Alonso to run special McLaren livery for final F1 race
Fernando Alonso will use a special livery for his final Formula 1 race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after being granted permission by McLaren and the FIA.
Alonso will end his 18-year career in F1 this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit and will celebrate his final race with a one-off paint-job on his MCL33.
Fernando Alonso will use a special livery for his final Formula 1 race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after being granted permission by McLaren and the FIA.
Alonso will end his 18-year career in F1 this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit and will celebrate his final race with a one-off paint-job on his MCL33.
The livery takes inspiration from his helmet design, the blue, yellow and red colours of his home region Asturias in Spain, which will cover the engine panels along with a special ‘FA’ insignia on the cockpit.
It marks the first time McLaren has raced a one-off livery since its yellow car for Keke Rosberg at the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix – which was his last F1 race in Europe and third to last of his career before retiring. McLaren were granted special dispensation from the FIA for the one-off livery.
“We’re incredibly pleased and proud to be able to race a special one-off livery for Fernando in Abu Dhabi this weekend,” Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO, said. “We want his last grand prix to feel special in every way, and this was just one of the ways we could reflect that.
“We worked closely and collaboratively with Fernando, and then with the FIA and Formula 1 to make the change for this one race, and they were all hugely supportive of the move.
“Hopefully, this will give Fernando’s fans a little something extra to look forward to at what is bound to be an especially emotional weekend.”
Introducing our special livery for @alo_oficial's final @F1 race at the #AbuDhabiGP. #GraciasFernando
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 21, 2018
See more https://t.co/yAB13QvioV pic.twitter.com/XQMqbzyn05
The two-time F1 champion will enter his 314th and final race this weekend having become just the fourth driver to compete in over 300 races. Alonso is second on the all-time list of total F1 entries only behind Rubens Barrichello on 326.
Stoffel Vandoorne will also celebrate his final race with McLaren and in F1 in Abu Dhabi but is currently not expected to run a special livery at the Yas Marina Circuit.
