A true start of a new season! McLaren is the first F1 team to unveil its livery for this year, switching to a simpler design

Another season of Formula 1 is here! McLaren kicked off the carousel of new car introductions ahead of the opening race with a colour preview of the MCL38. The traditional stable with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri relied on the tried and tested colours of black and orange. However, the blue that accompanied last year’s design has been removed.

As all die-hard fans of the queen of motorsport know, the real season doesn’t start with the opening grand prix, but with the previews of the new cars weeks before they take to the track for the first time.

Nowadays, the standard of revealing only the livery on the previous year’s monoblocs has been adopted. It is only at the official tests that the whole community can see an analysis of the technical improvements and innovations of each stable.

McLaren kicked off the 2024 season a month and a half before its formal launch. They released images of its new challenger, the MCL38, or rather just its livery. They will unveil the car itself on February 14, the same day as its Mercedes rival.

The stable has gone the route of removing the blue paint from last year’s car and switching to a simpler, pure black and orange design. The rear wing and nose of the monopost were left in a “papaya” colour. However, the flaps on the front wing have changed colour from last year’s black to this year’s orange.

McLaren has also partially reverted to the iconic silver. Particularly from before the advent of hybrid units, according to a statement from the team on its official website. This has been incorporated into the drivers’ race numbers in front of the halo and on the rear of the engine cover.

Will McLaren return to the top?

Also driving for McLaren this year will be Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. They were instrumental in last year’s fantastic mid-season comeback. The defending fourth-place team in the Constructors’ Cup has recorded nine podium finishes in grand prix races. Including six second-place finishes by Norris.

In addition to this feat, Piastri not only managed to score a Qatar Sprint Race triumph for the stable. But the team also took care of the fastest pitstop in history at 1.8 seconds, also at the Qatar Grand Prix.

McLaren will continue to be led by Andrea Stella, who has been at the helm since December last year.

Source: F1, McLaren F1