McLaren have launched their 2021 F1 car – the MCL35M. It’s their first Mercedes-powered car since 2014.
McLaren have unveiled their 2021 car, the MCL35M, at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. In 2021, McLaren reunite with Mercedes for the first time since 2014. The team struggled with Honda power on the Japanese manufacturer’s return to the sport in 2015, before switching to Renault power in 2018. In recent years, the team have enjoyed an upturn in fortune. Last year, McLaren finished third in the Constructors’ Championship: their best result since 2012. With a change in power unit, McLaren have had arguably the most work to complete over the winter break – but will it bring them extra performance when the season begins?
READ MORE: McLAREN’s 2020 SEASON IN STATS / McLAREN TEAM PROFILE
The engine isn’t the only change at McLaren this year. Seven-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo moves to the team from Renault. Ricciardo enjoyed a return to the podium in 2020, finishing third in both the Eifel and Emilia Romagna Grands Prix. It was a strong season for the Australian, who recorded points in all of the last eleven races of the season. Last week, Ricciardo stated that joining McLaren represented his best chance yet of winning a World Championship. Ahead of McLaren’s launch, Ricciardo unveiled his 2021 helmet design – which bears the message “all good all ways”.
READ MORE: RICCIARDO’S 2020 SEASON IN STATS / RICCIARDO BIOGRAPHY
Lando Norris remains at McLaren for his third season in F1. In 2020, Norris recorded his maiden podium finish in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix. It was a year in which he completed more laps than any other driver, scored at all but four races and earned the nickname ‘Last Lap Lando’. During his first two seasons, Norris was closely matched with team-mate Carlos Sainz. The duo were the most evenly matched on average in qualifying in 2020. Time will tell if Norris’ new challenge in Ricciardo will be more difficult to beat.
READ MORE: NORRIS’ 2020 SEASON IN STATS / NORRIS BIOGRAPHY
HAVE YOUR SAY: Who do you think will score more points for McLaren in 2021? Have your say in our Twitter poll, and leave a comment below!
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— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) February 15, 2021
After graduating in 2015 with a First Class honours degree in English Language and Literature, Nicky Haldenby, a lifelong fan of Formula 1, founded the Lights Out F1 Blog in 2016. Now in its sixth season, the blog has become a firm fan-favourite, delving deep into the sport’s history books and lifting the cover on unusual F1 statistics. Nicky also writes at F1Destinations and GPDestinations. In 2017 and 2018, he wrote for Badger GP. Nicky is also the host of the F1 Rewind Podcast and can be heard as the resident stats man on the 2 Soft Compounds Podcast.