A History of Gulf Liveries in F1: From Privateers to Fan Favorites

Williams recently announced a significant rebrand for the 2026 Formula 1 season, bringing back its traditional 'W' logo and changing its name to the 'Atlassian Williams F1 Team'. This follows their reveal of a special Gulf livery for the upcoming Brazil Grand Prix, marking a continued partnership with the iconic fuel company. The Gulf livery, famed for its striking blue and orange, has a rich history in motorsport, predominantly in sportscar racing, but has also made several memorable appearances in Formula 1.

Why it matters:

The Gulf livery is one of motorsport's most recognizable and beloved designs, symbolizing a blend of heritage and high performance. Its sporadic appearances in F1, especially through fan-driven initiatives, highlight the deep connection between teams, sponsors, and the global fanbase. For Williams, embracing this iconic livery not only celebrates a significant partnership but also injects a sense of history and fan engagement into their contemporary F1 journey, potentially boosting team morale and public interest as they aim to climb back up the grid.

The Details:

• Scuderia Gulf Rondini (1976 F1 Season): The Gulf livery made its F1 debut with privateer Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi, who entered four world championship races with a Tyrrell 007 under the 'Scuderia Gulf Rondini' banner. He used the dark blue Gulf colors at the Nurburgring and a lighter version for subsequent races in Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy. Though he failed to score points, finishing 11th in Austria was his best result in his only four F1 appearances.
• McLaren (2021 Monaco Grand Prix): McLaren brought the special Gulf livery back to F1 in a big way at the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix. Prompted by strong fan demand, the team unveiled a stunning blue-and-orange scheme on their MCL35M. Lando Norris achieved a remarkable second podium of the season, finishing third. The livery was so popular it influenced McLaren's car design for Monaco the following year, albeit in their standard colors.
• Williams (2023 F1 Season): After McLaren's partnership with Gulf concluded in 2022, Williams joined forces with the fuel company for 2023. This led to Williams running a special Gulf livery for the Singapore, Japan, and Qatar Grands Prix. This design was chosen through a fan vote, with 'Bolder than Bold' narrowly beating 'Heritage' among over 180,000 votes. While the initial races with the livery didn't yield points, Alex Albon secured two points in the Qatar sprint race.
• Williams (2023 Brazilian Grand Prix): The special Gulf livery returns for Williams at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix, again following a fan-led initiative called 'Driven by Words'. Launched in London, fans were asked to submit words describing what Williams and Gulf meant to them. Over 140,000 votes were cast, with words like 'legacy' (7,700 votes), 'passion' (5,800), and 'teamwork' (4,100) incorporated into the livery's design.

What's next:

Williams team principal James Vowles emphasized that the 'Driven by Words' campaign and the special Gulf livery for Brazil underscore the deep connection between the team, its partners, and its global fanbase. This initiative not only celebrates Williams' iconic status and championship legacy but also reflects their ambition to return to winning ways. The continued embrace of fan engagement through such unique liveries suggests a strategic approach by Williams to strengthen its brand identity and garner widespread support as it looks to the future with its 2026 rebrand and Project 678, Loic Serra's first car as Chassis Director.