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Ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, McLaren has released a video in which it shows the team gathered around the MCL34 for its first fire-up. The Woking outfit will run with Renault power units once again for the 2019 campaign.
McLaren will launch the car officially to the public on February 14th at its base in Woking. It will be hoping that the season that awaits it will provide more success than 2018, as development failures saw it slipped towards the rear of the field by the end of the year.
Carlos Sainz joins after stints with Toro Rosso and Renault. The Spaniard was loaned to Renault towards the end of the 2017 season by Red Bull, but he has since left the energy drink outfit's driver programme following his switch to McLaren.
Turn your volume up ? and get ready to hear the #MCL34 come to life as our McLaren and Renault teams get together for the first fire up of 2019. ? #FearlesslyForward pic.twitter.com/aXluGEWLV9
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 31, 2019
Sainz will be joined by rookie Lando Norris, who drove in a number of free practice one sessions in 2018. The Briton, who joined McLaren junior program in 2017, will be given time to adapt to his new situation as a full-time F1 driver.
"Formula 1 can be a pretty cruel environment," McLaren CEO Zak Brown told The Sun. "We need to manage expectations, not after three races, and pass judgment, which we as a sport are pretty quick to do. He will definitely be given time to develop. It is a high pressure environment and the first thing anyone does in Formula 1 is compare you to your teammate."
| Team | Date | Venue |
| Mercedes | ___Escaped_link_6982e5079d8bc___ | Silverstone |
| Ferrari | Friday, February 15th | TBC |
| Red Bull | TBC | |
| Renault | Tuesday, February 12th | Enstone |
| Haas | TBC | |
| McLaren | Thursday, February 14th | Woking |
| Racing Point | Wednesday, February 13th | Toronto |
| Sauber | Monday, February 18th | Barcelona |
| Toro Rosso | Monday, February 11th | Online |
| Williams | TBC |
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
156 members have this team as their favourite
Replies (5)
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Posts: 341
Sounds beautiful, really does, I hope the whole package is better than last year, really wants to see this team back where it belongs.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I believe! It does sound fantastic, like proper F1 sound. Why is that? Am I missing a change in regulation for next year to change the sound?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think there was something minor, but nothing all that worth mentioning. If the sound is better, its because Renault has gotten a better sounding engine, along with the McLaren having better aucustics to produce a neat tune. Considering how Ferrari, Renault and Honda have developed earlier, a better sound seem to imply a better engine, so it could be positive in more than one way.
maalibu
Posts: 17
I hope it will be like 2009... Brawn GP - McLaren and Williams are hot in for that.
Mostly Independent... Cant wait!
Major Tom
Posts: 152
Although its nice, sound isn't power (possibly the opposite). I'm keeping my figures crossed like every other McLaren fan but I would be happier if we had a stronger driver line-up. This may sound a bit unfair (since there is plenty of unproved potential) but it seems to me to be the weakest for years.