Formula 1 Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Spectacular Launch Event
London, February 28, 2025 – Formula 1 marked a historic milestone on Tuesday evening with a grand launch event at London’s iconic O2 Arena. The event commemorated the 75th anniversary of the championship and kickstarted the 2025 season in style.
For the first time ever, all 10 teams on the grid, along with their cars and drivers, gathered under one roof for a spectacular celebration. The event, which ran from 8 pm to 10 pm, captivated an audience of nearly 20,000 spectators.
The excitement surrounding the event was palpable, with tickets selling out in under an hour. The evening featured a captivating mix of music and entertainment, providing a tantalizing glimpse into the upcoming season.
Behind-the-Scenes Preparations
Liberty Media, the American owners of Formula 1, meticulously planned the event for weeks, promising a series of surprises throughout the evening. The ceremony was streamed live on social media and broadcast on multiple channels, including Canal+ in France.
The event served a key strategic objective for Formula 1: broadening its appeal to younger and female audiences. "This show is a fantastic opportunity for fans of all ages to experience firsthand the incredible spectacle that is Formula 1," said Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1.
Team Debuts and Unveiled Liveries
One by one, the teams took to the red carpet, each presenting a car for the upcoming season. These cars may not necessarily be the ones used in the pre-season testing in Bahrain (February 26-28) or the season-opening Australian Grand Prix (March 16).
Some teams chose not to wait for the event and unveiled their new liveries earlier. McLaren kicked off the season presentations on February 13, followed by Williams.
Mercedes Boss Lauds the Initiative
Toto Wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes, expressed enthusiasm for the event, likening it to a race weekend. "It’s almost like a race weekend: we have all the teams here together before the season starts, all the teams making a presentation, the drivers making a presentation, a lot of media buzz around it, new liveries," he said.
Ferrari’s Notable Absence
Nine out of the ten teams present at the event engaged with media before the evening soiree. Ferrari, however, was notably absent from the afternoon press conference.
Despite its absence at the O2 Arena, the Scuderia will hold its own event in Maranello the following day. Charles Leclerc and new team member Lewis Hamilton will grace the tracks at the Ferrari-owned Fiorano Circuit. Hamilton’s appearance at the O2 Arena was highly anticipated by British fans, as it marked his first public presentation with his new team.
