Top 5 Best Formula 1 Liveries Of All-Time

George Howsonon February 17, 2025

Top 5 Best Formula 1 Liveries Of All-Time (graphic courtesy iLexx/Deposit Photos)

With the livery reveals for the 2025 F1 season underway, we have taken a walk down memory lane to count down the top five most iconic and unforgettable liveries to ever grace the Grand Prix circuits…

The John Player Special (JPS) livery, a striking black and gold design, graced the Lotus Formula One cars from 1972 to 1986, creating one of the most recognizable and beloved looks in the sport's history. The partnership between Lotus and tobacco company John Player & Sons began with the Lotus 72 in 1972, a car that would go on to win three constructor's championships and two drivers' championships during the JPS era. Over the course of 15 years, the JPS livery adorned 15 different Lotus cars. The livery became so iconic that it often overshadowed the cars themselves, cementing its place in Formula One lore. Two standout cars from the JPS era include the Lotus 93T John Player Special, which featured Renault's powerful 1.5-liter turbo engine in 1983, and the John Player Special Lotus-Renault 98T, driven by the legendary Ayrton Senna. These cars not only looked stunning in their black and gold livery but also delivered impressive results on the track, further enhancing the legacy of the JPS era. The John Player Special livery's enduring popularity and timeless design make it one of the most celebrated liveries in Formula One history. (Photo by Dan74/Deposit Photos) — #5 – John Player Special – The John Player Special (JPS) livery, a striking black and gold design, graced the Lotus Formula One cars from 1972 to 1986, creating one of the most recognizable and beloved looks in the sport’s history. The partnership between Lotus and tobacco company John Player & Sons began with the Lotus 72 in 1972, a car that would go on to win three constructor’s championships and two drivers’ championships during the JPS era.

Over the course of 15 years, the JPS livery adorned 15 different Lotus cars. The livery became so iconic that it often overshadowed the cars themselves, cementing its place in Formula One lore.

Two standout cars from the JPS era include the Lotus 93T John Player Special, which featured Renault’s powerful 1.5-liter turbo engine in 1983, and the John Player Special Lotus-Renault 98T, driven by the legendary Ayrton Senna. These cars not only looked stunning in their black and gold livery but also delivered impressive results on the track, further enhancing the legacy of the JPS era.

The John Player Special livery’s enduring popularity and timeless design make it one of the most celebrated liveries in Formula One history. (Photo by Dan74/Deposit Photos)

The Jordan 198, with its striking "hornet" livery, buzzed its way into the hearts of Formula One fans during the 1998 season. The bright yellow car, adorned with a fierce hornet's head on the nosecone and wings streaking down the sides, was a visual delight on the grid. Despite a challenging start to the season, with 1996 World Champion Damon Hill struggling to tame the car's understeer and the Mugen Honda engine lacking power, the Jordan team refused to give up. The arrival of Mike Gascoyne marked a turning point, as he set about reworking the car's suspension, front wing, and floor. Coupled with Mugen's engine developments and Goodyear's tireless work on the tyres, the 198 underwent a remarkable transformation. The second half of the season saw Jordan's fortunes soar, with the team scoring points in all but one race. The crowning moment came at the Belgian Grand Prix, where Hill claimed Jordan's maiden Formula One victory, with teammate Ralf Schumacher following closely in second place. Schumacher's third-place finish in Italy and Hill's consistent fourth-place results further solidified the team's resurgence. The "Buzzin' Hornets" branding, used in place of tobacco sponsorship at certain Grands Prix, only added to the car's allure and cemented its place in Formula One history. (photo by Wikipedia) — #4 – Jordan 198 – The Jordan 198, with its striking “hornet” livery, buzzed its way into the hearts of Formula One fans during the 1998 season. The bright yellow car, adorned with a fierce hornet’s head on the nosecone and wings streaking down the sides, was a visual delight on the grid.

