Photo: McLaren

Ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren Racing and Gulf Oil International have unveiled a special retro one-off livery to celebrate their historic partnership.

The evocative livery marks the return of the Championship to one of Formula 1’s most symbolic grand prix and brings back one of the most recognisable and admired motorsport liveries of all time.

McLaren has a deep-rooted and successful racing history with Gulf, and the two revived their relationship in July 2020 when the team announced the brand’s return as an official strategic partner. The retro livery will mark McLaren’s tribute to Gulf’s timeless design while reflecting a racing connection that began in the days of team founder Bruce McLaren.

Two historic racing brands. One spectacular livery design for Monaco.

McLaren will celebrate its historic partnership with @GulfOilIntl by racing in a one-off Gulf livery across the #MonacoGP weekend. #GulfXMcLaren

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 16, 2021

You asked, we’ve answered… Watch: @LandoNorris unveil the limited edition Gulf x @McLarenF1 Monaco Grand Prix livery. This truly unique design celebrates our shared heritage in motorsport ahead of @F1’s most iconic GP. Bold is Back.#GulfXMcLaren pic.twitter.com/vHtwCbDwvX

— Gulf Oil International (@GulfOilIntl) May 17, 2021

How about this for the @McLarenF1 MCL35M at #MonacoGP! 😍

The team will race in the iconic blue & orange motorsport colours of Gulf Oil!#SkyF1 | #F1

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 16, 2021

McLaren playing catch-up in race to gatecrash Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen title battle as they unveil classic Gulf Oil livery for Monaco Grand Prix / @tomcary_tel https://t.co/YsZnD6hwrd

— Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) May 16, 2021

McLaren will be running this special Gulf livery for the Monaco GP.

Think we might be in love 😍 pic.twitter.com/GSIUzjuCsl

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 16, 2021

The theme will feature for the entire race weekend on both MCL35M race cars, the race suits of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, the race team kit and across all team social media platforms. Additionally, both drivers will wear race helmets with bespoke retro designs, especially created for the event, to be raffled for the team’s mental health charity partner, Mind.

The 2021 Monaco Grand Prix will not be the first time a McLaren race car has carried the iconic Gulf livery. The #41 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail won its class at Le Mans in 1997, finishing second overall. That event was the culmination of Polygon Marketing’s involvement with the Gulf and McLaren partnership that ran from 1994-1997. The multi-faceted programme, which Polygon managed throughout, generated over £5million-worth of publicity for the Gulf brand through dedicated PR and promotional activity. Polygon MD Martin Allerton subsequently published ‘Blue & Orange’, the well-received written history of Gulf in Motorsport, which contains further details of the long and illustrious history of Gulf-McLaren partnerships through the years. Polygon Marketing continues to provide PR and marketing support to Gulf’s retail division in the UK today.

“The cars look stunning and we wish the team well over the weekend,” comments Martin. “Denny Hulme has the best placed finish at Monaco for a Gulf McLaren car, finishing 4th in 1970 and again in 1971. Here’s hoping that Ricciardo and Norris can better that on Sunday!”