NEOM McLaren have unveiled the world’s “first AI-designed livery” which will be used by the team for this weekend’s 2023 Formula E season finale in London.
The London E-Prix double-header this weekend represents NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s first home race in the all-electric series, having only joined the championship this season.
To celebrate their home event and McLaren Racing’s 60th anniversary, the side are using a special livery at the ExCeL Centre, which has been completely designed using artificial intelligence.
McLaren Racing and title sponsor NEOM have worked together to create the design which resembles artwork of the future, envisaged by drivers Jake Hughes, René Rast and four members from NEOM’s Graduate Development Programme.
Their visions were then combined in an end-to-end AI process, which started with a text AI creating a series of prompts. Following on from this, the prompts were used to create artwork for each vision, which was carried out using text-to-image AI.
Image-to-image AI was then used to combine the six designs, which were then mapped onto McLaren’s car by the team’s designers.
The Woking-based team’s design is the first in the history of any FIA World Championship to have been designed by AI.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is “delighted” that the British team have continued to “break new ground” with the special livery, in what is perhaps a sign of things to come in the future of livery design.
“We are delighted to work with NEOM on the creation of the first AI-designed livery in motorsport,” said Brown.
“When the car takes its place on the grid in London this weekend, it will mark a key moment in celebration of McLaren Racing’s 60th anniversary. McLaren has a long history of innovation in motorsport and beyond, so as we celebrate our past, it’s just as important to look to the future and continue to break new ground.”
Those on the NEOM Graduate Development Programme will join the NEOM McLaren Electric Talent Programme on a 12-month scheme with the team later in the year.
This is part of an ongoing initiative between NEOM and McLaren, which will see graduates make the move to the British manufacturer over the next few years as part of a wider target to develop talent.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, NEOM CEO, spoke about how McLaren “supports” the company’s commitments, and how the livery has been created to “celebrate a milestone in McLaren’s history”.
“The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team partnership supports various NEOM commitments, from driving sustainable solutions and nurturing Saudi talent through development opportunities, to delivering new technology to the world,” said Al-Nasr.
“We have leveraged creative and innovative technology to create the AI-generated livery to celebrate a milestone in McLaren’s history through visions of the future.”