Despite a challenging start to the season, with 1996 World Champion Damon Hill struggling to tame the car’s understeer and the Mugen Honda engine lacking power, the Jordan team refused to give up. The arrival of Mike Gascoyne marked a turning point, as he set about reworking the car’s suspension, front wing, and floor. Coupled with Mugen’s engine developments and Goodyear’s tireless work on the tyres, the 198 underwent a remarkable transformation.

The second half of the season saw Jordan’s fortunes soar, with the team scoring points in all but one race. The crowning moment came at the Belgian Grand Prix, where Hill claimed Jordan’s maiden Formula One victory, with teammate Ralf Schumacher following closely in second place. Schumacher’s third-place finish in Italy and Hill’s consistent fourth-place results further solidified the team’s resurgence.

The “Buzzin’ Hornets” branding, used in place of tobacco sponsorship at certain Grands Prix, only added to the car’s allure and cemented its place in Formula One history. (photo by Wikipedia)

The Renault R25, a masterpiece of engineering and design, will forever be remembered as the car that propelled Fernando Alonso to his first World Championship title in 2005, breaking Michael Schumacher's stranglehold on the sport. With its sleek lines and distinctive blue and yellow livery, the R25 was a force to be reckoned with on the grid. Under the guidance of Pat Symonds and the design team led by Bob Bell, James Allison, Tim Densham, and Dino Toso, the R25 proved to be a formidable challenger to the McLaren MP4-20. While the McLaren may have had the edge in terms of outright speed, the R25's reliability and consistency ultimately triumphed, with Alonso and teammate Giancarlo Fisichella racking up an impressive eight wins and 15 podiums throughout the season. The R25's success not only marked the end of an era as the last V10-powered car to win the championship but also brought Renault and Michelin back to the forefront of Formula One, delivering the French manufacturer's first Constructors' Championship since 1995 and Michelin's first title since its return to the sport. Its unique 'Mild Seven' livery, adorned with flowers, tribal designs, and the enigmatic phrase "Team Spirit" in place of tobacco advertising, only added to the car's allure and mystique. (image courtesy imag3s/Deposit Photos) — #3 – Renault R25 – The Renault R25, a masterpiece of engineering and design, will forever be remembered as the car that propelled Fernando Alonso to his first World Championship title in 2005, breaking Michael Schumacher’s stranglehold on the sport. With its sleek lines and distinctive blue and yellow livery, the R25 was a force to be reckoned with on the grid.

Under the guidance of Pat Symonds and the design team led by Bob Bell, James Allison, Tim Densham, and Dino Toso, the R25 proved to be a formidable challenger to the McLaren MP4-20. While the McLaren may have had the edge in terms of outright speed, the R25’s reliability and consistency ultimately triumphed, with Alonso and teammate Giancarlo Fisichella racking up an impressive eight wins and 15 podiums throughout the season.

The R25’s success not only marked the end of an era as the last V10-powered car to win the championship but also brought Renault and Michelin back to the forefront of Formula One, delivering the French manufacturer’s first Constructors’ Championship since 1995 and Michelin’s first title since its return to the sport.

Its unique ‘Mild Seven’ livery, adorned with flowers, tribal designs, and the enigmatic phrase “Team Spirit” in place of tobacco advertising, only added to the car’s allure and mystique. (image courtesy imag3s/Deposit Photos)

