McLaren unveils its F1 2019 contender

Formula 1’s launch season is well underway, with just over a month to go before the 2019 season kicks off in Australia, and McLaren is the latest team to pull the covers off its 2019 car.

McLaren’s iconic papaya orange colour continues to dominate the Renault-powered MCL34’s livery, with the car now featuring new blue elements, which McLaren states are a nod to the team’s broader racing heritage. The car will make its on-track debut at the first pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain next week.

This year, McLaren will field an all-new driver line-up for the first time in 12 years. Carlos Sainz has joined the team, after previously driving for Renault, with F1 rookie Lando Norris partnering him.

“The MCL34 is the result of an immense amount of hard work and dedication throughout our team. 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,” said McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown.

“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.”

In an effort to re-establish itself as a contender for race wins, McLaren has made some key new signings – former Toro Rosso technical director James Key will now serve as McLaren’s new technical chief, while former Porsche World Endurance Championship boss Andreas Seidl has been appointed as the team’s new managing director.