F1 US GRAND PRIX: ALL SPECIAL LIVERIES REVEALED

 

Haas US GP special livery
© Haas

A number of teams will use special liveries at the US GP

A number of teams will run special one-off liveries this weekend at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

The US Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar at the Circuit of the Americas in 2012, with the series last racing in the country in 2007 at Indianapolis before that.

The annual US Grand Prix at COTA has become one of the biggest events on the calendar, particularly since Liberty Media took over ownership of F1 in 2017.

With so much attention on the US Grand Prix now, teams lean into the event with special livery designs. Here are all of the ones confirmed so far.

Haas US GP special livery
© Haas

Haas - Godzilla promotion

The Haas F1 team is one of two American outfits competing at COTA this year.

It will run a one-off livery for the event, though with a theme that has absolutely nothing to do with its home race.

Partnering once again to promote Godzilla Minus Zero, the squad ditches its usual red, white and black colour scheme for a more blue-dominated design.

The livery also features Godzilla on the engine cover. It’s the second time this season Haas has used a Godzilla design, having done so at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Mercedes US GP livery
© Mercedes

Mercedes - MANUFAKTUR

Mercedes has been hot on special liveries lately, running a mint green design at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as a nod to its title partner Petronas.

For this weekend’s US Grand Prix, the Silver Arrows will tweak its design, rather than overhaul it in the same way Haas has done.

To mark its MANUFAKTUR cross-brand car customisation programme, Mercedes will add dashes of blue to its livery for the COTA race.

George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who could win the championship this weekend, will also sport new race suit designs to go along with the livery.

Cadillac US GP livery
© F1

Cadillac - American West

Cadillac will be making its second visit to its native US this season at the United States Grand Prix, following the Miami round earlier this season.

While Miami was still a home round, this weekend is Cadillac’s first official US Grand Prix as a manufacturer on the F1 grid.

And to mark the occasion, the team is sporting a design inspired by the American West.

The usual white and black colour scheme has been accentuated by embroidery-inspired patterns to resemble stitched clothing.

- Lewis Duncan

BOTTAS ARRIVES IN SINGAPORE AFTER 260-MILES RIDE

Valterri Bottas is closely involved with FNLD GRVL, a cycling race held each summer in his native Finland.
Instagram 

Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas says he was chased by a dog, saw snakes and leapt over a lizard as he cycled from Malaysia to Singapore for this weekend's Grand Prix.

The Finnish driver arrived in Singapore on Wednesday after choosing a 260-mile (419km) bike ride over a flight from last weekend's Formula 1 race in Sepang, outside the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The 37-year-old began his journey just hours after spinning out of Sunday's chaotic Grand Prix, taking a trip that involved off-road and gravel trails as well as cycling at night.

"I saw some snakes, which I was a little bit worried about, but actually they were pretty chill. They were just doing their thing," said Bottas.

"I saw one cobra, one python just crossing the path in front of me. I saw some of those big lizards that you also see here, one was on the path.

"I had to jump over it on a bike because I saw it last minute. I got chased by one dog, I got stuck behind a group of cows on one small track."

Bottas is an accomplished cyclist and earned a spot at the Gravel World Championships after finishing fifth in his age group at a qualifying event in the Czech Republic during Formula 1's summer hiatus.

Unfortunately for Bottas the World Championships take place this weekend as well, so he will be competing on four wheels instead of two.

When the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled in 2023, Bottas decided to use the time to compete in a gravel race in Scotland.

Bottas has endured a difficult return to Formula 1 with new team Cadillac this season. He is 22nd in the drivers' standings, is yet to score a point after 16 Grands Prix and has failed to finish eight races.

"The wildest part was the riding at night in the jungle. The noise in there, your mind starts to play games," added Bottas.

"'What is out there? Who knows what is out there?' But then you just need to crack on and keep going."

