McLaren reveal one-off livery for Alonso’s final race

McLaren already have one of the most eye-catching paint jobs on the grid – but this weekend in Abu Dhabi, Fernando Alonso’s car is getting an extra splash of colour.

To celebrate the curtain coming down on the Spaniard’s 18-year F1 career (for the time being at least…) the Woking-based team will run with a special one-off livery – something they haven’t done for more than 30 years.

The design, which you can see above, takes its cues from Alonso’s iconic helmet design, with swathes of yellow, red and blue (representing his home region of Asturias in northern Spain) emblazoned across the engine cover.

“We’re incredibly pleased and proud to be able to race a special one-off livery for Fernando in Abu Dhabi this weekend,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

“We want his last Grand Prix to feel special in every way, and this was just one of the ways we could reflect that.

“We worked closely and collaboratively with Fernando, and then with the FIA and Formula 1 to make the change for this one race, and they were all hugely supportive of the move.

“Hopefully, this will give Fernando’s fans a little something extra to look forward to at what is bound to be an especially emotional weekend.”

The last time McLaren ran with a one-off livery? The 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix, when the red branding on Keke Rosberg’s car was switched to yellow.