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Formula One sponsorship liveries have been used since the late 1960s, replacing the previously used national colours. With sponsors becoming more important with the rising costs in Formula One, many teams wanted to be able to display the logos of their sponsors as clearly as possible.

The liveries are usually changed for every season in the sport, marking the marketing ideas of the sponsors. Many teams keep some consistency over the years however, like the red colour of Ferrari, which has its origin in a shade of red known as rosso corsa being the national racing colour of Italy. At certain events where tobacco sponsorships are prohibited, teams may use an alternate non-tobacco livery. At historical events, cars are allowed to use the livery which was used when the car was actively competing.^[1]

BMW Sauber

After having been an engine supplier in the 1980s and again since 2000, BMW entered Formula One with a works team of its own in 2006 after buying the Swiss Formula One constructor Sauber. Although the cars have many sponsorship logos on them, the main pattern is based on the traditional BMW Motorsport team colours of white with light blue, dark blue and a little red (in an almost purple shade). White is also the original national racing colour of Germany, while white and blue are the colours of Bavaria and of BMW itself.

On November 27, 2009, BMW agreed to sell the team back to its original founder, Peter Sauber.^[2] The 2010 Formula One season will mark Sauber's return as an independent constructor. However, at the launch of the Sauber C29 on 31 January, Sauber reiterated that the team is still known as BMW Sauber, and is not planning to change the team's name at least before the start of the season.^[3]

Jacques Villeneuve driving the BMW Sauber F1.06 at the 2006 USGP.

Kamui Kobayashi driving for BMW Sauber at Jerez, February 2010.

Ferrari

In keeping with their Italian roots, Ferrari has always kept a red colour in the tradition of rosso corsa, the national racing colour of Italy, except for two races in 1964 when Enzo Ferrari let his cars enter by NART in American blue and white colours to protest against Italian racing authorities. Over the years, rosso corsa has been combined with white parts and with various sponsorship schemes, but Ferrari has never fully let their cars be dominated by the sponsorship livery like many other teams have.

With the exception of the 1964 United States and Mexican Grands Prix, Ferrari has always raced in the Italian national racing colour of rosso corsa. This is Lorenzo Bandini driving the Ferrari 312 at the 1966 German Grand Prix.	Niki Lauda driving the Ferrari 312T at the 1976 German Grand Prix. By this time, the Ferrari livery included the logos of team suppliers such as Goodyear and Agip.	Alain Prost driving the Ferrari 642 at the 1991 Monaco Grand Prix, with a largely unchanged livery from 1976.	By 1995, the team had received primary sponsorship from Marlboro. This is Jean Alesi driving the Ferrari 412T2 at that year's Canadian Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher driving the Ferrari 248 F1 at the 2006 United States Grand Prix, showing sponsorship from Vodafone, Shell, and the Marlboro "barcode".	Kimi Räikkönen driving the Ferrari F2008 at the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix.	Fernando Alonso testing the Ferrari F10 during pre-season testing in Jerez, February 2010.

Force India

Force India is the fourth different edition of the former Jordan in as many years.

Adrian Sutil testing in Circuit de Catalunya, 2009 with Mercedes engine.

Hispania Racing

Lotus

Jarno Trulli driving the Lotus T127 during pre-season testing at Jerez, February 2010.

McLaren

McLaren had one of the longest sponsorship deals in F1 history with Marlboro, whose red-and-white pattern appeared on the team's cars for 23 straight years.^[12]

The original McLaren livery was orange. Team founder Bruce McLaren is pictured driving the McLaren M7C at the 1969 German Grand Prix.	The team's first sponsorship deal was with Yardley, who branded McLarens such as this M19C (shown being demonstrated at the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix weekend.	Marlboro colours first appeared on a McLaren in the 1974 season. This is Emerson Fittipaldi driving the McLaren M23 at the 1974 British Grand Prix.	The McLaren-Marlboro partnership lasted from 1974 until the end of 1996, and produced several championships, including Ayrton Senna in 1991.
From 1997 to July 2005, McLaren switched to West. This is Mika Häkkinen driving the McLaren MP4-15 at the 2000 United States Grand Prix.	At races where tobacco advertising was not allowed, the "West" logos were replaced with the driver's name in identical font. Thus Pedro de la Rosa's McLaren MP4-20 was branded "Pedro" at the 2005 British Grand Prix.	McLaren's main sponsor in 2006 was Johnnie Walker, as evidenced by Juan Pablo Montoya's McLaren MP4-21 at the 2006 United States Grand Prix. From this year onwards, the team has also used a highly-reflective version of its silver livery.	From 2007 onwards, McLaren's title sponsor has been Vodafone. This is Fernando Alonso at the 2007 British Grand Prix.

