The launch season has begun again - McLaren recently presented its livery for the new Formula 1 season, but we still have to wait before we actually get to see the team's new car.
In the coming weeks, the team presentations will follow each other in quick succession, meaning it is high time to review the most spectacular team presentations from the past.
This season, there are especially high hopes for the team presentation of Stake F1 Team, which already showcased on January 1 its new team name and branding by world-renowned rapper Drake. On February 5 in London, the Swiss F1 team will unveil the new car for the 2024 season in spectacular fashion, and RacingNews365 will, of course, be there!
For now, take a look back at past team presentations, where the 2023 Ferrari launch is not to be missed.
Spice Girls unveil new McLaren
The McLaren team pulled out all the stops in 1997 for the presentation of the new car. The then immensely popular girl group Spice Girls performed at the unveiling of the British racing stable's new car.
The girls sang their hit "Wannabe" and also conducted a fun interview with the two McLaren drivers of that year: David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen. You can see it all in the footage below.
Nowadays, such an appearance by the Spice Girls probably wouldn't happen. After all, Geri Halliwell, also known as Ginger Spice, is married to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
BAR unveils dual livery
Two years after McLaren's spectacular presentation, it was the new team British American Racing (BAR) that stole the show. The team unveiled not one, but two cars for the new season.
BAR had attracted two main sponsors, one for one car and one for the other. One of the challengers featured "Lucky Strike" sponsorship and the other was named as the "555" car.
The FIA was not happy, however, and the rules also clearly state that the two cars from the same team must have the same livery. BAR, however, came up with a very creative solution and decided to combine the two liveries through a huge zipper on the car.
Statue reveals Benetton F1 car
The Benetton team also deserves a mention on this list. In 2000, the team decided to make a big splash on Italian soil. The bright blue car stood out in a picturesque Italian town, but that was not enough.
The flamboyant team boss Flavio Briatore had decided that the presentation should be spectacular. Through a tilting mechanism, a statue had to make way for the team's new F1 car.
Plane delivers new F1 car
The unveiling of the Jordan EJ12 cannot be missing from this list either. The Irish racing outfit attracted DHL as a new sponsor for the 2002 Formula 1 season and therefore decided to go all out at the presentation of the new car.
The transport company has its own aircraft at its disposal and Jordan decided to use one of them for the launch of the new car.
A yellow DHL plane landed at Brussels Airport and in a DHL warehouse the new F1 car was then taken out of the luggage compartment.
It was certainly spectacular, but it did not yield the team the desired result. The car wasn't the most competitive in Jordan's F1 range, delivering the team to sixth in that year's championship.
Hundreds of fans offered unique Ferrari opportunity
In 2023 Ferrari presented its new car in magnificent fashion. The team presentation took place in Maranello and right after the presentation both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz got to drive their first laps with the new car under the watchful eye of hundreds of Ferrari fans.
This happened on the Scuderia's home track, Fiorano. It made for great images, which were also broadcast live and allowed the whole world to enjoy the Ferrari launch.
In 2024, Ferrari's team presentation will take place in Maranello, but it remains to be seen whether fans will once again be allowed to get as close as they did in 2023.
McLaren puts together new F1 car
McLaren feature in this list for the second time. But whereas in 1997 the British racing stable had the Spice Girls do most of the work, in 2011 the team personnel had to do it themselves.
The new MP4-26 was placed centrally in a square, but without a lot of essential parts. Then team members rushed in from all sides to fit various parts on the new car.
To top it off, the final parts, the headrest and steering wheel, were attached to the car by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Footage of this unique presentation can be viewed below.
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!