P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our reaction to the 2024 McLaren F1 livery

Episode Date: January 16, 2024

McLaren just came from OUTTA NOWHERE and dropped their new livery - so we had to jump on for another emergency pod!You can sign up to our Patreon here! You'll get access to exclusive episodes you won't hear anywhere else, every P1 episode ad-free, full driver interview videos, early access to tickets and more!Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to an emergency P1 podcast. I hope you are all seated, ready for a reaction that we did not think we'd have to do on a random Tuesday evening. But Tommy McLaren have announced or launched their livery, just randomly jump-scared us all and went, boom, here you go, here's the new livery. Absolutely crazy. We thought that Gunther Steiner emergency podcast would be the only one in January. But, you know, they said that all these...

these cars were getting launched in February, McLaren are just like, no, middle of Jan. Here you go. Obviously, it's not the car, just delivery, but still, it took us all by surprise. I love how we say it's not the car, it's the livery. This is literally what everyone else is going to do as well. Exactly. I'm surprised about McLaren doing this, mainly because, well, I don't know, they're still going to have a team launch, right?

So they've announced that on the 14th, which is the same day as Mercedes, they are going be launching on Valentine's Day. Can't wait for more Valentine's Day puns, yada, yada, yada. But this, this just came out of nowhere. Of course, we knew that McLaren were in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong. They were cooking up something because they had removed all of their posts on Instagram, hadn't they? They'd basically wiped the slate clean and put up one video, wasn't it, that was whatever it takes. Yeah. And we thought that would be a, The profile picture was weird. The profile picture was weird as well where it was like this geometric. The weird thing is yesterday I looked at that profile picture and I was like, oh, it looks like a date.

And then it looked like 1601. And I went, well, that's January. That's not the car launch date. Surely it's meant to say 1602. And didn't think anything of it. And then today, boom, like you say, here it is. the new livery, which I just so unexpected. I just message you, didn't I like, McLaren have just loved their livery, emergency podcast now. Yeah, you mess with me. I was like, what are you on about? Huh? It's the middle of January. I think you were bantering, but no, McLaren have released it. So let's dive into the thoughts around this surprise livery. And for me, it looks lovely. It looks beautiful.

It looks sleek. I love the orange and the black. There's none of that rogue blue that I know you as well, Tommy, feel exactly the same that that being removed is a good thing. And of course, orange, you know, orange and black just worked so well together. And McLaren's sort of doing what we always wanted them to do and not just randomly mixing in other things

or doing, you know, little bits here and there for sponsors that we might not want. This for me is a very, very nice looking livery. It is indeed, yeah. I'm really glad they got rid of the rogue blue, like you say, particularly that light blue, which they, I think they even said at the time that it was kind of a nod to the golf livery. But of course, golf don't even sponsor them anymore.

So it was really odd that they kept it for another year as well afterwards. And it was kind of a strange thing. And they did, McLaren always did that throughout the year, changing their livery quite a few times. They had the chrome. They had the one with the pink as well. and every time they removed the blue, it looked so much better, so I'm glad they've realised that that's the way to go.

Still got the Google Chrome wheel covers, which they're interesting. They're quite cool, like. It's something funny. Obviously, it'd look better without them, I think, but I don't mind them, particularly now that you've got rid of the blue as well because there was too many, too many colors going on.

But I also like the fact that they've looked like they've got chrome numbers which is quite cool. A little nod to the chrome. I know you say, oh, you know, it'd be better without the wheel rims, but I'm glad it's on the wheel rims and nowhere else. Otherwise the car would have a little bit of yellow, red, green and blue somewhere and I'm not sure that was... As well as orange, yeah, it'd be just rainbow car. I'm not sure that would look too good. But yes, McLaren, you have absolutely nailed it, I would say. I love the sort of black stripe that goes through the middle of the car and I think it kind of merges with the orange really nicely.

