Gallery: the cars of the 2020 Formula 1 season

Renault finally unveils its livery ahead of the Australian Grand Prix

11 Mar 2020

Haas VF-20
Welcome one and all to the Formula 1 Class of 2020. For the coming season it’s all about evolution rather than revolution, says F1 (the big changes of course are coming in 2021). So, for this year the cars will look and act remarkably similar to before – with the only real changes being less metal in the front wings to reduce punctures and a return to the good old chequered flag rather than that stupid light panel we had to endure last year.

Also much like last year, Haas is the first team to unveil its brand-new colours. Well, we say new, the American outfit is actually throwing it back to the white, black and red it used in 2016 and 2018. Last season’s black and gold livery was incredibly cool, of course, but presumably that came about because of the team’s former title-sponsor. The less said about this, the better.

Haas’ 2019 season was a bit of a nightmare all told too, with the team finishing above only Williams in the Constructors’ championship – although no doubt that’ll make excellent viewing for all of us when the new series of Drive to Survive is released on Netflix. Sorry Guenther.

Both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will return for the 2020 season, with testing beginning in Barcelona on February 19 and the first race in Melbourne on March 15. So, make sure you head back to this very page over the next couple of weeks and we’ll bring you nine other pictures of F1 cars in pretty colours.

Excited for the season ahead, race fans?
Ferrari SF1000
Second to reveal a new (not that new) look is Ferrari. This is the SF1000 – so named because the 2020 season will see the Scuderia become the first team ever to take part in 1,000 F1 Grand Prix. Impressive.

Aero was Ferrari’s biggest enemy last season, but things started to come together later in the year so the lack of rule changes will no doubt help its ‘catch Mercedes at all costs’ cause. Ferrari itself has said the SF1000’s new aerodynamic concept is ‘extreme’ though, with the whole car packaged to be much narrower than before. The unloaded outboard front wing remains for now too.

“It is also a little bit more red than last year,” added Charles Leclerc. Thanks Charles.
Red Bull RB16
Red Bull has finished third in the constructors’ championship standings for the past three seasons, and Max Verstappen drove the RB15 to three wins in Germany, Austria and Brazil in 2019, so it should come as no surprise to see the energy drink manufacturer as the third team to unveil its contender for 2020.

The RB16 is the second Red Bull to be powered by Honda, and the last that will feature the Aston Martin name and badges after Lawrence Stroll’s investment in the British marque. The matte paint returns once again, as do both Verstappen and Alex Albon. Reckon they can break that third-place hoodoo this season?
McLaren MCL35
McLaren has now had two full seasons to get to grips with Renault engines, and this new MCL35 will actually be the last car to bear the fruits of the ever-improving partnership before a switch to Mercedes power from 2021.

A fourth-placed finish in the constructors’ standings was perhaps as good as the Brit team could have hoped for in 2019, but Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz will be looking to break the top-three dominance of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in 2020.

The team’s new livery is (shock horror) still orange, but for this season it’s gone matte and given way to a fair bit of bare carbon fibre – we like.

All that remains is for Lando and Carlos to turn that Twitter bants into race wins. Reckon they’ll have any success this year, Internet?
Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance
Here it is then, your 2020 Formula 1 World Championship winning car. Just kidding. Or are we? Anyway, although this might look similar to the triumphant W10, there have been quite a few changes under the skin. For example, Merc has redesigned the side pods with lower crash protection to improve airflow – something Ferrari did back in 2017 and most of the grid has since copied. There’s also an obvious step in the nose, just behind the front wheels. Not exactly a pretty thing is it? Bloody fast in the hands of Hamilton and Bottas, though, we bet.

What else to mention? Oh yeah… RED. On a Mercedes. And far more obvious than the single red star for Niki – the Italians will be furious.
AlphaTauri AT01
Toro Rosso clearly doesn’t want anyone forgetting that it’s changed its name this year. How many times can you count the words Alpha and Tauri on the AT01 above? We reckon it’s at least eight.

Still, Toro Rosso has done a cracking job with that livery. No longer restricted by its corporate colours, the white and navy blue look is striking but simple. Top work all involved. Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly both return to drive for Toro Rosso in the 2020 season. What was that about a name change?

Image: Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool
Williams FW43
Last season was a disaster for Williams, and made for difficult viewing for most race fans. Robert Kubica scored the team’s only championship point after post-race penalties in Germany, but he’ll be replaced by Canadian Nicholas Latifi for 2020. George Russell returns though, and here’s hoping the FW43 provides the youngster with a platform that’s at least capable of competing with the other backmarkers.

The team is running on a seriously tight budget and eschewed the now-traditional glitzy launch event, instead just plopping some pictures of the car up on the Internet – not that we’re complaining, others have much to learn here. There’s even more prominence for the team’s title sponsor in the livery, and those involved have been at pains to stress this is a development of last year’s car. At least that means it’ll be ready for testing this time…
Racing Point RP20
Another inventively named 2020 car is the Racing Point RP20. Do teams actually pay people to come up with these?

Anyway, once again the Racing Point will be the most recognisable car on the grid as the pink colour scheme returns. Will this be its last outing what with Lawrence Stroll bringing Aston Martin on board next season though? British Racing Green livery anyone?

There’s a new title sponsor this season and both Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez retain their seats, while the RP20 itself is already drawing strong comparisons to Merc’s W11 in testing.
Alfa Romeo C39
Alfa teased its new C39 with a snakeskin-like livery for the pre-season filming days. Y’know, shedding skin and all that…

Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi pulled the covers off the final colour scheme at testing though, and things are all very predictable. Anyone else recognising a theme in this gallery? There’s white, there’s red and there are Alfa logos everywhere. The C39 might not end up as a museum piece like Alfa racers of old.

Still, Kimi could break Rubens Barrichello’s record for Grand Prix starts this season. Well done that man.
Renault R.S.20
Finally, just two days before Free Practice 1 begins in Melbourne, Renault has pulled the covers off the R.S.20. To be honest though, it’s very much as we expected it to look. Anyone else reckon they should have stuck with the all-black testing livery?

Still, we’re looking forward to seeing what Renault has to offer this season. Esteban Ocon has joined the team to partner Daniel Ricciardo, and if the car is quick those two certainly have the potential to surprise a few.

So, that’s it then - we now have a full set of 2020 F1 cars. The last of their breed before the big changes come next season. Any predictions for this year, Internet?

Share this page:

What do you think?

This service is provided by Disqus and is subject to their privacy policy and terms of use. Please read Top Gear’s code of conduct (link below) before posting.