Haas unveils Godzilla-themed livery for Japanese GP, Racing Bulls also reveals special design

The Haas F1 Team has revealed a striking Godzilla-themed livery for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, joining Racing Bulls in launching a special one-off design for the Suzuka event. The American squad, enjoying a strong start to the 2026 season, unveiled the bold monster-inspired scheme in Tokyo as part of a new partnership with Japanese entertainment giant Toho, continuing its push to strengthen ties with Japan.

Why it matters:

Special liveries at a team's 'home' races are a key part of F1's show-and-tell spectacle, generating fan engagement and showcasing commercial partnerships. For Haas, this move underscores a strategic effort to deepen its roots in Japan following its pivotal technical and title partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing. After a surprising points-scoring start to the year, the team is leveraging this momentum to build its brand identity and connect with a crucial market.

The details:

• The Design: The VF-26 retains Haas's traditional white, black, and red color palette but prominently features an integrated design of the iconic Japanese film monster, Godzilla.
• Strategic Partnerships: The livery celebrates a new partnership with Toho, the company behind Godzilla. This follows Haas's significant 2024 technical deal with Toyota, which has since evolved into a full title partnership.
• Home Race Tradition: This marks the second consecutive year Haas has run a special livery at Suzuka, having featured a cherry blossom design in 2025.
• Team Momentum: The reveal comes on the back of a positive start to 2026, with the team sitting fourth in the constructors' championship after Oliver Bearman scored points in both Australia and China.
• Racing Bulls Follows Suit: The Faenza-based team also announced a special red and white livery for the weekend, honoring the launch of a new Red Bull can design, which will extend to driver suits and team wear.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to on-track performance at the demanding Suzuka circuit. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu emphasized the goal is to continue the team's strong early-season form by mastering the fundamentals and targeting a double-points finish. The Japanese Grand Prix serves as a major home event for the Toyota-partnered squad, and the special livery will be a central part of their weekend narrative as they aim to convert fan excitement into concrete results.