Red Bull hint at livery change at Max Verstappen’s request with a fresh look for the 2025 F1 machine – Red Bull Racing has hinted at an imminent livery change for its Formula One car, following a request from three-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Dutchman has expressed a desire for a fresh aesthetic, hoping to move away from the team’s long-standing matte blue colour scheme.
Since arriving in F1 in 2005, Red Bull’s livery has remained largely the same, with only minor changes such as a move to a matte finish in 2016 and sponsor-related tweaks. However, Verstappen has hinted that it may be time to shake things up: “I hope the livery will be a bit different,” said Verstappen. “We’ve had so many matt blue cars, but I think sometimes it’s nice to spice things up a bit.”
With Red Bull’s dominance in recent years, the team has had little reason to make drastic changes to its branding. But with Verstappen’s influence within the team growing, it seems his request has been taken seriously.
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Special livery to be unveiled soon
The official unveiling of the RB21 livery is scheduled for 18 February at the F1 75 Live event at The O2 in London. Red Bull’s new car will then be put through its paces in a shakedown run ahead of pre-season testing, which begins in Bahrain on 26 February.
Ahead of the official unveiling, Red Bull has teased a glimpse of the new colour scheme, hinting that the RB21’s livery may differ from what fans have come to expect over the past two decades. While the teaser doesn’t show a full view of the car, the hints point to a fresh design that retains the essence of Red Bull’s traditional identity.
Red Bull’s history of special liveries
Red Bull is no stranger to experimenting with unique liveries, although it has usually done so on a temporary basis. The team famously ran a striking black and white ‘Camo Bull’ design during pre-season testing in 2015, making it one of the most memorable test liveries in recent memory. Additionally, in both 2018 and 2019, Red Bull introduced special one-off designs for testing, which created a huge buzz among fans.
Furthermore, Red Bull’s sister team, now known as VCARB, previously ran alternative liveries when it was branded as AlphaTauri between 2020 and 2023. While these designs differed from Red Bull Racing’s main look, they demonstrated the team’s willingness to explore different aesthetics.
What to expect from the RB21 livery
While details remain under wraps, the teaser suggests that Red Bull may be preparing for a more significant visual departure than usual. Fans have speculated about possible changes, with some hoping for a return to a glossy finish or a design inspired by Red Bull’s special one-off liveries of the past.
Given Verstappen’s influence within the team, his comments may have played a key role in pushing Red Bull in this new direction. As the reigning champion continues to break records on the track, it’s possible that this change is part of a wider effort to celebrate his achievements while keeping the team’s image fresh and engaging for fans.
As the countdown to the new season continues, all eyes will be on London on 18 February when Red Bull finally pulls the covers off the RB21. Until then, fans can only speculate on how the team will interpret Verstappen’s request for a bold new look.
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Changing the livery won’t change the turd behind the wheel.
Best thing RB could do is get rid of the cancer that is disrupting the team. That is the wannabe Jos