Formula One: 5 Most Unique Liveries Ever

Formula One, widely known as F1, is the most superior segment of automobile racing defined by FIA, the Motorsport governing body. Formula One cars are the fastest single seater cars on the planet. The best of the automobile manufacturers take pride in the association with the sport.

Formula One Sponsorship Liveries have been the integral part of the sports and are in existence since 1960s. As the sponsors have witnessed a huge significance in the game, the national color has been replaced and liveries are much in trend displaying the logos in an absolute clear manner. Liveries remain to be one of the most vital factors in the viewership as well as sponsorship as every team wants to outshine the other with their branding . It also creates an area of interest for graphic and livery designers to showcase their specific design according to the need of manufactures and thereby endorse their sponsorship.

Usually the liveries are changed for every season putting forth the marketing ideas of the sponsors. However some teams maintain consistency for years in case of liveries. For example the Red color of Ferrari which originated from red shade known as 'rosso corsa', the national racing color of Italy. Some liveries endorsed Alcohol and tobacco but bans across the world put an end to this practice.Here we have the list of 5 amazing and unique liveries in the sports so far.

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#5 1997 Jordan 197

Benson and Hedges Jordan. Image source-wiki

Although all the five versions of Benson and Hedges sponsored Jordan's from the late 1990s to early 2000s were too spectacular, but still, if we have to choose the classic one, it was the first one from 1997. To add to its beauty, it had bright yellow color, scary snake fangs. Bitten and Hisses option was exclusively available for the countries where tobacco sponsorship was banned.

The Jordan 197 displayed that the daunting Irish team was truly a wave of fresh air in a stuffy paddock. By that time Jordan was already in a trouble because the young duo Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella crashed into each other in Argentinian GP.

#4 1986 Benetton BMW B186

Benetton B186. Image source- wiki

Though teams had been displaying various colors and sponsorship logos for years but the 1986 Benetton BMW B186 was definitely a prediction of the future. The Italy based clothing maker, Benetton took over the small Toleman team and rebranded the whole effort.The B186 displayed that sponsorship themed paint jobs could actually be the great idea. This car even ran with colored sidewalls on tyres at Detroit Grand Prix. The front portion bore the Benetton symbol in a distinct manner where as the body just behind the driver's seat had colored patches with orange and green colored tyres.

Back then, there was an amazing young talent Gerhard Berger from Australia who was in his second full year of F1, took on this car and marched forward in style.He pulled it off to third spot in San Marino and clinched a victory in Mexico in this stunning livery.

#3 1972 John Player Special Lotus 72D

Lotus 72D. Image source:wiki

For many years Lotus was being sponsored by Imperial Tobacco but as soon as the new brand was launched by the company, it led to a livery that is still called the most iconic of all time by many. The John Player special Lotus had the shades of vibrant black and gold and the designing was classic too. The driver's seat was surrounded by an elevated glass shield and the inner side of the tyre also had the light golden colored paint. Due to its such unique finish, many road cars paid tribute to this look throughout the year including the Ford Capri and other Lotuses.

The golden and black combo added the classic touch to the car. John Player Special Lotus 72D was the fourth production of the car which raced more than six years and grabbed 20 victories, two driver's title and three constructor's title for Colin Chapman's team.

#2 1950 Ferrari 125 F1

1950 Ferrari 125. image source- wiki

Well this vintage model was the very first Formula One car produced by Ferrari and later it introduced the iconic red livery to the F1 sports. The color imagery wasn't much prevalent back then, but we can imagine how classic it would look in cherry red. We can say that the car totally belonged to stone age if we compare it with modern cars of today. It was powered by supercharged 1.5L V12 engine and used steel tubular frame chassis and had drum brakes all over.

This car managed couple of podium in its very first season which included only 7 races back then and now its 21 round the year. None of the original 3 cars exist now, but there is a replica of 125 F1 which was designed by Italian Marque and is kept in company's museum in Maranello.

The red version which we talked of, came later. here it is

Ferrrari 125 F1.

#1 Modern F1 Ferrari- Monza 2001

Special F1 Ferrari. Image source- autosport.com

It happened in Monza 2011, The Ferrari team made a statement that their 2 cars will run in plain red livery at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix as a mark of respect after the recent terrorist attack in US. The team stripped off all the sponsorship stickers and brands from its cars and painted the nose of the car in black color as a tribute to the people after the deadly 9/11 attacks in the city of New York which took away the life of around 3000 people.

The team issued the following statement "Ferrari has taken the decision to show that it shares a sense of grief with the American people, with whom it has always felt close ties. Therefore, this weekend, for the Italian Grand Prix, with the full agreement of its sponsors and suppliers, as a mark of respect, its cars will carry no logos relating to its commercial and technical partners. For Ferrari and for its partners, Sunday's race will be a purely sporting event with no commercial implications, nor will it be a joyful event."

This action of Ferrari was widely appreciated.