McLaren will run BAT’s VELO livery for F1 Abu Dhabi GP, as Alpine, Ferrari and Haas share details on FP1 outings and post-season test.
The McLaren Formula 1 Team and Principal Partner BAT’s brand VELO have today revealed a special fan-inspired livery for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Created as part of the ‘Live Your Fandom’ campaign, the livery design showcases the passion, creativity and community of the McLaren Formula 1 Team’s global fanbase.
Designed in collaboration with nine McLaren Formula 1 Team fans from across the globe, the livery artwork features a series of bespoke icons, each representing unforgettable fan memories and symbols of the McLaren Formula 1 Team legacy and fan spirit. From drivers’ race suits to paddock screens and garage walls, the race-wide artwork will show up in core elements with the McLaren Formula 1 Team over the iconic finale weekend.
Earlier this year, the selected fans were invited to the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) for a behind-the-scenes experience, with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and McLaren Formula 1 Team Driver Lando Norris, before later returning to preview the finished livery ahead of its Abu Dhabi debut – which marks the culmination of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Racing, said: “Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this special livery is another way of showing our appreciation. Through the ‘Live Your Fandom’ campaign with VELO, we’ve been able to celebrate their passion and creativity in a way that truly brings the Papaya Family together.”
Luca Angiolillo, Global Head of Partnerships at BAT, said: “VELO believes in championing authentic self-expression, and what better way than to literally put the passion of the McLaren Formula 1 Team global fanbase onto the MCL39? This co-created design is a powerful statement of how deeply fans are integrated into the team’s journey, which is the ultimate embodiment of our ‘Live Your Fandom’ campaign. VELO is proud to celebrate these experiences that allow fans to embrace their own unique fandom as part of a community – and we can’t wait to see this special fan-driven takeover take centre stage at the season finale!”
Alpine –
BWT Alpine Formula One Team Test and Reserve Drivers Paul Aron and Kush Maini will both drive the A525 in Abu Dhabi as the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship season draws to a close. Paul, who has participated for the team in Free Practice 1 sessions at the Italian and Mexico City Grands Prix, will once again take part in the Friday session, substituting for Pierre Gasly. Paul’s development with the team will continue as he returns to the track where he first drove a Formula One car last season in the post-season Young Driver Test.
Following the race weekend, Kush will take part in Tuesday’s post-season Young Driver Test, following the conclusion of the Formula 2 race weekend, for his first appearance in modern Formula One machinery in an official Formula One session. Kush has previously driven in the team’s Testing Previous Cars [TPC] programme and simulator as part of his role in the Alpine Academy. His position was expanded earlier in the year to become one of the team’s Test and Reserve Drivers, bolstering further the pool of driving talent within the team.
Paul Aron: “I am looking forward to being back behind the wheel of the A525 this weekend in Abu Dhabi for my third Free Practice session with the team, and fifth of the season. The performances in Monza and Mexico City were very positive for my personal development as a driver and I’m looking forward to building on that for a final time this year. I really enjoyed the opportunity to take part in the post-season test at this track last year – a very fond memory for me as it was my first time in a Formula One car – and I am grateful to the team for giving me this latest opportunity again in Abu Dhabi. I will do my best to help set up a successful race weekend for the team.”
Kush Maini: “I can’t wait to take part in the post-season Abu Dhabi test and to have my first proper experience of the A525. The Yas Marina Circuit is one I know well from Formula 2 and it will be impressive to see the level of performance Formula One cars have around this track. I’m very appreciative of the team for trusting me in this role and will aim to do the best job possible with the programme the team gives me.”
Steve Nielsen: “The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend presents an excellent opportunity to call on our Test and Reserve drivers and to allow them all-important seat time in a modern Formula One car. Both Paul and Kush have worked hard this season, especially during our simulator and TPC programmes to be prepared and ready for any Formula One opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing how they perform in their respective sessions at Yas Marina.”
Ferrari, Haas –
For Scuderia Ferrari HP, the spotlight will be on Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, although the latter will sit out the first session, with Arthur Leclerc taking the wheel for the second time at a Grand Prix weekend to run alongside his brother. A year ago, Arthur stood in for Carlos Sainz, as part of Scuderia Ferrari HP’s commitment to giving young drivers valuable track time, in accordance with the rule that each race driver must twice be replaced during practice by a driver with no more than two Grands Prix to their name, for a free practice session.
For the final moments of track action of 2025, one has to wait until Tuesday. As usual, it will be time for the end-of-season test, with teams running two cars, one of them specially adapted to test the 2026 tyres. Charles and Lewis will take turns at the wheel, while the SF-25 in the current configuration will be entrusted to Dino Beganovic as part of the Young Driver Test. Dino has already driven two FP1 sessions this year, in Bahrain and Austria, replacing Charles and he has also taken part in various tests in cars from previous years.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Reserve Driver Ryo Hirakawa will participate in Free Practice 1, replacing Ocon for the 60-minute session. Ocon will return for Free Practice 2 onwards.
[The story is as per press release]