McLaren F1 Team introduce their 2022 F1 car, the MCL36McLaren Formula 1 Team took the covers off their 2022 Formula 1 car, the MCL36, during the team launch event held at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking.

McLaren Racing held a group launch for their 2022 racing activities with their Arrow McLaren SP, McLaren Extreme E and McLaren Shadow teams featuring during the launch event.

The star of the show however, remained the team’s 2022 F1 charger, the Mercedes-powered MCL36, with which Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris will contest the upcoming F1 season.

Ricciardo will be racing for his second season in Papaya colors, as Norris who recently extended his contract with the Woking squad up till the end of 2025, enters his fourth season in top flight.

McLaren have been on an upward trajectory lately, with Ricciardo giving the team their first win since 2012 in Brazil, the Australian leading his teammate home in a famous one-two at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

However, that was not enough for the team to achieve their set target of third in the 2021 Constructors Championship, as a resurgent Ferrari beat them to it, but the team remain hopeful to continue their progress in 2022, especially that all teams are starting from a clean slate with the new generation F1 cars built under the new aero regulations.

The MCL36 became the 65th F1 car to be produced by the legendary outfit founded by Bruce McLaren in 1966.

McLaren drivers express their feelings

Speaking at the launch event, Lando Norris said: “It feels like a long time since we were last on-track in Abu Dhabi, and I can’t wait to get back in a car and put the MCL36 through its paces. Last year was my best in Formula 1 so far, and I’m really proud of what I achieved as a driver, and what we achieved as a team. But I know that the best is yet to come, and my aim is to carry the positive momentum we built up over the last year and take that with me into this exciting new era of Formula 1.

“I’m in a good position heading into this year to build on the successes of 2021. I’ve grown up alongside McLaren and I’m really delighted to have recently confirmed my long-term future with the team. Together, I’m looking forward to finding out what we can achieve, and I’ll be working hard to maximise any opportunities that come our way.”

Daniel Ricciardo said: “There’s always a nervous excitement around the start of the new season, but that’s turned up to 11 when you enter a new era of regulations. Having been through several regulation changes now, I feel like I’m able to use that energy to help me adapt to new cars, new ways of driving and ultimately new ways of racing. These new cars will feel very different to the previous eras I’ve driven, but I’m hopeful that will come with closer racing and more opportunities to get to the front of the pack.

“Heading into my second year with McLaren feels great and I feel like we learned a lot as a team in 2021, which will help us as we take on this new challenge. Securing the win in Monza was a real highlight of my career, but that’s all in the past now, and I’ll be giving it everything to secure more moments like that for the team throughout the 2022 season.”

A word from the management

McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl, said at the launch event: “After a couple of months away from racing, all of us at McLaren are excited to get back to the track and discover this new era of Formula 1 regulations head-on. Over the last year the team have been hard at work developing the MCL36, seeking to take advantage of any opportunities we might find in the design and production of these new cars. Formula 1 and the FIA have done an important job developing these new technical and sporting regulations, which, in combination with the cost cap, aim to create closer racing and a level-playing field for competition.

“Lando’s performance in 2021 was one of the standouts of the season, with four podium finishes and a pole-position. He came agonisingly close to his first race victory, and although we didn’t quite achieve that, he’s proven to the world that he can become a grand prix winner.

“After finding it harder to adapt to the MCL35M than he might have expected, Daniel rallied to a strong finish in the second half of the season and captured McLaren’s first win since 2012. Throughout the season we saw Daniel’s skill, resolve and trademark positive attitude despite difficult moments, and we head into the 2022 better prepared to tackle this new challenge.

“Together, Lando and Daniel comprise one of the most competitive driver line-ups in the sport. We can’t wait to see what they can do with the MCL36, into which every member of the team in Woking has poured enormous amounts of effort, passion and determination. We hope that our incredible fans will join us in cheering on Lando, Daniel and the MCL36 throughout the season and the support we feel around the world is truly inspiring for us.

“Our objective for this season is clear and consistent with that of previous years: we want to further close the gap to the front of the pack. At the same time, we know and respect the tough competition we’ll face and have a realistic view of where we are on our journey. We’re working through a package of key infrastructure investments, which will provide us with the tools required to compete at the top of our sport when they come online.

“Thank you to every single member of the team for their hard work and commitment to bring our new
MCL36 to the track soon. Let’s go racing!”

A Word from Zak Brown

McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown, said: “Our Formula 1 team continues to make great progress year-on-year with Andreas Seidl at the helm, and this new era of regulations represents a real opportunity for the team. I’m excited to see Lando and Daniel get behind the wheel of the MCL36 and take it to the competition this year. Lando made great progress in 2021, scoring four podiums, and Daniel’s sensational victory in Monza reminded the team what it feels like to win again. As we head into 2022, we’re looking to build on that progress and further close the gap to the teams at the front.”

McLaren’s technical chief talks about his latest product

McLaren Technical Director, James Key, said: “A new era of regulations is always an exciting moment in our sport. With it comes the potential to totally re-evaluate the philosophy of our package, and these rule changes are no different.

“With a blank sheet of paper, the team here at McLaren have been working hard to establish a competitive platform for this and future seasons. However, we know we’ve only just begun to unlock performance from this regulation set, and that one of the key features of the 2022 season will be the intense development war as teams assess each other’s designs and innovate new ways of generating downforce through ground effect.

“It’s been some time since ground-effect had such a predominant role in Formula 1, but it provides a great
potential to create closer and more exciting racing with these new regulations.

“The team at Woking have been working round the clock to design, produce and assemble this car, under tricky conditions over the last year, as the world still battles the risks posed by covid-19. I’m immensely proud of how the team have risen to this challenge in a safe yet effective manner. Now we put the fruits of their labours onto the track and take the development battle to the rest of the grid.”

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