McLaren has revealed the official look of its 2026 Formula 1 car, named the MCL40, as the team gets ready for the new season under updated F1 rules. The car keeps McLaren’s iconic papaya orange and black colours that the team used on its championship-winning cars last year. The final design was shown ahead of the first pre-season test in Bahrain, after earlier winter testing saw the car in a temporary grey and black scheme.
The papaya and black livery continues McLaren’s tradition of carrying over successful designs from one season to the next, especially after winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles in 2025. The new car was presented live from Bahrain with team figures including CEO Zak Brown and drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri attending.
One big visual change for 2026 is the increased presence of Mastercard branding, as the company steps up as McLaren’s title sponsor — the team’s first such deal in over a decade. With the new colours on the MCL40, McLaren aims to defend its titles and start the new era of F1 on a strong note.