{"id":604080,"date":"2026-04-13T12:44:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/604080\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T12:44:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:44:14","slug":"the-throwback-weekend-is-back-in-fashion-but-its-a-flawed-concept-especially-for-f1-racefans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/604080\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018throwback weekend\u2019 is back in fashion. But it\u2019s a flawed concept \u2013 especially for F1 \u2013 RaceFans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spain\u2019s two top football divisions gave fans a nostalgic treat with their first ever \u2018Jordana retro\u2019 last weekend.<\/p>\n

Over four days, 38 of the 42 clubs competed in special kits evoking their past designs. The league matched the look with classic-style television graphics, special kits for pitch officials and retro match balls.<\/p>\n

The idea has been tried across other sports, including Australia\u2019s Football League and National Rugby League. In motorsport, NASCAR introduced a \u2018throwback weekend\u2019 as far back as 2015, but changed the format this year as fewer and fewer teams were prepared to re-sticker their cars in retro colour schemes.<\/p>\n

The suggestion Formula 1 could try a similar concept has been floated in the past. But it increasingly looks like an idea which has run its course, and it seems better suited to sports like football than motor racing.<\/p>\n

\"Artwork<\/a>Artwork for La Liga\u2019s \u2018Jornada Retro\u2019No doubt some F1 teams have rich seams of history to mine when it comes to old-style liveries. Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Mercedes have all run old-style liveries in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

For others the idea would be more of a stretch. Red Bull have 20 years of largely similar liveries to draw on; Haas just 10 (though this didn\u2019t stop them reviving their dreary original livery at one race last year<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Aston Martin have their brief original involvement in F1 to recall. But Audi, Alpine and Cadillac would presumably have to resort to adapting liveries from their past involvements in other racing series, stretching the idea of a \u2018retro F1\u2019 weekend somewhat. Racing Bulls would presumably dress their cars in the Toro Rosso livery Sebastian Vettel<\/a> scored his first grand prix victory in.<\/p>\n

But would the effort be justified by a resulting increase in interest? F1 teams\u2019 attempts at retro liveries are often dissatisfying.<\/p>\n

Previously, they have been hamstrung to an extent by the need to reduce the amount of paint or stickers on their cars to save weight. That has been addressed this year by new regulations requiring teams to ensure coverage of a minimum percentage of their bare chassis.<\/p>\n

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But the real challenge lies in incorporating the demands of today\u2019s sponsors alongside a previous look created for other brands. Compare the clean look of the 2002 Williams with the team\u2019s attempt to recreate the same look last year:<\/p>\n

\"Juan<\/a>Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams, Interlagos, 2002<\/p>\n

\"Carlos<\/a>Carlos Sainz Jnr, Williams, COTA, 2025<\/p>\n

The idea works best when a team is showcasing a sponsor which is known for previous involvements in motor racing, such as McLaren\u2019s celebrated 2001 Monaco Grand Prix livery featuring Gulf. But creating an arrangement for all 11 teams on the same weekend is not realistic.<\/p>\n

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Some aspects of La Liga\u2019s retro weekend would be more achievable and potentially positive for F1, such as bringing back F1\u2019s old-school graphics. A simpler look to the television broadcasts \u2013 and the return of timing to three decimal points which has been partially removed this year \u2013 would surely be welcomed by many.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel<\/a>McLaren\u2019s 2021 Monaco Grand Prix livery was a hitCould F1 create classic-style trackside furniture to mimic La Liga\u2019s heritage football? A full Goodwood Revival approach obviously wouldn\u2019t be possible due to safety considerations.<\/p>\n

Perhaps F1 could find elements of the circuit infrastructure to apply a \u2018classic\u2019 look to. These would need to be noticed often enough in the television broadcasts to be worthwhile. Styling tyre walls to look like hay bales wouldn\u2019t, repainting kerbs might, though this has already happened at some tracks. <\/p>\n

This highlights the biggest challenge of all to creating this kind of event for F1: when and where could it hold one?<\/p>\n

Many race promoters pay F1 huge sums because they want to bring attention to their regions. This has become more direct in recent years \u2013 think of last year\u2019s post-race light and fountain show after the Las Vegas Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

Race promoters don\u2019t necessarily want the focus drawn elsewhere. This is less of a consideration for a football league, where multiple rounds take place at the same venue throughout a season.<\/p>\n

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\"NASCAR,<\/a>NASCAR held its first \u2018throwback\u2019 race over a decade agoA \u2018retro\u2019 weekend would be purely a marketing exercise of no consequence to the sport. But promotion is what Liberty Media excel at, so it wouldn\u2019t be a surprise if they did decide to tackle it.<\/p>\n

Drivers and teams have already discovered there is significant demand for special editions of their teamwear. If there\u2019s more money to be made by organising a one-off \u2018retro grand prix\u2019, then it is probably a matter of when, not if, that happens.<\/p>\n

But NASCAR\u2019s experiment with the concept indicated it has a limited shelf life. The last time it attempted one, fewer than half of the teams were participating. \u2018Throwback weekends\u2019, ironically enough, appear to belong in the past.<\/p>\n

Pictures: Formula 1 teams\u2019 retro liveries<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Mercedes,<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tMercedes, Hockenheim, 2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Charles<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tCharles Leclerc, Ferrari, Mugello, 2020<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Oscar<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri, McLaren, Singapore, 2024<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Esteban<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tEsteban Ocon, Haas, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2025<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Lando<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tLando Norris, McLaren, Monaco, 2025<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Lewis<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tLewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Monza, 2025<\/p>\n

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Formula 1
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