F1’s first-ever season launch was, in my eyes, a real winner. I know many of you were ready to can it, and, yeah, there were a couple of corny bits in there and a few things that fell flat. But in general, I thought it was a ripper. The night kicked off with a red carpet entry at the O2 Arena, and it was quite the spectacle.
We had a mix of stars, including singers, chefs, past drivers, and team principals. Most drivers were dressed to the nines, with Liam Lawson standing out for his more casual look. Lewis Hamilton arrived in a stunning Ferrari Purosangue, and Charles Leclerc sparkled in a dark suit with a lovely Ferrari pin. Naomi Schiff also made a notable appearance.
Inside the packed O2 Arena, all of the F1 hierarchy were present. I noticed Oscar Piastri sitting at the McLaren table with his girlfriend, and Lewis Hamilton’s security guard was not too far behind. F1 sponsor Moët and Chandon had their beverages on the tables, but I didn’t see any drivers enjoying a drink. Netflix crews were in attendance, hinting at an extension of their contract with Formula One.
As the event progressed, there were a couple of booing instances—once when the FIA logo appeared on screen and another during Christian Horner’s introduction. The booing was noticeable, especially towards the FIA.
What did I think of the host, Jack Whitehall? I thought he did okay, although he did fawn over Charles Leclerc a couple of times, even getting a smile from Fernando Alonso. Then came the important part: the livery reveals of all ten teams, done in reverse order.
Starting with Sauber and ending with McLaren, each team had their moment to showcase their liveries. I particularly enjoyed the segment about the upcoming F1 movie, which has a real push to get fans excited for its release in late June.
Now, let’s dive into some of the livery reveals. For Williams, James Vowles took centre stage, and I liked the new yellow circling around the drivers’ names on the car. Next up was VCarb, who effectively branded themselves as Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Their livery looked fantastic, although I was expecting a bit of green based on their race suits.
Haas focused heavily on the US market, featuring country singer Kane Brown in their opener. While their car looked much the same, it was refreshing to see the genuine excitement from teenage driver Ollie Bearman.
Brian Tyler, known for the F1 theme, performed next. I felt that segment fell a bit short, and even Flavio Briatore looked confused. However, the lighting was magnificent.
Then, we had Alpine, who debuted their new pink race suits. I wasn’t sure about the new haircuts on Jack and Pierre, but their segment felt a tad drawn out, with a person close to the Alpine team saying, “We cried. Six minutes of DJ, one minute of car.” A new sponsor, MSC, was also highlighted on the Alpine car.
In my opinion, the highlight of the night was Aston Martin’s reveal, which had a fantastic James Bond connection. They dressed their drivers in suits and had them appear among the fans in the grandstand, which added a special touch.
As I watched the event unfold, I wondered what the rookie drivers thought of it all. They must have felt overawed by the atmosphere, especially in front of a crowd of 15,000 to 16,000 strong.
After each segment, I received an email with all the assets for each team, a clever move by F1 to maximise viewership.
Mercedes’ launch was classy and understated, while Red Bull’s reveal featured some booing for Christian Horner. Their video was big-budget but didn’t quite grab my attention. Max Verstappen, being quite down to earth, seemed unfazed by the razzle-dazzle.
Ferrari received a huge roar from the crowd, and I liked the splash of white on their car. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali took to the stage to thank everyone, standing behind the Constructors’ Trophy in a Louis Vuitton case.
Finally, McLaren took to the stage, with Oscar Piastri impressing everyone with his eloquence. The event wrapped up with a hero shot of all ten cars and twenty drivers on stage.
Overall, I’d rate the event a solid seven and a half out of ten. What about you? Did it keep you engaged the whole time, or did you sneak out for snacks? I was watching with a keen eye, looking for things you might not have spotted.
FAQ
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What was the main highlight of the F1 Season Launch 2025?
The highlight was Aston Martin’s reveal, which included a James Bond theme and their drivers appearing in suits among the fans.
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Who were the notable attendees at the event?
Notable attendees included past drivers, team principals, and stars from various fields, including Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
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What new features were introduced in the liveries?
One notable feature was the yellow circling of drivers’ names on the Williams car, which was a new addition this year.
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How did the crowd react during the event?
There were moments of booing, especially directed at the FIA and Christian Horner, but overall, the crowd was enthusiastic, especially for Ferrari and Aston Martin.