Cadillac unveils bold Miami livery as Red Bull’s Mekies comments on Lambiase departure
Summary
Cadillac unveiled a US‑themed livery for its Miami GP debut, with Stars‑and‑Stripes graphics and 50 stars on the front wing. Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies confirmed Gian Piero Lambiase will join McLaren after 2027, noting he stays focused on the team.
Cadillac rolled out a one‑off United‑States‑inspired livery ahead of its first home race at the Miami Grand Prix, adding patriotic motifs to its customary black‑and‑white scheme. The design, created with AI partner TWG, splashes the Stars and Stripes across the car, including 50 tiny stars on the front wing to represent each state. At the same time, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies broke his silence on the pending departure of Gian Piero Lambiase, confirming the race engineer will join McLaren after the 2027 season.
Why it matters:
- It gives Cadillac a high‑visibility platform to link its brand with American heritage, boosting fan engagement and opening new merchandising opportunities at a marquee event.
- Lambiase’s move supplies McLaren with a proven race‑engineer from the dominant Red Bull camp, while forcing the champion team to reshuffle its technical staff ahead of a crucial championship phase.
The details:
- Livery – Uses the black‑white base introduced at the 2026 Super Bowl, overlaid with red, white and blue accents; the front wing displays 50 stars (one per state) and the rear wing bears a bold “USA” graphic. The design was generated with TWG AI to respect aerodynamic constraints while delivering a patriotic look.
- Lambiase – The 45‑year‑old has served as Red Bull’s Head of Racing and Max Verstappen’s race engineer since 2024. His contract runs through 2027; he will start at McLaren on a multi‑year deal in 2028.
- Mekies’ comment – He said the departure had been discussed internally for some time, that Lambiase remains fully committed to the current season, and that Red Bull respects the scale of the opportunity he is taking.
What's next:
- Cadillac will race in Miami on Sunday, hoping the patriotic livery drives fan excitement and boosts sponsor visibility.
- McLaren will integrate Lambiase into its race‑operations for 2028, while Red Bull must appoint a new race engineer – a change that could influence the title fight in the coming years.
Original Article :https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-today-cadillac-debuts-bold-miami-livery-as-mek...