We made it
This car launch has kept me from doing something drastic. Like drain my bank accounts on grand prix tickets for a race across the world drastic. Put my parents house for sale so I could quit my job and travel around grand prix to grand prix drastic.
But, alas. F1 gods blessed us with a livery launch event to provide us new content to help us get through these last few weeks of the off season.
I did in fact tune into the live stream with very minimal expectations or any real thoughts on how this was going to look. So color me pleasantly surprised by what ended up happening. Naturally, I took down notes for my live reactions to the events as a whole and the individual car presentations.
I think that in the spirit of keeping the initial reactions unfiltered I will keep them as they are written, maybe some slight editing to keep it PG because we are a family show here.
(I can confidently say I did not actually proof read a single one of these, so if there is a grammatical error. sucks.)
O2 Event Live reactions
Why am I so freaking nervous about this
Okay i don’t know why I'm so shocked at the dramatics but honestly makes so much sense
why are we starting with MGK
y’all can not keep calling Max out he will get up and walk out
Lewis and Ferrari has not clicked in my brain yet
Not the James Vowles freak off please get it together this is a family show
Putting Checo in as a cameo in that montage is crazy work
Oh wait love this fanfare prior to the Stake actual launch but kind of giving like sci fi dictator?
Is what each team is going to have? like this style or did they get to put together their own thing?
Matteo jump scare literally forgot he was their team principal. ugh.
Take a shot every time they mention Lewis at Ferrari
The Charles as the prettiest man alive agenda is crazy
Whitehall as the ultimate James Volwes stan is so funny
CORRECT IDRIS IS THE NEXT JAMES BOND PLEASE
Kimmy and Ollie its officially time for bed.
Every team said: ombre.
Welcome back “if my mom had balls she would be my dad.” may you never be forgotten.
The outfit change for the Ferrari presentation? What’s he going to do for McLaren? come out dressed as a literal papaya
Stefano if you really wanted to thank me you’d lower those Grand prix ticket prices
Individual Team Presentations
McLaren
I am so sad that the testing livery and suit aren’t real. I think it is perfection. Its fun! Seeing so much dislike about it online. If you don’t like it, just say you hate fun. The team has such a fun energy with their driver line up it would’ve been so great to have something to match but a nightmare for the car sponsors.
Actual livery thoughts:
Of course they are also playing into their history. well done. Animation adds a bit something different to it. “Papaya on top” how silly of a way to end it. Okay so the car progressions on the actual stage is so good. Literally just remembering they havent shown their suits before either. Andrea with the hints. wow! so this car is boring. not my fav. and they have similar suits too. ugh. dont piss me off. I am like where is the energy to match the energy of the team. I respect it but at the same time, disappointed. I think their socials were hyping me up for something very different? I dont hate it just wasn’t expecting it. overall: 8/10.
Williams
Deeply appreciate their video calling on the history of Williams and bringing it in as a tie in. okay wait amazing music choice, this seems perfect to me? Wait. That is such a hot livery. Love that they did dark blue to light blue. wtf is this driver presentation moment. Williams showing out rn. Appreciate the contrast in the white suits vs the dark of the car. overall 9.25/10
Red Bull
Love the Rolling stones intro for Christian. Is their presentation just Christian?! BORING. okay spoke too soon there is a video. their homage to the street car cultures i love. you know max hates these randoms on stage rn. was that it? wait be so serious. that took 5 seconds. Their car and their suit looks the same anyway. overall: 7.5/10
Aston Martin
Okay they are having fun with it! Honestly what this team needed. Show off that their team can be fun and has a personality. okay crowd work! and this animation?! They said we are investing in creativity this off season. Loving the juxtaposition between the team introduction and their strings and tems performance of introducing the car. They put a patch of black on the side of the car and called it a day. Lawerence stroll 😐 they put on a more neon shade of green on their car and suits. they put all their creativity into their presentation. overall: 8.7/10
Haas
Just so America! ugh can we not. this is not giving me what I want it to give. “The american way.” girl please we dont want it. Love the black and white with hints of red. Very different for them too I feel. The black and red for the suits looks so good next to the car. Safe yet different. I cant be mad. overall: 8/10
Sauber
Loved the energy and intensity to their presentation. I feel like it matches the colors of their team? Their Suits I would not be able to really tell the difference top up. I love the green ombre into black on the car. Its fun! overall: 8.5/10
VCARB
What is this low budget commercial promo? Okay wait, street interviews kind of love. okay VCARB truther woman. Meh on their suits. Kind of funny but thats the energy they need considering they have had a million drivers and names in the last 2 years. Okay wait love the white for them. idk why it feels so different. The red bull logos the towards the back going toward the front are fantastic addition to me. overall: 8.75/10
Ferrari
Love the enzo tribute before. The sketching/drafting montage is perfection. leaning into the artistry and evolution of the car is great. We belong to racing? kind of goes hard ngl. Absolutely shocked they even let the car have that much white on it. But progress. I knew it wasnt going to be a massive switch up with them. omg, still can not get over lewis in red. Enjoy being Freds word has me concerned, enjoy that there is even a car. The suits match the car perfectly honestly. Maybe would've liked more white? overall: 9/10
Mercedes
Of course they are going with a more practical, performance take on their intro. This is like a commercial that youd find on tv and I wouldnt be surprised to see it on tv soon. Very straight forward. okay little pitstop moment. Im seeing silver. stop with this wack lighting so I can see. Black suits what a surprise. the silver to black ombre actually looks so sleek and sexy, I have to give them credit. overall: 9/10
Alpine
Alpine having a full on techno dj is so goofy. giving scifi rave fantasy. if this car doesnt come out all pink i am going to be so mad. I love that everyone is so beyond confused by this DJ right now. This is actually making me mad. Show us the car I dont like this DJ. Them showing their lowest points as a team as a part of their presentation is so goofy. Im over this. this is making me hate this team. Okay alot more pink than I thought honestly. I appreciate their suits. overall: 5/10
My take aways
I think looking back, I definitely appreciated the more historic teams like McLaren, Williams, and Ferrari playing into their history of the sport, given that the event is for 75th anniversary. Also, the fun energies that the teams put into their presentations was very refreshing given that I don’t think that a lot of people expecting that type of intro from a lot of the teams. They need to continue that momentum throughout the season for their off track efforts to help bring fans into supporting or at least following their team more, especially the teams with rookies.
My overall winner of the day was definitely Williams. They came out with such a new level of aura; from their presentation and the livery and suit combo. Honestly, they are giving themselves a facelift on and off track and I am quite excited to see what they do with this momentum going into the first few races.
Now, to try and make it another week before pre-season testing.
2025 season sososososoososo soon.
