Fernando Alonso’s 18-year Formula 1 career will come to an end after this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and to mark the occasion his McLaren team have revealed a special colour scheme for his car’s livery.
After victories in the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the 37-year-old needs a win at the Indy 500 to complete motorsport’s elusive “triple crown”.
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This weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, Alonso’s McLaren MCL33 car will have a “unique paint-job”, the Woking-based team announced this week.
In a statement, McLaren said: “Based on the distinctive blue, yellow and red of his helmet colours [which themselves pay sizeable homage to his home region of Asturias in northern Spain] the livery is emblazoned across the engine cover, and includes a specially commissioned FA insignia on the top and sides of the cockpit.”
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown added: “We’re incredibly pleased and proud to be able to race a special one-off livery for Fernando in Abu Dhabi this weekend. We want his last grand prix to feel special in every way, and this was just one of the ways we could reflect that.
“We worked closely and collaboratively with Fernando, and then with the FIA and Formula 1 to make the change for this one race, and they were all hugely supportive of the move.
“Hopefully, this will give Fernando’s fans a little something extra to look forward to at what is bound to be an especially emotional weekend.”
Alonso, who has not ruled out a return to F1, will also wear a special helmet for Sunday’s final race of the 2018 season.
‘Inspired by Fernando’: Alonso’s McLaren livery in pictures
Images: McLaren.com / F1.com