In a groundbreaking fusion of art and motorsport, Nigerian-British contemporary artist Olaolu Slawn has brought his graffiti-inspired creativity to the world of Formula One. Through a bold collaboration with Red Bull’s Racing Bulls F1 team, Slawn has introduced a dynamic new visual identity that merges urban street culture with the elite world of high-speed racing. Ahead of the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Slawn was invited to transform the Racing Bulls team’s aesthetics, marking a rare intersection of fine art, fashion and sport. Renowned for his expressive street-style art across London and for his recent work with streetwear label Trapstar, Slawn was entrusted with the creative freedom to reinterpret the team’s look from the ground up.
At the heart of the project is the striking redesign of the VCARB 02 race cars. Piloted by drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, the vehicles retain core Red Bull branding while now featuring Slawn’s unmistakable black caricature artwork. His signature open-eyed figures wrap around the sleek white bodies of the cars, creating a captivating contrast that visually disrupts the traditionally uniform F1 grid. Slawn’s contribution goes far beyond aesthetics. This artistic overhaul represents a larger cultural movement within Formula One, one that seeks to break down barriers and embrace a more diverse, creative ethos. The fusion of avant-garde graffiti art with the precision of Formula One engineering is not only bold in design but symbolic in meaning: the blending of counterculture with global mainstream visibility.
This venture captures the essence of collaboration both on the part of the artist and the part of Formula One. Slawn’s style brings a raw, authentic energy to the grid, shifting perceptions of what Formula One can look and feel like especially for younger, culturally attuned audiences. The collaboration also includes a head-to-toe team style transformation, thanks to a joint effort with fashion house HUGO. Slawn lent his artistic direction to the design of the team’s race suits and staff apparel. Featuring a palette of white, red and blue, a nod to both Red Bull’s iconic branding and the host nation’s flag, the clothing includes subtle yet impactful placements of Slawn’s artistic motifs, particularly across the torso areas.
This not only creates a unified visual identity on and off the track but further emphasises the commitment to storytelling through design. It is fine art, function, and fine art combined, mirroring the technical and creative precision of F1 itself. Recognising the appeal of this artistic collaboration, Red Bull has made select pieces from the reimagined team kit available for purchase through its official online store. Fans and collectors alike can now take home a piece of racing history that doubles as wearable art bringing together team merchandise and street fashion.
This collaboration is more than a marketing move, it’s a signal that Formula One is evolving. Traditionally seen as a polished, elite sport, F1 has increasingly opened its doors to diverse perspectives and artistic voices. Slawn’s work offers a fresh narrative, one rooted in lived urban experience and expressive freedom, now applied to the world’s most technical and fast-paced sport.
The significance of this moment for Olaolu Slawn as an artist is impeccable. An artist who began his career painting murals and spray cans on city walls now sees his work speeding around the Silverstone Circuit at over 200 mph. It’s a testament to how far street art has come, from the fringes of creative society to the heart of global sporting culture.
As the Racing Bulls line up on the Silverstone grid, they do so carrying not just hopes of racing glory but the powerful symbolism of cultural innovation. Slawn’s involvement doesn’t just refresh a team’s look, it redefines what Formula One can represent: a platform for creativity, inclusivity as well as artistic expression in motion. This collaboration caries on the notion that motorsport can be a canvas, and creativity, in all its forms, deserves a place in even the most unexpected arenas.
