All 20 F1 drivers were on stage revealing their new cars, although the technical aspects of each machine can’t be studied properly until testing begins on Wednesday in Bahrain.
Every manufacturer took a very different approach to showing off their new liveries.
Racing Bulls were a fan favourite with the most different look to last year, while McLaren showed off the constructors’ championship trophy as well as some of their most iconic cars alongside this year’s new look.
Oliver Bearman received an incredible response from the crowd, highlighting how quickly British F1 fans get behind their drivers.
Unfortunately, one team won’t look back on the F1 75 event as an unmitigated success.
Red Bull decided to begin their presentation with a speech from team principal Christian Horner before showing a lengthy video hyping up the car.
Max Verstappen and new teammate Liam Lawson then walked across the stage joined by a familiar-looking Red Bull and a crowd of people dancing before leaving without taking part in an interview – the only team not to give their drivers any air time.
Verstappen and Horner were both booed by the crowd – although the Dutchman’s negative response was largely drowned out by cheers – but this prompted a response from the FIA.
FIA sources suggest they were unhappy with the reaction to Red Bull and although it’s likely that Liberty Media will push for the event to be repeated in the future, a return to the UK might not be on the cards.
The FIA published a statement after the ceremony and said: “Great rivalries throughout the history of motorsport have contributed to making it such an exciting experience for fans.
“But what underpins sport at all levels is a culture of respect. As such, it was disappointing to hear the crowd’s tribalist reaction to FIA Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team principal and CEO Christian Horner, at the F1 launch in London.
“Max and Christian have both contributed greatly to the sport we love. In the season ahead we should not lose sight of that.
“As part of the FIA’s commitment to protect the integrity of the sport, we are leading a coalition tackling online abuse in sport under the banner of our United Against Online Abuse campaign.
“We stand with all of our competitors, officials, volunteers, and fans to unite against this growing threat. We urge the sporting community to consider the impact of their actions both online and offline.”
Posting on his Instagram story after seeing the statement, Hill simply said: “Telling off the crowd.”
Likely, Verstappen’s reception at the British Grand Prix later in the year is unlikely to change based on the FIA’s statement, but it’s exactly what the Red Bull driver needs to spur him on to win a fifth consecutive title.
Verstappen has been at the centre of controversy throughout his Formula 1 career and a slightly negative reaction during the F1 75 event is unlikely to impact him.
Lando Norris and Verstappen battled very closely last year and given the Brit’s recent statements, it feels like his fans hold more of a grudge against the four-time world champion than he does.
Verstappen’s feud with George Russell in Qatar seemed to extract an extra layer of performance from the Dutchman and there’s nothing he loves more than proving people wrong.
All eyes are on how Red Bull’s car performs during testing this year after they slipped behind their closest rivals last season. Ultimately, that will determine whether Verstappen has a shot of matching Michael Schumacher’s incredible championship record.
