One-off liveries have become a regular highlight on the F1 calendar — a chance for teams to celebrate milestones, partners and local culture with eye-catching paintwork. From a Godzilla-themed Haas and a Racing Bulls design inspired by Japanese shodo at Suzuka to holographic finishes in Las Vegas, here are ten of the most memorable recent examples.
BAR-Honda – Monza 2004
Mid-2000s BAR played with novelty designs on Anthony Davidson’s car when Friday drivers were more common. At Monza the car sported a cheeky graphic that mimicked the race suit and cockpit seating along the sidepods — a playful nod to earlier gimmicks like the 1993 Williams with Sonic the Hedgehog’s legs.
Red Bull – Monaco 2005
New as a full constructor in 2005, Red Bull leaned into marketing flair at their first Monaco with a bold Star Wars tie-in to promote Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, complete with themed graphics and character art on the car.
Mercedes – Hockenheim 2019
To mark 125 years of motorsport, Mercedes ran a split livery at Hockenheim blending their historic white with modern silver. The design referenced the silver arrows legend, when a 1930s team supposedly removed paint to reveal the bare metal body.
Ferrari – Mugello (Tuscany) 2020
Ferrari celebrated their 1,000th Grand Prix at home soil with a special burgundy throwback for the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello, a passionate salute to the Scuderia’s long history.
McLaren – Monaco 2024
McLaren’s Monaco one-off in 2024 paid tribute to Ayrton Senna with the Brazilian’s iconic yellow-and-green helmet colors wrapped across the MCL38. It joined McLaren’s run of Monte Carlo showpieces, following previous Gulf and Triple Crown-inspired schemes.
Red Bull – Turkey 2021
When Suzuka was cancelled in 2021, Red Bull honoured Honda with a clean white livery at Istanbul Park inspired by Richie Ginther’s 1965 Honda RA272. AlphaTauri supported the gesture by adding the Japanese word “arigato” to their rear wings.
Alfa Romeo – Baku 2022
Alfa Romeo traded their usual red-and-white for Il Tricolore at selected events; in Baku 2022 the team wrapped the car in the Italian flag to launch the Tonale SUV, turning the race car into a patriotic advert.
Williams – Singapore, Suzuka, Lusail 2023
After Gulf moved its partnership to Williams, the team debuted a fan-designed special for the season’s closing street races. A public vote selected the “Bolder than Bold” concept, bringing classic Gulf orange-and-blue heritage to Singapore, Suzuka and Lusail.
Alpine – 2024 (Spa & United States GP)
Alpine explored pop-culture tie-ins in 2024, running a red-and-black Deadpool & Wolverine-inspired livery at Spa and then a vivid “sunset orange” scheme at the United States Grand Prix to coincide with a game release, pushing the team’s colorful identity further.
Racing Bulls – Las Vegas 2025
Racing Bulls have experimented with playful concepts from tortoise-shell motifs to all-pink schemes. In Las Vegas 2025 they debuted a holographic finish: both cars and drivers’ suits for Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar shimmered under the Strip lights.
One-off liveries do more than look good on the grid — they create talking points, celebrate stories and give teams room to be creative. Whether nostalgic tributes, cinematic crossovers or local homages, they’re one of the paddock’s most eagerly anticipated surprises.