DRIFT

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ custom Red Bull Summer Editon livery reveal in Miami, Florida, USA on April 30, 2025. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202505010033 // Usage for editorial use only //
DJ Khaled with the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls custom livery in Miami, Florida, USA on May 1, 2025. // Daniel Zuliani / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202505020021 // Usage for editorial use only //

Miami has always thrived on spectacle. Whether it’s the pulse of neon lights in Wynwood, the rhythmic sway of palm trees on Ocean Drive, or the endless stream of supercars slicing down Collins Avenue, the city is a living, breathing celebration of life turned up to eleven. This year’s Miami Grand Prix weekend pushed that ethos even further as Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) took center stage, unveiling a livery that is part artwork, part love letter to the city’s relentless energy — and unmistakably a racing machine built for speed.

The Grand Reveal: A Sunset Moment in Miami

On the shimmering shoreline of Miami, against the backdrop of high-rises that seemed to catch fire in the sunset, VCARB rolled out a statement piece that transcends motorsport tradition. The event at Joia Beach Club on Jungle Island was the perfect stage — a fusion of waterfront luxury, golden skies, and an eager crowd buzzing with anticipation.

As the cover fell away, revealing the VCARB 02 dressed in shades of vibrant pink and stark white, the atmosphere shifted. Gasps, cheers, and the ever-present flash of cameras captured what was more than a car launch; it was a moment of cultural resonance.

Miami has long been the place where art, music, fashion, and motorsport converge. With this livery, VCARB has woven those threads into a single breathtaking tapestry.

From Peach to Pink: The Red Bull Summer Edition Influence

The heart of this audacious new look is a tribute to Red Bull’s Summer Edition White Peach flavor — a refreshing blend of smooth white peach, citrus peel, and floral undertones designed to evoke the breezy joy of summer.

The livery embodies this spirit in every curve and line. The rich pink gradients play against crisp white blocks, creating a visual dynamism that suggests motion even when the car is at rest. The look is soft yet electric, romantic yet aggressive — a paradox that feels completely at home in Miami’s unique cultural cocktail.

DJ Khaled: Star Power on Deck

The launch wouldn’t be complete without Miami’s celebrity magic, and who better than DJ Khaled to provide it? The music mogul and cultural icon climbed aboard the floating stage to get a personal look at the livery.

True to his larger-than-life persona, Khaled’s enthusiastic interaction with the car — inspecting its sleek lines and posing with playful reverence — instantly elevated the event from a mere motorsport activation to a viral, must-see moment. The scene epitomized Miami’s gift for transforming everything it touches into entertainment gold.

Art on the Water: The Floating Showcase

Miami’s relationship with the sea is deeply ingrained, and VCARB tapped into that with a spectacular floating showcase on May 1. Instead of a static pit-lane reveal, fans saw the VCARB 02 parading through Biscayne Bay aboard a custom barge — an audacious move that turned heads along every stretch of the waterfront.

This approach was more than a gimmick; it felt like a living art installation. Locals and visitors alike flocked to the shoreline and nearby boats to witness a first in Formula 1 promotion: a race car turned aquatic sculpture, gliding serenely through Miami’s sunlit water.

On Track: From Art Piece to Apex Predator

Once the floating spectacle ended, the VCARB 02 shifted from serene icon to aggressive apex predator as it hit the Miami International Autodrome circuit on May 2.

Drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, energized by the electric atmosphere and bold aesthetics, took the car through practice sessions that felt like performance art in motion. Both drivers spoke of the visceral thrill of piloting a car that was not just fast but also deeply tied to a larger story.

Lawson emphasized the boost in confidence and fan engagement, while Hadjar highlighted how the livery’s flamboyance mirrored Miami’s audacious character. Together, they embodied the merging of racing performance and cultural storytelling.

Fashion Forward: Limited-Edition Merch for Fans

No major motorsport reveal is complete without exclusive merchandise, and VCARB did not disappoint. To complement the Miami takeover, a collection of limited-edition Miami Summer Replica team tops and caps was introduced.

Drenched in the same pink and white hues, the apparel offers fans an opportunity to embody the livery’s spirit beyond the race weekend. These pieces quickly became hot commodities, selling out in record time online and at pop-up retail spots around the circuit.

Miami: The Ultimate Canvas

Miami’s status as a playground for the bold and beautiful makes it an unparalleled stage for a showcase like this. With its Art Deco architecture, multicultural heartbeat, and reputation for turning everyday life into an Instagram reel, the city lives in hyper-color — a perfect match for VCARB’s vision.

The livery’s design pulls in references from Miami’s visual vocabulary: the pastel hues of South Beach facades, the kinetic movement of Latin dance, and the endless summer sunsets that paint the sky every evening.

A New Era for VCARB: Storytelling Beyond Speed

Formula 1 teams are no longer just engineering companies; they are multimedia storytellers. The VCARB Miami project demonstrates this shift beautifully, where narrative and aesthetic are as important as aerodynamics and horsepower.

VCARB’s Miami livery signals a future where race teams double as lifestyle brands, connecting to fans through art, culture, and collective experience rather than purely through podium finishes.

By aligning with Red Bull’s Summer Edition White Peach — itself a product designed to capture a fleeting seasonal feeling — VCARB underscores that emotional resonance is the new currency in sports marketing.

The Rise of Seasonal Liveries

This Miami reveal is part of a broader trend: seasonal or event-specific liveries. What once might have been a marketing afterthought has become a headline-grabbing centerpiece.

Recent years have seen McLaren’s tribute liveries, Mercedes’ temporary changes to reflect social causes, and even Red Bull’s own occasional design pivots. Yet VCARB’s Miami execution feels particularly holistic — not merely an aesthetic refresh but an immersive, multi-dimensional campaign extending from track to merchandise to social media.

A Social Media Masterclass

The real victory for any modern activation is as much online as on the circuit. With influencers, athletes, and cultural icons like DJ Khaled in attendance, the Miami livery reveal dominated timelines globally.

From drone shots of the floating car to behind-the-scenes clips at Joia Beach, every detail was designed for shareability. The campaign hashtag #VCARBSummer trended rapidly, translating physical spectacle into digital impressions that reach far beyond Miami’s sun-drenched shores.

On the Road and Beyond: Future Implications

Looking ahead, VCARB’s Miami livery sets a high bar for what Formula 1 teams can achieve when they embrace their role as cultural arbiters. The project suggests an exciting future where cars are not just tools of competition but vehicles for storytelling, artistic expression, and community connection.

The seamless integration of a limited-edition consumer product — the Red Bull Summer Edition White Peach — demonstrates a new level of commercial synergy that feels authentic rather than forced.

As more brands explore similar collaborations, fans can expect race weekends to evolve into full-spectrum cultural events that engage sight, sound, taste, and emotion.

Miami’s New Masterpiece

VCARB’s Miami livery isn’t just a new paint scheme; it is a new chapter in how we think about motorsport, marketing, and urban culture. It crystallizes the essence of Miami — bold, playful, irresistibly stylish — and projects it onto a global stage.

More than anything, it challenges what a Formula 1 car can represent. In Miami, the car became a floating sculpture, a party centerpiece, a fashion statement, and an invitation to embrace summer’s joy.

For those lucky enough to witness it in person, the memory is unforgettable. For everyone else, the flood of images and videos offers a taste of what it feels like when speed meets art, when sport merges with storytelling, and when a city’s spirit becomes a rolling, roaring masterpiece.

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