I think it's a nod to Marlborough, like that Marlborough-McClaarine sort of vibe. That's what I get from it is like that kind of McLaren-Honda era where it's kind of the diagonal line. I feel like that's what they're going for with that as like a kind of nod to the past. So now that they've actually launched their livery, and we both are in agreement that it is a wonderful looking livery, I guess the next question is,

why did they do it now? What, why have they just dropped it out of nowhere? And also, I guess, following on from that, something I want to talk about, which I'll do now actually, is this whatever it takes campaign? This slogan that they're going with.

That video was, it kind of painted the picture of McLaren being really under pressure, under threat. You know, they're in a crisis, this, that and the other. I'm not sure, I'm not sure 2023, for the majority of it was what those headlines were.

I think at the beginning, obviously, there were, you know, obviously questions because they were really slow, but they turned that around quite quickly. But for me, you know, I watched that video and I go, you've found something, haven't you? You have, you've got something. They always, they always like, Mercedes did it last year where they were like, oh, posting memes about,

look how good we're going to be. And then they were like, first race. Oh, Red Bull and Mars. I was clear and our side pods aren't very good. No, they're chefing. They're hyping. There's definitely a lot of, a lot of hype there. Maybe the hashtag whatever it takes is whatever it takes to be the first to launch a livery.

Because we all thought, we all thought 5th of Feb, Steak and Williams, that would be when it all kicks off. And I think we did a Patreon pod actually where we were talking about this of like teams want to be first. And McLaren have just gone, well, we've thought. we've got sign off. Let's just tweet it. They listened to the podcast, didn't they? We did a little Patreon podcast. Yeah.

Oh, have we not even released yet? No, the spies. They were listening to our recording. But we essentially suggested, you know, if I was running a team, I'd want to be the first launch. I didn't mean the 16th of January. That was, I mean, it's fine.

It gives us something to talk about. I guess, as I say, following on from that, why have they done it? Do we think it's genuinely because they just want some eyeballs and they know that F1 is really dead at the moment and there's not a lot going on

so they will be the centre of attention for quite literally two weeks now? Yes, I'm just watching a video actually. It is absolutely awesome. Like, I do really, really like that livery. I think it's a banger. What would you rate it out of 10 before we get into? Why?

Oh, I think it's like, I think it's a colour combo that just looks awesome. I loved Orange Arrows as a kid. That was like my team that I loved because it was like different. They'll probably hope that they're quicker than Orange Arrows because they weren't very good. But yeah, I think it's awesome. I'd give it like a 8 out of 10, maybe an 8.5.

Oh, well, actually you'll be finalising those numbers, weren't you for a video that we do later down the line? I'm sure we'll do a roundup like we always do. I can't wait for a comment on our roundup one where you call it a 9 and they're like, well, actually now on your reaction video. How dare you change your opinion? Well, it always changes, isn't it, when you see others?

Because then you've got like a benchmark. Because this might be the best one, and then it's like a 10. But at the moment, like, I do think there are little things that they could do maybe look a bit better. But just getting rid of that blue, black and orange is just such a great, great combo. And it looks awesome. You are, you know, a bit of a livery god. You do say so yourself.

And you say that there are a few things that you might change. To talk to me. What would you change? Like what would be, if Tom Bellingham had the paintbrush, what's he doing to that car to make it a tent? The diagonal orange line at the back, I'm not a huge fan of, especially because if you look at a bang-on side view,

that sort of diagonal line looked great in the 90s and that, in my opinion, is what they're trying to throw back to, where they were very boxy angular cars. but now you try and paint like a straight orange line and there's so much kind of the side pod drops down and then there's the bit above the side pod that sticks out a lot big technical analysis here and it doesn't it's not like a you know

it's a difficult surface to like to like paint and sometimes I think from some angles it doesn't look as great but they've done a great job basically just ditching the blue but then at the same time they've also not released their car yet so um who knows maybe it works amazing on their new look car and um they've got something under their sleeve because again on that patreon pod we discussed that they were the team that were quite secretive back in the day of like doing cheeky things to uh hide bits on their car so maybe maybe that's what what they're doing that they've they've those

They're first with their livery, but they don't need to share the car, which, like you said, right at the start, that is what a lot of teams do now anyway. Yeah, so I guess it then posted the question around their car launch and their event, because McLaren are one of the teams that properly go in on their event. They give it a good effort. They don't do it just a render like we see on social media today.

