McLaren will be racing a different-looking MCL38 this weekend in Japan, with a revised livery prepared for the Suzuka event.
McLaren’s livery for the Japanese Grand Prix will feature a bespoke livery created by Japanese artist MILTZ, based on his Driven Through Change crusade for 2024.
On Wednesday, ahead of the race weekend at Suzuka, McLaren unveiled its bespoke livery, in partnership with sponsor British American Tobacco’s Vuse brand.
With pops of blue on top of the car’s usual orange color, the design uses classic Japanese calligraphy, called Edomoji, to depict a Formula 1 car racing through the clouds, in the shape of a dragon.
Now in its fourth year, McLaren’s Driven Through Change crusade showcases emerging art paintings by global motorsport artists; in this case, the decoration of a Formula 1 car is an opportunity to demonstrate avant-garde art paintings.
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The artwork, designed through MILTZ, will appear throughout the Japanese GP weekend.
“When I became an independent artist, I never imagined that such an opportunity was possible,” said the artist, who left his job at a design firm to pursue his artistic career.
“It’s the biggest overseas assignment I’ve ever done in my life!As I continue to broaden my profile as an artist, I need my works to uphold the traditions of Japanese literary culture, like Edomoji, but with a fashionable twist.
“From racing with local corporations in Japan to the McLaren Formula 1 team, there are so many wonderful stories to tell in art. “
Louise McEwen, McLaren’s Chief Marketing Officer, said: “We are excited to bring Driven Through Change to Japan for the 2024 version of the crusade alongside our partner Vuse.
“Now in its fourth year, we’ve been able to see the good fortune of the crusade in showcasing the creativity of those talented, anonymous artists for the world to see in our race cars. “
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