F1 75 Live: A Spectacular Season Launch Event

Formula 1 commemorated its 75th anniversary with a groundbreaking event, F1 75 Live, held at London's O2 Arena on 18 February 2025. This unprecedented gathering saw all ten teams unveil their 2025 season liveries in a unified celebration, marking a significant departure from the traditional individual team launches.

The event set an exhilarating tone for the upcoming season, with pre-season testing scheduled in Bahrain from 26-28 February, leading up to the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.

A Blend of Sport and Entertainment

Hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, the evening was a fusion of sport and entertainment, featuring performances by renowned artists such as Take That, Kane Brown, and MGK. Composer Brian Tyler also delivered an immersive audio-visual experience under his alter-ego, Are We Dreaming.

The event was broadcast live worldwide, allowing fans across the globe to partake in the celebrations and witness the latest car designs and driver line-ups ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 season.

New Liveries and Exciting Driver Line-ups

Each team brought its own unique flair to their livery reveals. Aston Martin captivated attendees with a James Bond-inspired presentation, while Alpine maintained its signature pink and blue design for the A525. Williams unveiled the FW47, marking the beginning of Carlos Sainz Jr.'s tenure with the team.

Fans also got their first glimpse of several drivers in brand-new colours. Seeing Lewis Hamilton don the iconic Ferrari red for the first time was undoubtedly one of the biggest moments of the night, marking the start of a historic new chapter in his career. Carlos Sainz Jr. also made his debut in Williams blue, a stark contrast to his previous Ferrari attire, while Esteban Ocon transitioned to Haas after years at Alpine.

Meanwhile, the event also introduced six rookies in their official team colours for the first time:

• Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes’ silver, stepping into Hamilton’s shoes
• Isack Hadjar – Visa Cash App Racing Bulls' new livery
• Jack Doohan – Alpine’s blue and pink
• Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber’s C45
• Oliver Bearman – Haas’ VF-25
• Liam Lawson – Full-time promotion to Red Bull’s RB20 after substitute appearances

With these fresh faces and high-profile moves, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent history.

Tensions and Rivalries on Display

The event wasn't without its fair share of drama. The ongoing rivalry between Max Verstappen and George Russell took centre stage once again. The pair, who have exchanged heated words on and off track, shared a frosty moment when they crossed paths at the event. While Russell kept things professional, Verstappen’s subtle jabs in interviews suggested that their battle for dominance is far from over.

Adding to the tension, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner faced a chorus of boos from the predominantly British audience, reflecting ongoing sentiments towards the team. Jack Whitehall didn’t hold back, playfully targeting figures like Horner and Verstappen, adding a humorous touch to the proceedings.

2025 Formula 1 Teams and Car Models

• Oracle Red Bull Racing – RB20
• Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team – F1 W16 E Performance
• Scuderia Ferrari HP – SF-25
• McLaren Formula 1 Team – MCL39
• Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team – AMR25
• BWT Alpine F1 Team – A525
• Atlassian Williams Racing – FW47
• Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team – VCARB 02
• Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber – C45
• MoneyGram Haas F1 Team – VF-25

With new faces, fresh rivalries, and a record 24-race calendar, the 2025 season is set to be one of Formula 1’s most competitive and thrilling yet. The countdown to lights out in Australia has well and truly begun!