McLaren has unveiled its 2021 car and its new driver line-up to a live audience ahead of the upcoming season.
McLaren’s 2021 challenger, the MCL35M, was unveiled during an online presentation on Monday evening, making the British racing outfit the first team to unveil their car ahead of the new season.
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The MCL35M is an evolution of their 2020 car, the MCL35, and unlike its predecessor, it will have a Mercedes power unit in the back.
“The Mercedes-AMG M12 E Performance was integrated into the design of the MCL35M by McLaren with the support of Mercedes High Performance Powertrains and represents one of several key changes to the car as part of its evolution into the MCL35M,” McLaren said in a statement.
The MCL35M has a similar livery to McLaren’s 2020 car, with the team keeping its iconic papaya orange and blue colours.
Daniel Ricciardo will partner Lando Norris at McLaren this year after joining the Woking-based team from Renault.
The first shakedown of the car will be performed by Norris and Ricciardo at Silverstone on Tuesday as part the team’s pre-season filming days.
Commenting on their new driver line-up, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said:
“We’re thrilled to launch our 2021 team with Lando and Daniel, as we prepare to get the Formula 1 season started.
“We’ve got an incredibly exciting driver line-up this year, both are formidable racers on-track and great characters off-track.
“Lando is a naturally fast and intelligent racer on an exciting trajectory, while Daniel is a multiple grand prix winner with a sharp racer’s edge and exceptional talent.
Meanwhile, team principal Andreas Seidl said they hope the MCL35M will prove to be a “strong car” and will give their drivers a chance to fight at the sharp end of the F1 grid.
“All of us at McLaren are ready and determined for another season of intensely competitive Formula 1 racing,” the German said.
“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,” Seidl concluded.
McLaren finished third in the 2020 F1 Constructors’ Championship, and they could potentially be on course for an even stronger season this year with them returning to Mercedes power.
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