At the time of writing this, F1 has been going for a stupendous 73 years, with 748 cars having been entered into the sport.

Each year of F1, there’ve been designs and liveries that range from absolutely stunning to absolutely sorrowful. So this article exists as a love letter to F1’s most awe-inspiring F1 cars ever. I would do this for each year, buuuuut that would take way too long. So instead, here are the best looking F1 car of each decade.

1950s: Ferrari 500

Ah, the first ten years of Formula 1, ever. Hard to think it’s even the same sport. As F1 was finding its feet there were many different rule changes. So picking a single car for a decade of F1 that I hardly knew a thing about, where everything was recorded in black and white was a task. But I found it.

Technically an F2 car, the Ferrari 500 was the first serious contender to Alfa Romeo, who set the famous F1 standard for the same team to win (more or less) every single race of a season.

In my opinion, the Ferrari 500 is a perfect summary of the early days of F1. Ultra thin tyres, a cucumber shape and absolutely no consideration of safety! In fact, at this point, there were only two lines of safety information in the rulebook! I put this car as the best of the decade simply because it has become the symbol of F1’s dawn. The people of the 50s had quite the journey in for them over F1’s future.

1960s: Gurney Eagle Mk1



In the first year of 3.0 litre engines in the sport, I was a very happy chappie to find that this era was all about exposing that beautiful engine work. The Gurney Eagle MK1 was a master at engine presentation, with the exhausts trailing off to the back of the car, doubling up as an aerodynamic piece and holding the spoiler. In a time of fake exhausts and sham engine noise on cars on the road, it’s a pleasure seeing the Eagle Mk1 leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.

1970s: Ferrari 312T

Famously driven by Niki Lauda in 1975 and famously crashed by Charles Leclerc 47 years later, the 312T, to many, is a symbol of Ferrari’s success. Winning four of the next five constructors and three drivers titles, the fact that this car is a beauty is simply a bonus to it’s accolades.

The shovel on the front, the spade on the rear and the distinctive, ridiculously highly placed air intake on the top. You would’ve thought it looks awful based on my description. Somehow though, the complete opposite is true. Describing the true beauty of this car is difficult, but it makes any F1 fan beg to return to years gone by, to see cars from this era on track once more. Maybe without, you know, danger and death and all, though!

1980s: McLaren MP4/4

Could it have been anything else? Not only is it one of the most dominant F1 cars of all time (winning 15/16 races), the MP4/4 from 1988 is a pure classic in the design department. Perhaps having the most beautiful iteration of the famous Marlboro livery, the car is simple yet refined with its sharp edges from the wing and nose complimenting the curves of the upper body and long engine cover. An automotive masterpiece.

1990s: Jordan 191



Despite being rather slow, the Jordan 191 has made its place in the history books by launching the debut of phenomenon Michael Schumacher. But luckily, it makes up for its lack of speed with its dashing good looks. The 191 sported a fearsome triple rear wing setup that looks like it could slice you into sushi. Not only that, but the arching, low front wing makes it look absolutely brilliant, even if it didn’t make it fast. Of course there is also the iconic 7Up livery which, I must admit, took its time to grow on me. But like a lot of other liveries of this era, it showed that simplicity if often best. Eddie Jordan definitely made the right decision to sport his home colour on there too. One to make the Irish proud!

2000s: McLaren MP4/23



I’m not sure there was anyone whose interest wasn’t peaked when this car was unveiled. The most radical design of the season, the thing looks wild with all of its flakes coming off it, curves, all extenuated by the livery which you will see me gushing about more in for the car below.

The thing that is particularly brilliant about this car in my mind is the wild double-layered front wing which goes OVER the lowered nose and making the car look even more insane (in a good way). If I had to pick my favourite car from this list, the MP4/23 would be it.

2010s: McLaren MP4/27

The 2010s were a host to some fantastic liveries. The 2019 Alfa Romeo, all nine Red Bulls and a plethora of others. 2012’s MP4/27 however, demands the spot as the best of the decade. Having a more glossy and reflective finish to its predecessors, the punchy red and chrome made for a spectacular design that was refined in this model.

Despite missing out on the title in Hamilton’s final year with the team, the MP4/27 was still the fastest on the grid with an unprecedented level of style. Lowering the chassis and avoiding that nose “step” that other cars featured and deemed so ugly by so many. Instead, this car has a smooottthh curve providing reams of elegance to McLaren’s last title challenger.



2020’s: Alfa Romeo C42



Despite not being the most successful car on the 2022 grid, the C42 was definitely a looker. Bringing back a more classic livery design that looks stellar on the revolutionary 2022 car. Bringing the mix between an old school livery on the trailblazing new ’22 regulations are the wheel covers. Unlike many other teams which left the wheel covers unpainted, Alfa found a way to make you miss seeing those spokes a little bit less, with a stupendous Pokéball-like look which is so cool it could freeze the element mercury.



So there we go! What we think are the best looking F1 car of each decade. Do you disagree? If so, awesome! Let us know the changes you would make in the comments below. Or not, I’m not forcing you. It’d be cool if you did though…

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