F1 celebrates 75 years: laser shows, a red Hamilton, and white Bulls – how Formula 1 threw a London Party

Introduction: A Grand Anniversary

London’s O2 Arena hosted an event that will be remembered by motorsport fans for years to come—F1 75 Years. For the first time in history, all teams presented their cars on the same stage, proving that Formula 1 knows how to put on a show worthy of Hollywood. There were lasers, stars, flashing lights, and… quite a bit of controversy.

Although the 2025 season hasn’t even started, emotions were already running high. Lewis Hamilton officially stepped onto the stage in Ferrari red, Christian Horner was booed by the crowd, and the new liveries sparked more debate than the last season of Drive to Survive.

Red carpet and an even redder Hamilton

There was no doubt about who the night’s main star would be. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, made his first public appearance in Ferrari colors. As he stepped onto the stage, clad in a red suit with subtle gold accents, the audience fell silent for a moment—only to erupt in applause seconds later.

"I feel at home," Hamilton said, though his voice carried a hint of excitement, as if he himself still couldn't quite believe that after years in Mercedes silver, he now stood draped in Scuderia Ferrari red.

On the big screen, archive footage of Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Fernando Alonso in Ferrari gear played—a subtle reminder that Ferrari’s history is filled with legendary names, though not always immediate success.

Will Hamilton break the “dream transfer” curse, which has often resulted in headaches rather than championships? That question remains unanswered.

Fashion on track: the paddock runway

Car launches are where Formula 1 meets fashion. Every team wants their machine to look as stunning as possible, and based on fan reactions on social media, some nailed it while others… should perhaps rethink their choices.

• Scuderia Ferrari – classic red with a white stripe on the side. A nod to the ‘70s, but did the Scuderia forget that a similar experiment in 2016 didn’t bring much luck?
• Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team – back to silver after years of black. Toto Wolff calls it a "return to roots." George Russell adds that the car "looks like a spaceship." We’ll soon see if it’s as fast as one.
• Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology – no changes at all. "If it works, why fix it?" Max Verstappen said with his usual blunt honesty.
• McLaren Racing – still papaya orange with black accents, still looking great. If McLaren’s car is as fast as it is stylish, Lando Norris might not have to wait long for his first win.
• Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 Team – a striking white livery. A bid to distinguish themselves from the "main stable" or just an attempt at aesthetic reinvention?
• Sauber – dark colors with neon highlights. If rivals don’t notice them in the mirrors, they’ll at least see them glowing in the dark.
• Williams Racing and MoneyGram Haas F1 Team racin also made waves with their new liveries. Williams returned to a sleek, modern design, keeping the iconic blue and white hues but with a more dynamic and aggressive twist. Meanwhile, Haas, maintaining its red, white, and black theme, subtly introduced a more refined look, showcasing their ambition to be a more consistent contender this season. Both teams clearly intend to make their mark on the grid in 2025.

Agent 007 among the cars

Aston Martin F1 Team , in its classic green, unveiled a car that Fernando Alonso called "the best-looking machine on the grid." Given his experience, one might wonder if that was a compliment or just a diplomatic response to a journalist’s question.

But the real buzz came from the James Bond jokes surrounding the Aston Martin. "I hope they at least equipped it with an invisibility mode for DRS zones," Lance Stroll quipped.

Scandals and applause

No big event is complete without controversy, and the London gala was no exception. When Christian Horner stepped onto the stage, the crowd… booed. The Red Bull boss has recently found himself at the center of a scandal, and clearly, fans hadn’t forgotten.

Meanwhile, Lando Norris once again proved he’s the king of social media. His joke about "Netflix and chill" had the audience in stitches while reminding everyone that Formula 1 is becoming more and more intertwined with pop culture.

Music, lights and the stars of the night

F1 ensured that its anniversary celebration had the right atmosphere. A performance by Take That added a nostalgic touch, while Kane Brown reminded everyone that the sport has a growing fanbase in the U.S.

Host Jack Whitehall didn’t hold back with his jokes—his quips about Ferrari ("The last time you had a golden era, phones had buttons") and Red Bull ("Max Verstappen runs from questions about his future as fast as he avoids Netflix cameras") quickly became viral hits online.

What’s next?

After the London spectacle, it's time for what really matters—pre-season testing in Bahrain. That’s where we’ll find out which of these stunning-looking cars are genuinely fast, and which should be sent straight to the museum alongside past "flops."

Is Hamilton in red the future or just a fleeting moment? Will Mercedes reclaim its former glory? Will Verstappen and Red Bull allow anyone to challenge their empire?

We’ll soon have our answers. But for now, Formula 1 has proven that celebrating 75 years can be done with flair, style, and a healthy dose of humor.