The MCL33, the car whose fate is to bring the bad results McLaren has had since Honda became its engine supplier to an end, is already here. With the switch to Renault engines, it is expected that the Woking-based team, with Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne as drivers, can fight again for the top positions.
The images that were leaked yesterday when the car was being unloaded in Navarra shown some orange details. Undoubtedly, many fans were expecting a papaya orange livery, like the one they used for the McLaren Honda Andretti Alonso drove in the 101st edition of the Indianapolis 500. The team has finally unveiled a car that is indeed almost entirely orange, with some blue details on both wings. A simple but striking livery.
One of the main new aspects is the presence of new sponsors, whose agreements were signed during the off-season period. Brands’ logos such as Petrobras, Dell, or Alonso‘s clothing and accessories brand Kimoa can be seen on the car. Obvioulsy, Honda’s logo is not there anymore and has been replaced by Renault.
“My winter has felt somewhat shorter than usual,” Said Alonso, who will do a double programme with McLaren in F1 and Toyota in the WEC. “as I’ve already been in the cockpit for a 24-hour race, and several sports car tests! That said, I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time in three months. Looking at our new car, I feel incredibly excited – but also apprehensive. I know just how important this car is to the team, and I just hope that it delivers in the way we all want it to.”
“The arrival of a new car is always one of the most tense and exciting moments of the season.” Vandoorne told. “For everyone at McLaren, this is an important car; we all know exactly how much rests on it being successful, and we’re all extremely keen to see just how well it performs when we start testing it next week.”
Now, Force India is the only team that is yet to unveil its car. They have sheduled it for the next Sunday the 25th of February. Preseason testing will start one day later, the 26th. There, the teams will have eight testing days at the Barcelona Catalunya to set everything up for the Australian GP, which will be the season opener the 25th of March.
