McLaren will launch their 2023 Formula 1 contender, the MCL37, at the McLaren Technology Centre on February 13th.
The launch will be broadcast online from 5pm local time.The Mercedes-powered machine will be driven by Lando Norris and F1 rookie Oscar Piastri, who has been signed after Daniel Ricciardo was dropped by the team a year before his contract with them was due to end.
The new car will be unveiled by the drivers and Andrea Stella, who took over as McLaren’s team principal last month when Andreas Seidl left for Sauber.
McLaren is going into their third year with Mercedes as power unit supplier, a relationship which has resulted in one win and five other podium finishes since it started in 2021. However the team has only visited the podium once in the last 30 grands prix.
The two brand’s previous partnership from 1995 to 2014 delivered 78 wins, one constructors’ title and world championship titles for Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton.
Alex Palou, the 2021 IndyCar champion, will serve as the team’s reserve driver this year. His IndyCar campaign with Chip Ganassi Racing will take priority this year, but he will be available to McLaren on four race weekends before his season ends and he is then free to join the team for the final leg of the F1 calendar in Asia and the Americas.
McLaren’s announcement means half of the F1 field has now revealed its launch plans for the 2023 season.
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Andy (@andyfromsandy)
7th January 2023, 11:31
Well at least it is not a Friday!
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
7th January 2023, 12:14
Is it just me or does everyone just ignore “launches” these days?
It’s never the real car, there’s really nothing in the way of innovation that’s relevant or visible any more, so why bother.
I’m really not all that interested in what their pain job will look like.
Why not drop launches completely and just roll them out at the first test?
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
7th January 2023, 13:09
Well that didn’t exactly work last year either with the teams bringing a different car to either the second test of first GP.
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
7th January 2023, 13:09
or first GP.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
8th January 2023, 2:51
Will be interesting to see how far FIA is willing to go with it’s clampdown on political & other gestures.
If they allow papaya as McLaren colours that will really open a can of worms.
faulty (@faulty)
8th January 2023, 3:37
Is there no one Zak would listen to on that team?