McLaren announces launch date for its MCL35M

The start of the season is near and you can feel it. A few days after Alfa Romeo is McLaren who confirmed the launch date of its new car, the MCL35M. This will be revealed to all on February 15 at the headquarters of the British team.

Back at the forefront, McLaren faces a big challenge this year: the integration of the powertrain Mercedes leaving aside that of Renault. " The move to Mercedes propeller led to a number of significant changes », recognized Piers Thynne, production director at Woking.

Once again associated with the German engine manufacturer, McLaren hopes to confirm this return to form seen during the 2020 campaign with Lando Norris et Carlos Sainz. " Switching from one engine to another greatly modifies the architecture of the car, the way in which the different piping and cooling elements are arranged, the control boxes and the electrical installation. », Continues Piers Thynne.

To integrate this new powertrain, McLaren had to change certain elements such as the rear of the chassis and the gearcase around the engine. This also led to the design of a new chassis which is none other than the revised 2020 and already approved by the FIA.

Now, the team led by Zak Brown is preparing with the return to competition with a brand new duo, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, whose presentation will take place on the same day as the launch of the MCL35M.