“The MCL 34 is the result of an immense amount of hard work and dedication,” McLaren CEO Zack Brown
WOKING, England—2018 was one of the most dismal seasons in McLaren’s otherwise storied history. But with the new season ahead, the slate is wiped clean and McClaren is ready to return to the front of the grid and improve its status in Grand Prix racing. Toward that end, on Thursday McLaren launched its new MCL 34 challenger–a stunning race car by any standard.
But gone are former drivers, Fernando Alonso (retirement) and Stoffel Vandoorne (on to Formula E). New to the driver’s seat are Carlos Sainz Jr. (transferring from Renault) and British rookie Lando Norris (drove in Formula Two Series last year).
MCL34 LAUNCH, Feb 14, 2019
Along with the new drivers, the car–in papaya orange for 2018–includes a blue front and rear wing color. In addition, the surprise of the launch was the driver’s suits and team shirts, which were mostly blue, with orange trim.
For Sainz, it is the chance to prove that he can achieve #1 status on the team, even at the age of 25. “I’m really looking forward to the tests and excited to finally go racing in McLaren colors,” he said.
“I know everyone at the factory has been working very hard over the winter to prepare ourselves for this year. I think the team has done a fantastic job with the livery of the MCL34.”
“I’ve been especially focused on my preparations this winter,” Sainz continued. “New training routines, new diet, very specific simulator sessions, and extra time with the engineers to develop and align certain aspects of the car to my preferences.”
“The factory has become my second home since I moved back to the UK and everyone in the team is moving in the same direction.” Carlos Sainz, Jr.
For Norris, it’s a dream come true–a journey that included years of hard work at lower echelons. “Next stop, Barcelona!” Norris joked. “Seriously, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel in testing. I’ve been working hard over the winter preparing for my step up to F1. I’ve spent a lot of time with the team in the factory too, learning as much as I can to get ready for the 2019 season.
“It’s been my dream to get to Formula 1 since I was a kid,” Norris reflected. “I gained useful experience behind the wheel during practice sessions in 2018, and now I’m really looking forward to making my race debut with McLaren. The MCL34 looks great and now I just want to drive it.”
CEO Zack Brown speaks at launch (photo, AVA360 Sport)
If anyone can be pleased, it has to be CEO Zack Brown, who had to grab major sponsors and rejuvenate the team during the off-season–an especially difficult task given the team’s rough 2018. But the American is positive about the upcoming season, which has nowhere to go but up.
“The MCL34 is the result of an immense amount of hard work and dedication throughout our team,” Brown explained. “We’re all committed, motivated and united in our ambition to return McLaren to competitiveness, and the MCL34 is only the start of this process. We have a fresh driver pairing, who together represent the new generation of Formula 1 talent, and are an integral part of the team and our collective effort to advance McLaren forward.”
“The McLaren family is not only our people and drivers. It includes our superb partners and wonderful fans,” Brown emphasized. “We have a strong community of partners which continues to grow, and an incredible fan base, who have all remained loyal and supportive throughout our highs and lows. I’d like to thank them as we head into the 2019 season. As ever, we move fearlessly forward,” added Brown, boss of the team that has 20 Formula 1 driver’s titles to their credit and 182 wins over their illustrious history.
And with McClaren’s history, there’s a chance to return to success again.
