NEOM McLaren unveils AI-Designed motorsport livery

In a groundbreaking moment for the motorsport world, the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team has unveiled a revolutionary livery designed using cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence (AI). This exciting debut coincides with McLaren Racing’s 60th anniversary celebration at the upcoming London E-Prix.

The remarkable livery was a collaborative effort between NEOM and McLaren Racing, incorporating the visionary ideas of drivers René Rast and Jake Hughes, along with creative input from four members of NEOM’s Graduate Development Program. Each participant contributed their unique perspective, which underwent a comprehensive AI-driven process to generate the final design. First, the visions were fed into a text AI to produce a series of prompts. These prompts were then transformed into individual artwork for each vision using text-to-image AI. Lastly, the six distinct visuals were merged into a cohesive artwork using image-to-image AI, which McLaren Racing designers skillfully adapted onto the car, resulting in stunning high-resolution graphics.

Key to this innovative design process were the young Saudi NEOM Graduates, whose central role in the development earned them a place in the NEOM McLaren Electric Talent Programme. Starting later this year, these graduates will embark on a twelve-month developmental journey with the team, forming part of an ongoing initiative to nurture Saudi talent through hands-on experience within a world-renowned high-performance organization.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, emphasized that the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s partnership aligns with various NEOM commitments. These range from promoting sustainable solutions and fostering Saudi talent through developmental opportunities to introducing groundbreaking technology to the world. The AI-generated livery serves as a fitting tribute to McLaren’s milestone anniversary, creatively encapsulating visions of the future.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, expressed his delight in collaborating with NEOM to bring the first AI-designed livery to the motorsport realm. As the car takes its place on the grid in London, this historic moment not only commemorates McLaren Racing’s illustrious past but also marks a bold step forward into the future. McLaren’s legacy of innovation in motorsport and beyond continues, breaking new ground as the team embraces cutting-edge technology and creative advancements.