Formula 1’s 75th anniversary celebrations kicked off in London’s O2 Arena on February 18, 2025, with the sport’s first-ever season launch event, F1 75 Live.
The latest high-profile spectacle from Formula 1’s commercial rights holder, Liberty Media, F1 75 Live is part of the company’s strategy to fuel the sport’s unprecedented global boom through initiatives such as Netflix’s Drive to Survive and a more dynamic social media approach than it had under Bernie Ecclestone.
The highly anticipated event, emceed by comedian Jack Whitehall, saw all ten teams, 20 drivers and team principals unveil their 2025 liveries before a live audience of more than 15,000 ticket holders – with millions more watching via online streams, social media and television. Plenty of celebrities were spotted at the event, too, including Idris Elba, Gordon Ramsay and Jerry Bruckheimer, director of the upcoming F1 film starring Brad Pitt.
Each of the ten team’s 2025 liveries were unveiled throughout the course of the two-hour event, following the reverse order of the 2024 Constructors’ Championship standings. For hardcore motor sport fans this was undoubtedly the main draw, because each unveiling was a spectacle that reflected the personalities and heritage of the teams.
Aston Martin, for example, paid homage to James Bond with its livery launch, as drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll emerged from the bleachers in suave suits and race helmets. Meanwhile, teams such as Ferrari, Williams and McLaren drew on their enviable histories in the sport for their presentations.
The livery reveals were complemented by live performances from Take That, country star Kane Brown and rapper Machine Gun Kelly – a perhaps unexpected inclusion given his widely criticised appearance on the grid at the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he was notably rude to ex-F1 driver and legendary broadcaster Martin Brundle.
While many Formula 1 purists were sceptical about F1 75 Live, the two-hour extravaganza proved successful – despite the fact that the majority of the teams chose not to launch their 2025 challengers and so risk giving their opponents an advantage ahead of pre-season testing on February 26-28 at the Bahrain International Circuit.
These concerns, however, were soon overshadowed by the spectacle itself – an extravaganza of pyrotechnics, special effects and the largest LED screen ever used at the O2, spanning the entire width of the venue.
That’s not to say the event was without flaws. Most liveries remained virtually unchanged from last year, dulling some of the excitement. Only Alpine and the Racing Bulls will sport noticeably different paint schemes in 2025.
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner received a mixed reception on stage, while the FIA was met with audible jeers and boos from the predominantly British crowd. The governing body has drawn fan ire in recent years, particularly after the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi finale and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s imposition of unpopular swearing regulations on drivers.
Gordon Ramsay captured the prevailing sentiment when prodded on the topic by Jack Whitehall: “They’re risking their life every time. They’re travelling over 200mph. So if the shit hits the fan…” The chef was humorously cut off before he could finish, amid thunderous applause.
It’s unclear whether a launch event in the mould of F1 75 Live will become an annual season-opening event. The idea, however, clearly has potential and would undoubtedly be refined in time for the sport’s 80th anniversary in five years time. In the meantime, the FIA should perhaps focus on rebuilding the beneficence of the fans while Liberty Media continues to grow the sport into a global phenomenon.