The McLaren MP4-23, with its eye-catching chrome 'Vodafone' livery and bold red accents, is a car that will always have a special place in Formula One history. As the machine that carried Lewis Hamilton to his first World Drivers' Championship title in 2008, the MP4-23 is a prime example of McLaren's engineering expertise and unwavering determination. Revealed at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, the MP4-23 was the product of a talented group of designers, including Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley, Tim Goss, Andrew Bailey, and Simon Lacey. The car's Mercedes-Benz engine, developed by the experienced duo of Mario Illien and Andy Cowell, delivered the necessary power and dependability to compete at the top level. The MP4-23 first hit the track at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez in Spain, quickly demonstrating its capabilities. Throughout the 2008 season, Hamilton's exceptional driving skills and the car's outstanding performance resulted in a hard-earned Drivers' Championship victory. Despite McLaren finishing second in the Constructors' Championship to Ferrari, the MP4-23's achievements cemented its status as one of the most memorable Formula One cars. The iconic chrome 'Vodafone' livery, which graced McLaren's cars from 2008 to 2013, including the MP4-23, MP4-22, and MP4-27, became a fan favorite. The reflective, chrome bodywork paired with the striking red accents created a unique and captivating appearance that made McLaren's cars stand out on the grid during this period. (image courtesy China Images/Deposit Photos) — #2 – McLaren MP4-23 – The McLaren MP4-23, with its eye-catching chrome ‘Vodafone’ livery and bold red accents, is a car that will always have a special place in Formula One history. As the machine that carried Lewis Hamilton to his first World Drivers’ Championship title in 2008, the MP4-23 is a prime example of McLaren’s engineering expertise and unwavering determination.

Revealed at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, the MP4-23 was the product of a talented group of designers, including Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley, Tim Goss, Andrew Bailey, and Simon Lacey. The car’s Mercedes-Benz engine, developed by the experienced duo of Mario Illien and Andy Cowell, delivered the necessary power and dependability to compete at the top level.

The MP4-23 first hit the track at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez in Spain, quickly demonstrating its capabilities. Throughout the 2008 season, Hamilton’s exceptional driving skills and the car’s outstanding performance resulted in a hard-earned Drivers’ Championship victory. Despite McLaren finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship to Ferrari, the MP4-23’s achievements cemented its status as one of the most memorable Formula One cars.

The iconic chrome ‘Vodafone’ livery, which graced McLaren’s cars from 2008 to 2013, including the MP4-23, MP4-22, and MP4-27, became a fan favorite. The reflective, chrome bodywork paired with the striking red accents created a unique and captivating appearance that made McLaren’s cars stand out on the grid during this period. (Photo by China Images/Deposit Photos)

#1 – McLaren MP4-4 – The McLaren MP4/4, a masterpiece of engineering and design, stands as one of the most dominant and successful Formula One cars in the history of the sport. Born from the partnership between McLaren and Honda, the MP4/4 was powered by Honda’s mighty RA168E 1.5-litre V6-turbo engine, a powerplant that had already proven its worth by helping secure the Constructors’ Championships in 1986 and 1987.

Under the guidance of American engineer Steve Nichols, who was given full responsibility for the chassis design by Ron Dennis, and with the support of Technical Director Gordon Murray, the MP4/4 took shape. The car’s innovative design, featuring a sleek, low profile, required drivers Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna to adopt a more reclined driving position.

The MP4/4’s performance on the track was nothing short of extraordinary. The car won an astonishing 15 out of 16 races in the 1988 season, claiming pole position in all but one event. The team’s dominance was so complete that they amassed nearly three times as many points as their closest rivals, Ferrari, en route to securing the Constructors’ Championship.

The car’s success was not just a result of its advanced aerodynamics and powerful engine, but also the incredible talent behind the wheel. The legendary duo of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, two of the greatest drivers in Formula One history, pushed the MP4/4 to its limits and beyond, showcasing the car’s true potential.

For over three decades, the MP4/4 held the record for the highest win rate in a single season. It was only in 2023 that the Red Bull Racing RB19, also powered by a Honda V6 turbocharged engine, managed to surpass this achievement. However, the MP4/4 still holds the record for the highest percentage of laps led in a season, with an astounding 97.3% (1,003 out of 1,031 laps).

The McLaren MP4/4 will forever be remembered as a true icon of Formula One, a car that redefined the boundaries of what was possible on the racetrack. (Photo by Cristiano Barni/Deposit Photos)

You may also like our countdown of the Top 5 Worst Formula 1 Liveries Of All-Time.

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