F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: McLaren Unveils Striking New Livery Ahead of Season Finale Race

The season finale is all that remains on the Formula 1 schedule for 2023 after last week's exciting Las Vegas Street race. The drivers will now compete in their final race of the year in Abu Dhabi, in the Middle East. McLaren has unveiled a captivating new livery, capping off their season of special liveries. This most recent design, which was created in partnership with artist Nujood Al-Otaibi, demonstrates the team's dedication to originality and creativity in Formula 1. In addition to its Chrome, Stealth, Triple Crown, and Las Vegas GP liveries, this will be McLaren's fifth unique livery for 2023. The team's official X account shared some close-up photos of the livery along with a description stating that it was inspired by Vuse's #DrivenByChange initiative. The team's official X account shared some close-up photos of the livery along with a description stating that it was inspired by Vuse's #DrivenByChange initiative.

Also Read: F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Here’s When, Where and How to Watch Season Finale Race in India

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: McLaren's New Livery

As they prepare for the season's last Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi, McLaren is upholding its tradition of releasing limited-edition liveries. Artist Nujood Al-Otaibi created this year's Driven By Change livery and contributes her distinct vision to the artwork and transforms her experience with sound into visual art, following a childhood diagnosis of hearing impairment. The MCL60 will have Nujood's trademark on the nose portion and the Halo, giving the vehicle a unique look. With a technique honed over years of experience, it appears that the pattern is inspired by the waves and sand dunes of Al-Otaibi's homeland. The McLaren MCL60 will be donning Nujood's livery for the entire Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race weekend.

Sharing her thoughts on the striking livery, she said, “I found a study about architectural acoustics and how sound plays a great role in physical places such as large landscapes like fields, deserts, and beaches. Because there are no walls, sound can travel anywhere and come back to me. This was really amazing, and it inspired me. My art is inspired by two things, the first is my hearing impairment. The second is nature, specifically the beach. I feel like nature has a really powerful message. I combined these two inspirations together into one artwork.”

The Driven By Change campaign highlights McLaren's dedication to accepting and advancing diversity. It initially debuted at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021. The team's partnership with artists such as Nujood is indicative of their efforts to introduce new viewpoints to the sport.

The Season Recap

To recap the season so far, there are a few notable events to watch out for. The most important race in the constructor's championship is between Mercedes and Ferrari for position two. Mercedes currently leads its Maranello opponents by just 4 points, making the difference between the two teams quite small. In the constructors' standings, McLaren and Aston Martin would also contend for P4. This weekend, Aston Martin will have to make up a 14-point disadvantage. This is a relatively larger difference between the two teams.

Max Verstappen, the Dutch Formula One driver, won the Championship title at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix at the start of October. Furthermore, following the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen had an unassailable 276-point lead over teammate Sergio Perez. While it's true that the title winner has been known for a while, Perez recently secured second place in the street race in Las Vegas, giving him a 41-point advantage over Hamilton in third. There is just a maximum of 26 points available in Abu Dhabi, therefore the British driver will not be able to pass Perez in the season finale race.

Max Verstappen's dominant finish at the Japanese GP in September further secured Red Bull Racing the top spot in the F1 Constructors' Championship for this year. However, two more strong constructor teams, Mercedes and Ferrari, will fight for second place in the Ranking in Abu Dhabi. 

Also Read: F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Lando Norris Released from Hospital as McLaren Identifies Likely Cause of the Crash

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: The Circuit

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held in 2009 at the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, near Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 5.3-kilometre course has hosted several day and night events. Lewis Hamilton, the legendary British Formula One driver, is still the most successful racer at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, having won five titles. At this point, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing are tied for the most race victories at the Yas Marina Circuit, with six wins each.