McLaren has today revealed both the team’s new driver line-up and its 2021 challenger to a live global audience ahead of the 2021 season.
This marks 21-year-old Lando Norris’ third season in Formula 1 with McLaren, and he will now be joined by seven-time race winner Daniel Ricciardo, from Australia.
2020 saw the team come in third in the FIA Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship, and the intense rivalry between teams is expected to continue into 2021 as technical regulations remain stable.
Alongside its rejuvenated driver line-up, the team shared a first glimpse of the McLaren MCL35M, the team’s 2021 race car.
The MCL35M is an evolution of the 2020 contender, the MCL35, and benefits from aerodynamic and chassis developments alongside the introduction of a new power unit, supplied by Mercedes-AMG.
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 this year.
The livery of the MCL35M has undergone some subtle changes from the 2020 design, maintaining the iconic McLaren papaya orange and blue, the popular colours first carried by the team in the 1960s with team founder, Bruce McLaren, at the wheel.
Lando and Daniel will first drive the MCL35M at Silverstone from tomorrow as part of the team’s pre-season filming days, before they embark on their first official outing at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 12 at pre-season testing.
McLaren F1 will return to Sakhir for the season-opener at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28.
Speaking about the launch, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, 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. After a challenging but rewarding 2020, we have firmly hit the reset button for this season as we continue on our path towards the front of the grid.
“This will be an even tougher season but we’re ready to meet the challenge. I want to pay tribute to Formula 1 and the FIA and our fellow teams in continuing to work hard for the benefit of our sport as we strive to bring exciting racing to fans around the world.
“We head into this season with an incredible group of committed and valuable partners at our side, who are such a vital part of our team. 2020 represented a significant challenge, not just for McLaren Racing but also many of our partners, so to have maintained their support is a testament to the quality of our partners and the relationships we have formed on our journey together.
“We’ve really missed having our fantastic fans with us at track, and we can’t wait to have them join us again when safe to do so. As always, we go to every grand prix weekend with the ambition of putting on a great show and achieving the best possible result for our incredible fanbase.
“I’m proud of our team and the progress we’ve made together so far. We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’ve got a great spirit in the team and we’re becoming stronger competitors as we continue on our journey.”
