RB, in an attempt at irony on their grotesque corporate name, fell flat, yet then came Aston Martin putting in a glorious James Bond homage, Red Bull hosting a stage swamped by fans, Ferrari throwing in a corsa rosso-themed masterpiece to momentous music, with Hamilton cheered to the rafters, and McLaren showcasing their glorious racing history in the form of classic cars.
It was the first time all 10 teams gathered under one roof to unveil the liveries of their new challengers with the fans able to revel in the extravagant reveal in what used to be the process of pulling a big sheet off a car.
There was an element of rock concert to it and while rolling out the new paint jobs to a spot of dry ice and lasers might have been anticipated, this was far from Basins nightclub in Portsmouth, circa 1985, F1 had delivered with the full grand, encompassing extravaganza.
With the hope of spectacle, theatre and drama without so much as a wheel turning, F1 was taking an unprecedented leap into the unknown by launching the new season with its F175 show.
F175 was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula One’s inaugural grand prix season which had opened with the first round at Silverstone in 1950.
