Formula 1

MCLAREN LAUNCH ITS MCL35M 2021 CHALLENGER

Published

1 year ago

15/02/2021

FATI'S F1 writer

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MCL35M 2021 – Tonight McLaren is the first F1-team to present their new car for 2021.

That is one of the few constant factors at McLaren this season. The team, under the leadership of Zak Brown, has focused on the orange colour in their marketing strategy and they will stick to that for the time being.

McLaren has become the first team to unveil its 2021 Formula 1 car, the MCL35M, during a launch event held at its Technology Centre on Monday evening.

It comes ahead of its on-track debut, planned for Tuesday, at Silverstone, as part of a filming day.

MCLAREN LAUNCH ITS MCL35M 2021 CHALLENGER

The MCL35M marks a return to Mercedes power for the operation for the first time since 2014, following two three-year spells with Honda and Renault respectively.

McLaren previously partnered with Mercedes from 1995 through 2014 and claimed world titles courtesy of Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton.

The MCL35M retains the predominantly papaya and blue scheme that has been sported by its immediate predecessors.

The squad has been on the rise across the past couple of seasons after the nadir of its lacklustre displays through 2017/18.

McLaren returned to the podium in 2019, moving to fourth in the standings, and last year eclipsed Racing Point to finish third in the championship.

McLaren has retained Lando Norris, 21, for a third successive season and he has been joined by seven-time grand prix winner Daniel Ricciardo, 31, who has signed a three-year deal.

McLaren will be Ricciardo’s fifth team in Formula 1, following prior spells at HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Renault, with whom he finished fifth in the 2020 standings.

Both drivers are set to get behind the wheel of the MCL35M on Tuesday as part of the filming day.

“All of us at McLaren are ready and determined for another season of intensely competitive Formula 1 racing,” said team boss Andreas Seidl.

“The entire team has worked hard over the short winter, together with our colleagues from Mercedes-AMG, to produce the MCL35M and provide a strong car for our drivers to race this year.

“This has been no small challenge, and I want to thank every member of our team, whether at the MTC or working remotely, for the massive effort they’ve put in.

“Lando and Daniel will, I know, do their very best to represent the team out on track.

“We’re all extremely pleased by how Lando has developed from test and development driver in 2017, to Britain’s youngest podium finisher in 2020.

“His passion and experience for the sport are growing hand-in-hand, and he’s now one of the fastest and most exciting racing drivers on the grid.

“Daniel represents our next step as a team and his decision to join McLaren is a validation of the progress we’re making.

“As a proven race-winner and formidable competitor, Daniel brings energy and experience to push McLaren forward on our mission to the front of the field.”