gulf’s distinctive orange and yellow colour scheme was made famous by a string of successful racing cars including McLarens which raced in Formula 1 and Can-Am in the late sixties and early seventies. Gulf’s colours also appeared on McLaren sports cars in the nineties.The new arrangement will see Gulf’s branding appear on the wing mirrors and engine cover of the MCL35. The team already races an orange and blue colour scheme which complements the Gulf brand.
McLaren has not indicated it will use Gulf’s products in their F1 cars, where fuel and lubricants often have to be closely tailored to the specific demands of their power units. However next year Gulf will become the preferred supplier of products for the company’s Automotive division.
“Gulf is part of McLaren’s history and are well-known for their innovation and technical excellence in the industry, with which aligns with McLaren perfectly,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. “We are looking forward to starting our partnership together this season.”
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Qeki (@qeki)
28th July 2020, 9:22
Well it could have been bigger logo.. but it has a historical value and Gulf suits in almost every racing car
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
28th July 2020, 9:29
True. I hope they’ll centre their livery around Gulf a bit more in 2021.
SteveR
28th July 2020, 15:35
The size and location of the sponsor name depends on the size of the sponsorship; this looks to be a welcome but minor amount of money. Glad to see a new sponsor in F1, it has been (and is) a long, dry spell.
cduk_mugello (@cduk_mugello)
28th July 2020, 9:33
We’ve gone from McLaren having no sponsors a few years ago to the car being packed with them now… it’s like looking at a 94 Jordan with the amount of small graphics plastered all over it. Zac Brown has certainly turned the team around on the marketing front. It might be a small logo but Gulf are a welcome addition back to F1.
anon
28th July 2020, 12:25
Welcome return, or a new addition? Have Gulf been a supplier in F1, or were they only a supplier to sports car teams?
Selbbin (@selbbin)
28th July 2020, 13:46
McLaren in the 60s and 70s, like on the M7A in 1968. Gulf was featured on the front wings. I think they supplied, too.
I think the last appearance was in 1976, Scuderia Rondini Gulf running the Tyrrell 007 chassis
Not George
28th July 2020, 14:30
It’s not the original Gulf company either, just a licensing deal. It’s funny how such a forward looking business can be so backward sometimes.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
30th July 2020, 18:15
sponsorship or partnership, I use your logo to bump mine, gone are the days sponsorship was great for money laudering.
ColdFly (@)
28th July 2020, 9:36
I like classic liveries and advert decals.
Just a shame they did not get rid of the A Better Tumorow sponsorship.
Qeki (@qeki)
28th July 2020, 13:36
Well Better Tomorrow is also an old sponsor. Last seen in BAR
Not George
28th July 2020, 14:31
It is British American Tobacco. Shame the normal folks in Bahrain & Saudi (McLaren’s owners) don’t have a “better tomorrow” to look forward to.
Paul Spencer (@pwspencer)
28th July 2020, 9:45
It’s funny how much they have photo-shopped the Road car from the actual photo shoot…!
pbs.twimg.com/media/Edn-tb3XkAUdeR3?format=jpg&name=small
They Did Their Best (@theydidtheirbest)
28th July 2020, 9:46
Do you think Lando bought a copy of “Crash Bang Wallop What A Video” whilst they were there for the photoshoot?
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
28th July 2020, 9:57
“Titsnade Zoo”
John H (@john-h)
28th July 2020, 15:34
@theydidtheirbest If I was doing the Photoshop, I would have definitely made him look more “clinically fed-up”.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
29th July 2020, 13:05
The question is:
Did he drive to Aberdeen in his bare feet?
James Coulee
28th July 2020, 9:47
Orange and yellow?
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
28th July 2020, 9:57
Yeah, I thought that!
White innit?!
pastaman (@)
28th July 2020, 13:44
… blue??
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
28th July 2020, 9:56
Fingers crossed for a full on Gulf livery next year
Not George
28th July 2020, 14:33
Why? Wouldn’t you like some originality & creativity?
Sam Crawford
28th July 2020, 10:13
They must have what, 20 different sponsors on that car now, and that not including duplicated decals of the same sponsor too! A lot of money coming in for sure but they could really do with neatening it up a bit.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
28th July 2020, 12:15
Wouldn’t it be funny if they changed their livery.
That screaming you can hear is a Codemasters artist.
Josh
28th July 2020, 14:37
McLaren’s track record with remarrying of legends has not gone so well, Alonso…Honda…now Gulf?
Neil (@neilosjames)
28th July 2020, 17:01
I don’t like light blue on cars at all, and definitely wouldn’t want it on a 720, but… amazing how a bit of nostalgia can turn something I should dislike into something I find incredibly beautiful.
Antz (@antznz)
28th July 2020, 22:07
Their F1 car looks huge next to the road car… I know angles exaggerate it a bit but damn… F1 cars really have packed on some size! Been too many years since I’ve seen one in person…
Macca (@macca)
29th July 2020, 0:14
Could we see a Lotus vs Lotus type battle next year with Aston Martin and McLaren using similar liveries. That would be completely F1.