Racing Bulls taps Nigerian-British artist Slawn to drop boldest livery in British GP

At Silverstone, Racing Bulls has a bold new look after tapping Nigerian-British artist Slawn to reimagine its livery.

The graffiti-splashed design, which was created in partnership with fashion brand Hugo, isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s a statement on the kind of team Racing Bulls is becoming. Once Red Bull’s little sister, the Faenza-based outfit is doing things differently – from its unique liveries to the behind-the-scenes content on its TikTok channel.

Olaolu ‘Slawn’ Akeredolu-Ale is well-known for merging his Yoruba heritage with the gritty vibrancy of urban London, and has collaborated with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Ferrari, and even recently designed the Emirates FA Cup. His latest canvas looks a little different, moving at 200 mph.

“First artist in the world to have his work on an F1 car that’s going to race in the British GP. Painting the way one vehicle at a time,” Slawn wrote on Instagram ahead of the race. 

In addition to the cars driven by Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, he also designed their race suits and the staff kits, adorned with the same graffiti-style artwork.

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Photo by: Mario Renzi – Formula 1 – Getty Images

“It was very collaborative,” Slawn told Motorsport.com of the design process. “You’ve got to think about the curvature and everything… I don’t think I’m equipped to make any changes for the car to go faster, so I’ll just give them some graphics.” 

Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer was clear about why this collaboration matters.

“Slawn’s work is unlike anything we’ve seen in Formula 1, and that’s exactly why this collaboration felt right,” he said.

“Partnering with Hugo and Slawn has allowed us to push creative boundaries in a way that reflects the bold identity of our team. Silverstone is a massive moment in the season, and we’re proud to bring something completely original to our fans.”

That sentiment was echoed by James Foster, SVP of global marketing at Hugo Boss.

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

“Witnessing the big reveal of Slawn’s fresh, energetic art on the Racing Bulls team’s new livery and his exciting takeover of the Hugo x RB collab has been inspiring, and will consolidate Hugo’s ambition to take F1 further off-track and into culture,” he explained.

“This collaboration is a brilliant demonstration of the power of going your own way, which is at the core of Hugo’s DNA.”

The energy isn’t limited to the track. In east London, Slawn’s community café Beau Beau’s is transforming into the Hugo Race Car Café for fans who didn’t score tickets to Silverstone. The space was fitted out with custom window vinyls, coffee cups, and an F1 simulator. Slawn, who didn’t grow up as an F1 diehard, said he connected to the project on a different level.

“I knew who Ayrton Senna was because of his mindset and his focus,” he explained. Now, with a car-obsessed young son, he’s engaging with F1 alongside the next generation.