The MCL35M detailed by James Key

This Monday, McLaren opened the presentations of the single-seaters for the 2021 season. In its headquarters in Woking, the British team lifted the veil on its MCL35M that Lando Norris et Daniel Ricciardo will be required to drive this year.

At first glance, no big changes compared to its big sister the MCL35. But at McLaren the discourse is not the same. This MCL35M is indeed different.

For starters, the powertrain isn't the same. This year, McLaren finds Mercedes leaving the block behind Renault used since 2018. We faced a unique challenge heading into 2021 by being the only team to change power units, details James Key, technical director of the English entity.

It took an extraordinary effort from all members of the team, in addition to excellent support from Mercedes, to install a new power unit that is very different from the one we have been using until now. ».

Very happy to find the German engine manufacturer, McLaren still had to “ completely redesign the car » taking into account the differences in the components of the Mercedes block compared to those of the Renault explains James Key.

Building on good momentum in 2020 which allowed it to return to the podium in the constructors' standings, McLaren hoped to continue this momentum in 2021. Unfortunately, the regulations wanted it otherwise. “ When it came time to modify the chassis, we worked closely with the FIA ​​to ensure we only changed what was necessary., continues the technical director. Which means that we were not able to exploit the chassis as we would have liked given our recent performances. ».

As the single-seater revolution looms in 2022, the FIA ​​has made some changes to the regulations of the Formula 1 for 2021 and in particular aerodynamics. As a result, the flat bottom has been planed by 10 cm at the rear, in an area located in front of the tires, blowouts on the floor have been banned, the fins of the lower half of the brake ducts have been shortened by 4 cm and the diffuser deflectors of 5 cm. These modifications were made with the aim of reducing the downforce of the single-seaters by 10%.

So many new details with which McLaren hopes to be able to continue its return to the top.