- Mike Peter

ALL THE F1 BRITISH GP SPECIAL LIVERIES UNVEILED SO FAR

The 2026 British Grand Prix should again prove a popular occasion for special liveries among Formula 1 teams.

While just three of the 11 teams are registered as British, the majority of the squads are either de facto UK-based or at least part-based there, and usually not far from British GP venue Silverstone.

Here are the British GP-specific colour schemes unveiled thus far.

McLaren

McLaren's Silverstone design showcases the partnership with its major sponsor Google and specifically Google's AI tool Gemini.

But it references a specific car from the past, the white-and-green McLaren M2B campaigned by team founder Bruce McLaren in 1966.

Cadillac

Though Britain was...a relevant party in the historical event in question, Cadillac's special colour scheme for Silverstone is not British-themed.

Instead, the American team will deploy a stars-and-stripes USA colour scheme to celebrate Independence Day, July 4 - which will align with qualifying day and which this year marks 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Williams

Williams's Silverstone livery is a minor update to its primary 2026 colour scheme.

The British GP version of the FW48 will feature a "Union Jack-inspired" palette on the side of the nose structure - and also on the team kit and racesuits.

- The Race Team 

CADILLAC F1 MAKES HISTORY WITH CASSIDY TOWRISS

Cadillac is the first American-owned team in modern history to enter Formula 1, ending a half-century drought. Behind this milestone moment is Cassidy Towriss, and for her designing an F1 car isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a strategic catalyst for how a new American team introduces itself to the world.

Towriss is shaping a livery and helping to define what an American presence in Formula 1 looks and feels like in a global arena long dominated by European sensibilities. The FQ spoke with her to talk about pride, pressure, Detroit, design, and what it takes to build something that lasts. Read more: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/cadillac-historic-f1-entry/

CADILLAC UNVEIL SHAKEDOWN LIVERY

Cadillac unveil their special livery for the pre-season Barcelona Shakedown! 🎨👀

This one-off monochrome design features the names of the founding members of the team, displayed on the nose, ahead of their 2026 livery being unveiled on February 8 👊

- F1

ZHOU JOINS CADILLAC AS OFFICIAL RESERVE DRIVER

 

FERRARI F1 PARTS WAYS WITH RESERVE DRIVER ZHOU GUANYU AFTER 2025 STINT

Zhou Guanyu, Ferrari
Photo by: Erik Junius

Ferrari has parted ways with reserve driver Zhou Guanyu ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season

Ferrari has bid farewell to its 2025 reserve driver Zhou Guanyu as the Chinese driver parted ways with the Maranello outfit ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Zhou joined Ferrari as a reserve driver alongside Antonio Giovinazzi in 2025 after losing his seat at Sauber at the end of 2024. He was also part of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018.

"Grateful for Zhou Guanyu’s commitment and contribution as Ferrari Reserve Driver this season! Wishing him all the best ahead," the team wrote in a social media post.

The 26-year-old driver had hoped that remaining in the F1 scene would help him secure a seat for 2026, with his main target being the new Cadillac F1 team, which will make its debut as the championship's 11th team this year.

“I do have the hunger to step back in a race seat, a full-time F1 drive,” Zhou told F1.com at the start of the 2025 season. “In terms of the long-term goal, this is very clear and very straightforward. I’m sure everybody knows that.

“But I do think that while you have years like this, [it helps] to be settled down, and still it’s a very important role. It’s not like being a reserve driver that I feel like I’ve been left [out]. I feel like I have a very [big] responsibility with the team.

“You’re there trying to win races, you’re still making your impact, so it’s very important, and everything really matters here. I’m still going to be working hard for that, but if there’s a chance, an opportunity, there’s no doubt I’m going to fight for it, for a comeback."

Cadillac instead opted to sign former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and Zhou's former Sauber team-mate Valtteri Bottas, leaving Zhou once again without a contract for 2026.

Zhou is yet to announce his next career move after parting ways with Ferrari.

- Lydia Mee