McLaren to Drop Silver from 2011 Car Livery?

According to some speculation that runs around the Great Circus these days – no media involved this time – it is believed that McLaren Mercedes will no longer use silver as their predominant livery color starting this upcoming season.

Back in 2009, McLaren Group and Daimler AG decided to end their works partnership in F1, with the latter remaining an engine partner for the British squad on a long-term deal. Additionally, the stake owned by Daimler in the McLaren F1 Team (40 percent) was to be purchased back by the British group until 2011. Meaning that this year will mark the complete independence of McLaren-Mercedes from the German carmaker.

Back in 2010, when McLaren Mercedes and Mercedes GP were still to announce their car liveries, the former's team principal Martin Whitmarsh insisted his team will not give up the silver color as “It is a McLaren brand colour; it works for our partners and us.”

However, since Mercedes-Benz are no longer a partner, but only an engine supplier, McLaren might give up silver on their cars in 2011. And that's also because Mercedes GP have based their entire rhetoric in 2010 on the “Silver Arrows” concept, providing a clear hint that they plan to revive the concept in F1 for the future.

Of course, official confirmation of these allegations will only come with the launch of McLaren's MP4-24 challenger in late January, but some hints that silver will no longer be used can be seen on the team's merchandise for the upcoming F1 campaign. To be more precise, the caps for the 2010 season feature an all-black livery (silver is no more), while the team crew and management-style shirts and jackets are also black.