rich1701 wrote:All indications i have seen so far suggest Mclaren do not have a title sponsor for 2015. Ron Dennis is quite obstinate when it comes to what he thinks his team is worth when it comes to sponsorship, part of the reason why Phillip Morris ended their Mclaren deal in the first place. Mclaren don't like one off liveries, they like something that conveys a long term identity that a sponsor can easily be integrated into. So perhaps the 2015 livery will have a future sponsor in mind, perhaps the return of Santander partnering Alonso (in future).
It is not inconceivable that Phillip Morris could return to sponsor the team, the marketing opportunity is huge because even the unbranded Marlboro livery is now iconic in formula 1 and would be far more prominent than the current Ferrari arrangement.
I think it's a bit more than that, partially i think 100% the same - but I'd leave out santander, and include Honda's wishes.
Mclaren actually did run a Marlboro sponsorship (livery) when they already had the Mercedes engine (1995 & 1996).
They changed their livery in 1997 to grey with their WEST tobacco sponsorship. (test car was beautifull orange btw).
It reached all the way up to 2005.
Afterwards, they continued to run this silver-black-red livery, when in 2006 Emirates became a sponsor (AND they ran a orange test car).
Then from 2007 on, Vodafone was their title sponsor untill the end of the 2013 season when they prematurely ended their 2014 sponsorship deal (probably with a lot of $$ to be paid out to Mclaren on their premature termination).
I did enjoy the all-chrome Mclaren, i did not enjoy the chrome mclaren with lots of black. it was boring.
Anyway, 2015 IS going to be a hugely new era for Mclaren, for obvious reasons. I believe it has been said they'll run an orange test livery (corresponds with historic 'events').
We also know they want to distance themselves from the Mercedes-era regarding the livery. That probably is something both Mercedes and Honda both want.
I could see that being a reason why the Force India is much greyer - after all, they are running Mercedes engines. Will lotus have some grey? I don't know, but i'm sure the grey on the Force India is because Mercedes wants more 'exposure' in the teams they sponsor. After all - grey/silver IS the Mercedes colour. Williams isn't doing that thanks to their Martini deal. I don't expect lotus to, either. the Mclaren has been the only other 'silver car' easily recognisable as being a Mercedes-powered machine.
I think that's why SFI is running a silver livery.
Mclaren, and Honda, thus want a recognisable livery for their partnership. The obvious combination offcourse is the Red-White combo; it's both the colours of Honda (JAPAN), and Mclaren's mighy years with Honda as the Marlboro combo.
The fact they are showing a lot of Red-White hints suggests it indeed will be Red-White.
Now one might suggest they want a 'new' era, and as such might not want to rely too much on being too 'retro' and run a classic marlboro-like livery. There might be some logic to this, but in the end, i think it doesn't really matter though.
Mclaren's might did not come from Marlboro - despite they had good finances offcourse. The grandeur came from their Honda V6T results. And here we are again, with a V6T Honda powerplant.
Apart from the fact that i think it's VERY interesting Honda shown a Red-white mount FUJI, which looks just like the Marlboro logo with the top bitten off, I think it's very interesting that Ron Dennis maintains such strength in that Mclaren doesn't 'need' a title sponsor.
Philip Morris is losing lots of ground due to Tobacco banning from (motor)sports, and the general consensus that sigarettes are bad. In any case, even outside of F1, tobacco is losing interest - thus losing money. Most Tobacco industries also run E-cigarettes now - i don't know whether E-cigarettes might be allowed to be promoted though.
Anyway, Philip Morris COULD reason that 'indirectly' sponsoring 2 teams with a recognisable hint is better than running 'just 1' (Ferrari). Mclaren entering a new era, getting lots of attention, and perhaps in a better situation to score in 2015 compared to Ferrari could very well be enough reason for Philip Morris to want Mclaren running 'their' livery.
The interesting about Mclaren for Philip Morris (Marlboro) offcourse is that they 'just have to run' a white-red livery and they'll be done. They don't even need no triangular shapes. Just the Red-White will be enough.
And exactly because they're gonna do that, and exactly because supposedly Mclaren doesnt have or need a title sponsor, leads me to think they don't need it because they actually have it 'in secret'. Marlboro/Philip Morris.
Now all that leaves me questioned is whether F1 would be allowed to promoto E-cigarette sponsoring?
Tobacco isn't allowed. How about E-cigarettes? I know it sort of falls under the same category though, but does it technically?