McLaren reveals shakedown livery as testing gets underway
26th January 2026McLaren Racing has showcased its 2026 shakedown livery as the behind-closed-doors pre-season test in Barcelona gets underway.
Feature image credit: McLaren
On Monday, McLaren opted to reveal their livery for the Shakedown event, which will run from today (Monday, January 26) through to Friday, January 30.
Whilst testing has just gotten underway in Barcelona, the Woking-based team is not expected to be out on track on Monday, and is expected to be out tomorrow, at the earliest.
Despite this, the Woking team have revealed their 2026 shakedown livery for the first of three pre-season tests.
McLaren reveal their special shakedown livery 🖤
The constructor’s champions will launch their 2026 challenger on Feb 9 📆#F1 @McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/8vUss72L3u
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 26, 2026
The livery itself stands out from what is expected of the defending world champions, as they have scrapped their usual papaya colours and replaced them with an all-black colour scheme, with lighter shades dotted around.
The only hint of papaya on the livery is on the McLaren logos and driver numbers, which includes the champions’ #1, which will be run by the defending world champion, Lando Norris this season.
However, it is expected that McLaren will return to their usual colour palette when they officially reveal their 2026 championship defender, the MCL40, on February 9.
Read more Formula 1 here:
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- Ferrari reveal striking red and white livery ahead of F1 2026
- Mercedes reveal livery of 2026 F1 challenger
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- Audi finally reveal first car ahead of 2026 F1 season
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
