McLaren F1 Presents 2019 MCL34 Car, All-New Driver Lineup

McLaren Racing has unveiled its new MCL34 F1 car ahead of pre-season testing that will kick off in Barcelona, Spain next week.

Like all cars on this year’s Formula 1 grid, the MCL34 features a plethora of new aerodynamic elements in order to comply with regulation changes limiting the amount of downforce they can produce. As a result, the front wing has been simplified and a host of alterations have been made to the rest of the bodywork.

Changes have also been made to the car’s livery from last year’s design. Much of it continues to be painted in McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange, but there are also a number of blue elements as a nod to the team’s engine supplier Renault.

As important as the new car is for the team, it is perhaps the two new drivers which will have the biggest influence on whether or not the British company can claw its way up the grid.

For the first time in 12 years, McLaren Racing has an all-new driver line-up with Carlos Sainz and rookie Lando Norris landing seats. In switching to McLaren, Sainz completes a move from Renault and, prior to that, Scuderia Toro Rosso. Norris is making his Formula 1 racing debut this season and despite only being 19 years old, he has an impressive resume that includes finishing second in last year’s Formula 2 Championship behind George Russell.

“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,” McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown said.

“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.”