5 replies to this topic

[HopkinsonF1]

I've heard various explanations for the origins of McLaren's red 'tick' logo, from suggestions that it was a stylised version of the kiwi emblem used on pre-Project 4 cars, to the (more convincing) story that it was a development of the Marlboro chevron that was used in the logo while the team was sponsored by Philip Morris.

 

During a visit to Donington Grand Prix Collection yesterday, I saw something that complicated the issue even further: a 1999 West Competition Formula 3000 Lola with the 'McLaren' tick across the sidepods:

 

 

And interestingly, the McLaren logos on the noses of the 1997 McLaren MP4-12 and 1998 McLaren MP4-13 do not incorporate the tick, although it does appear on the sidepods of both cars. To me, this suggests that the tick wasn't originally part of the McLaren brand at all, but rather an element of the West Competition livery that was incorporated into the McLaren logo at a later date. Which would seem strange, given how heavily McLaren have pushed the 'tick' in their branding and car design.

 

Can anyone shed some light on the history of the 'tick'?

 

 

Edit: In fact, prior to 1999 the tick only ever appears as a pair on each sidepod. Further evidence that it didn't start life as a logo at all – why would you put two identical logos right next to each other in a livery?

Edited by HopkinsonF1, 19 April 2014 - 12:31.

[SpaceHorseParty]

This logo evolution chart implies the tick came in 1981 (same year as Ron Dennis' takeover) and then gradually evolved to its current form.

[HopkinsonF1]

This logo evolution chart implies the tick came in 1981 (same year as Ron Dennis' takeover) and then gradually evolved to its current form.

That was what I thought. But, as I say in the opening post, the McLaren logo doesn't include the tick in 1997 or 1998 (the first two years of West sponsorship), and during those years there were non-McLaren cars using the tick in their livery. So it seems likely that, rather than being an evolution of the Marlboro chevron, the 'tick' is actually an independent design first introduced as part of the West livery, then incorporated into the McLaren logo from 1999.

[f1steveuk]

I thought it developed from the McLaren "Tyre Tread/ Forward Progress" part of the McLaren branding motif, obviously appearing in F3000 when the team used the formula to develop contrated drivers, such as Nick Heidfeld?

[mfd]

They definitely wanted to use something to distance themselves from the Marlboro associated rooftop/chevron device

[pacificquay]

That was what I thought. But, as I say in the opening post, the McLaren logo doesn't include the tick in 1997 or 1998 (the first two years of West sponsorship), and during those years there were non-McLaren cars using the tick in their livery. So it seems likely that, rather than being an evolution of the Marlboro chevron, the 'tick' is actually an independent design first introduced as part of the West livery, then incorporated into the McLaren logo from 1999.

 

No - it wasn't used on non-McLaren cars. "West Competition" was a name used for McLaren's F3000 team.