McLaren Formula 1 Team Driver Oscar Piastri Unveils Striking Supercar To Kick Off 2025 Melbourne GP

• Australian McLaren F1 Team driver, Oscar Piastri, attended Airwallex and McLaren Formula 1 Team’s ‘Shifted Perspectives’ event last night, unveiling a custom-designed McLaren Artura supercar designed by renowned First Nations artist, Reko Rennie

• The car is on public display at Queensbridge Square from 13–16 March

• Airwallex awarded AUD$60K worth of business grants and prizes to reward Australian and First Nations businesses

• The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025 will take place 14-16 March 

MELBOURNE, Australia – 13 March 2025 – Airwallex, has launched its ‘Shifted Perspectives’ campaign for the 2025 Formula 1 (F1) season with the McLaren Formula 1 Team and acclaimed First Nations artist, Reko Rennie. 

Over 200 guests attended Airwallex’s Shifted Perspectives event in Melbourne last night, for the highly anticipated unveiling of the McLaren Artura featuring Rennie’s bold design and a fireside chat with the artist and hometown hero, Oscar Piastri. The event marked an exciting moment in the lead-up to the F1 Australian Grand Prix, which commences with Practice Sessions on Friday (14 March).

Airwallex, McLaren and Reko Rennie Unveil Supercar

As an Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team, Airwallex has elevated the partnership through a creative collaboration with Reko Rennie, an internationally renowned Kamilaroi artist. Rennie’s bold, thought-provoking work explores Indigenous identity and modern urban culture, and his vision for this project embodies the concept of ‘shifting perspectives’. 

Rennie uses camouflage and graphic diamond patterns to cover the car – the diamond shape is one of his most utilised motifs and pays homage to his Kamilaroi heritage in a form similar to a family crest. The hand-drawn symbols and repetitive patterning are used to subvert romantic ideologies of Aboriginal identity. His bespoke design transformed the McLaren Artura Coupe – a high-performance hybrid supercar – into a striking sculptural installation, blending art and performance, as well as Airwallex and McLaren’s spirit of innovation. 

“At Airwallex, we’re always looking for ways to push boundaries and create unexpected moments that provoke thought,” said Jon Stona, VP, Global Marketing, Airwallex. “Seeing Reko’s design come to life on the McLaren Artura was a truly special moment. Just like McLaren challenges conventions on the track, and Oscar Piastri takes on the world’s best in F1, we want to encourage Australian businesses to shift their perspectives, take bold steps, and scale globally.”

Reko Rennie added: “Unveiling this design in front of a live audience has been incredible. As a lover of both art and sport, the crowd reaction affirmed how art and sport can intersect to create something truly unique. At the core, this collaboration is a celebration of innovation, heritage and pushing boundaries, which is what I try to embody in my work, and Airwallex and McLaren represent. I look forward to people seeing it in the flesh this week.”

The McLaren Artura featuring Rennie’s design is now on public display at Queensbridge Square from 7am-7pm daily from 13-16 March, offering fans the chance to witness the one-of-a-kind design in person. 

Business Grant Winners: Supporting Ambition and Bold Thinking

Alongside AUD$35,000 worth of prizes that included a VIP race week experience and signed merchandise, Airwallex also announced the winners of three business grants to support Australian founders and professionals who embody Airwallex and the McLaren F1 Team’s spirit of ambition and bold thinking. AUD$25,000 in funding was awarded across three categories, encouraging ‌businesses to drive innovation and capitalise on new opportunities to foster borderless growth:

• $10K Business Acceleration Grant: won by Edward Barraclough of Drone-Hand for pushing boundaries, scaling to new heights and shifting perspectives. Barraclough shifted his perspective when he pivoted from award-winning aerial photo-videographer to AgTech pioneer. He uses drone technology to respond to an increasing need for safer and more efficient farm management in the face of extreme climate events.

• $10K First Nations Business Grant: won by Fiona Harrison of Chocolate on Purpose, for its determination to infuse a love of chocolate with profound social impact, as well as her investment in innovation to grow her business and support of Indigenous growers of native edibles. 

• $5K Professional Acceleration Grant: won by Leila Oliviera of Antler, who is looking to supercharge her career through learning and development. Oliviera shifted her perspective to uncover untapped founder talent from underrepresented groups that often get overlooked. By positioning herself as an approachable investor, she has helped to drive inclusivity in the venture capital space.

You can access photos from the Shifted Perspectives event here.

• Rennie’s design is on public display at Queensbridge Square from 7am-7pm from 13-16 March, offering fans the chance to witness the one-of-a-kind design in person. 

• Interview opportunities are available on a case-by-case basis. Please indicate your preference to speak with Airwallex’s Jon Stona or artist Reko Rennie.

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About Airwallex

Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 150,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit http://www.airwallex.com

About McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966. McLaren has since won 21 Formula 1 world championships, 189 Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.   

 McLaren Racing competes across five racing series. The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team with drivers Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard, and F1 Academy with Driver Development programme member Ella Lloyd. The team also competes in the F1 Sim Racing Championship as McLaren Shadow with Lucas Blakeley, Wilson Hughes and Alfie Butcher. 

McLaren is a champion for sustainability in the sport and a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment. It is committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in the motorsport industry.  

McLaren Racing – Official Website 

About McLaren Automotive:

McLaren Automotive is a producer of ultra high-performance, lightweight supercars including Artura. Launched in 2010, the company is now the largest part of the McLaren Group. 

Headquartered at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey, England, McLaren Automotive is driven by the challenge of creating the world’s most exhilarating, engaging and benchmark setting vehicles. Leveraging over 60 years of history in authentic, racing performance, McLaren has delivered some of the most spectacular supercars ever made.

McLaren Racing – Official Website

About Reko Rennie

Reko Rennie is an interdisciplinary artist who explores his First Nations identity through contemporary media. Through his art, Rennie provokes discussion surrounding Indigenous culture and identity in contemporary urban environments. Largely autobiographical, his commanding works combine the iconography of his Kamilaroi heritage with stylistic elements of graffiti. 

Reko Rennie has exhibited across Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe, receiving the prestigious Victorian Indigenous Art Award and had his work projected across the Sydney Opera House. His recent exhibition, REKOSPECTIVE, opened at the NGV in Melbourne and included more than 100 works traversing canvas, video, installation and a 15-metre-wide light sculpture.