They usually put quite a lot of effort into making it into a production, getting the fans involved, this, that and the other. Do we think now that they've launched the livery and the design? It takes a way. away from why anyone would then watch the launch? Yeah, because they do, they'll obviously show a new car, but it's not a regulation change, so it won't look wildly different.

And that new colour scheme is always the thing that people first react to from delivery launches, because as we know, and is the case for every team this season, there's no new drivers, so they'll just, it's the same drivers, probably just saying that we hope to be as quick as we were at the end of last season, if not a bit quicker. And then they will, yeah, be interesting to see whether they even bother with a cover

and they take the cover off and they're like, way, just kidding, it's pink. Shocked face. Oh, imagine. Imagine. Yeah, maybe it's a massive role. BWC coming in for two races for a McLarence sponsorship and get that all pink card. That's what they need. they need a McLaren which is chrome.

So you've got the red, yellow, green, blue, then the orange from McLaren, then BWT needs to come in for pink, and then P1 sponsorship for purple, and we're sorted. I'm here for all of that. I really am. So McLaren, as we said, out of nowhere, I've dropped their livery. I wonder what they will do for their car launch to make it slightly different than normal,

because of course the anticipation is to see what the car slash livery, more importantly, will look like. The other teams, of course, that are or have announced their dates so far, are Williams and Steak on the 5th of February, Alpine on the 7th, Aston Martin on the 12th, Ferrari on the 13th, and Mercedes on the 14th, alongside McLaren as well. What would you say is the most you're most excited for, Tommy, out of those teams? Steak, because it's new.

There'll be a new livery as well for them, you'd assume, unless they're just like, ha ha, just kidding. Alpha and Mayo are back and we're red and black again. but it looks like they're going to be very different. All of their posters, all their graphics they've posted so far, all just kind of hints of green and that sort of stuff. That's definitely the most exciting one for us as well, well, for me as well, just purely because it's new,

and we like new. We like new things, which we're not getting a lot of this year, because all the drivers are the same. So it's something to be excited for. Certainly is. Tommy, any other thoughts before we head off into the abyss for another couple of weeks, and then we are right back at it? Until we do another emergency podcast where, I don't know, maybe, I hope this isn't the,

while it was fun and interesting, I hope this isn't the norm, because it could start to get a bit out of hand if teams start. But if teams are now competing to be the first one to launch delivery, is it going to get to the point where it's like 2nd of January? And then in four years time, a team are like releasing their car on like Christmas Day for 2020, like the next season or whatever going. Yeah, here's your Christmas present, everyone. And you're just like, no.

No, because it takes you by surprise. Do you think other teams will be a little bit like, yeah, what are you doing? Why have you launched so early? Well, there is talk that they all discuss to kind of do their best to release on different days. And Williams and Stakes at the same day and Mercedes-McLaren.

I love how McLaren are with Mercedes-Yen yet, and yet they have literally a same engine supplier. It's like, interesting. They must have been like, oh, well, you're launching your render on the 16th of January. We have no problem as, or to be fair, Mercedes will roll out their car at 8 a.m. I'm silverstone as well.

So basically we'll have no cars or liveries to look at that we knew when the covers come. The only one would be Ferrari and they release it. It's like, yep, it's red again. And I'm ready for that. We're ready for that. I will absolutely, I will back that to the hill. Okay.

Tommy, what are your final thoughts? Final thoughts? Well done, McLaren, for getting rid of that blow. It's a beat. Yep, I would say a solid, solidly high grain. I'm going to give this McLaren. No, you're going to have to tune in to the overall gradings that we will do after all of the car launches. I think that's the best way to do it.

Keep it. Yeah, nice. At least we're doing a bit of full play and teams aren't. You know what I mean? They're just dropping the car. Anyway, that is it. Thank you, everybody. We're watching and listening.

See you very soon for another podcast. Bye. P1 is a stack production and part of the ACAST creator network.