Mercedes Benz GP

Mercedes Benz GP first competed in Formula One during the 1954 and 1955 seasons. Since then Mercedes-Benz was absent from Formula One, returning in 1994 as an engine supplier.

Mercedes Benz will compete in Formula One from 2010 after having purchased the Brawn GP team on November 16, 2009. On December 21, 2009 it signed a €30 million per season contract with Petronas as title sponsor.^[14] On January 25, 2010 Mercedes GP unveiled the car livery for the 2010 season.^[15]

Karl Kling at the wheel of the W196 at Nürburgring.

Michael Schumacher testing for Mercedes GP at Jerez, February 2010.

Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber driving the Red Bull RB3 at the 2007 USGP.

Red Bull's involvement in Formula One dates back to 1995, when it first sponsored the Sauber team. The deal with Sauber lasted until the end of the 2004 season.

Jaguar Racing was renamed Red Bull Racing after the former was bought from Ford on 15 November 2004 by the energy drink company. ^[17] Since its first season the car livery has not changed much, always keeping Red Bull as the main sponsor.

Renault

Renault entered Formula One in 1977 and withdrew as a team after the 1985 season. Renault returned to Formula One in 2002 by buying the Benetton team. Renault had a contract with Mild Seven from 2002 to 2006, and had a title contract with ING Group from 2007 to Italian Grand Prix 2009 when ING withdrew all association with Renault.

Renault's first F1 car, the RS01, raced with a predominantly yellow colour scheme which was largely unchanged until the team's withdrawal from the sport at the end of 1985.	Renault's return in 2002 saw the yellow combined with the light blue of Mild Seven. This is Jarno Trulli driving the Renault R24 at the 2004 United States Grand Prix.	Renault's employment of Fernando Alonso (shown driving the Renault R25 at the 2005 British Grand Prix) also saw Telefónica become a major sponsor of the team.	For 2007, Renault switched from Mild Seven to ING. This is Giancarlo Fisichella driving the Renault R27 at the 2007 British Grand Prix.
For 2009, Renault changed from Elf to Total by fuel. This is Fernando Alonso testing in Circuit de Catalunya, 2009	Robert Kubica testing for Renault F1 at Jerez, February 2010.

Toro Rosso

Sebastian Vettel driving the Toro Rosso STR2 at the 2007 Italian GP.

Toro Rosso is the sister team of Red Bull Racing. Since it originated from the buyout of Minardi, its name means Red Bull in Italian.^[23] Same name, same sponsors, only with a slightly different layout.

Virgin

Timo Glock testing the Virgin VR-01 during pre-season testing in Jerez, February 2010..

The Virgin Group involvement with Formula One started in 2009 when they decided to sponsor BrawnGP for that season.^[25] On 30 November 2009 it was reported that the Manor GP, one of the four newcomers teams for the 2010 season, would be rebranded as Virgin Racing.^[26]

Williams

Williams, as a major constructor, is rare in modern F1 in that they have no manufacturer backing. Over the years, their supply of engines and other major components has often changed, meaning that their livery is renewed more often than most of their rivals. Sponsors of Williams can often have the livery dramatically changed, which has helped to keep Williams competitively financed since 1978, when Williams first entered as a constructor.^[28]

Williams was sponsored primarily by Saudi Arabian Airlines from 1978 to 1984. This is a Williams FW07C being driven in 2007 at the DAMC 05 Oldtimer Festival Nürburgring .	Williams switched to Canon sponsorship in 1985 and retained it until 1993. This is Keke Rosberg driving the Williams FW10 at the 1985 German Grand Prix.	The team switched to Rothmans backing in 1994, which it kept until the end of 1997. This is Jacques Villeneuve driving the Williams FW18 at the 1996 Canadian Grand Prix.	Alessandro Zanardi driving for Williams at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix.
Ralf Schumacher driving the HP-sponsored Williams FW25 at the 2003 USGP.	Since 2006, the team's liveries have been based on a dark blue-and-white theme. This is Nico Rosberg driving the Williams FW28 at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix.

References