Meet Sainz and Norris’ McLaren MCL35 F1 car

Michelle Foster
McLaren-MCL351

McLaren-MCL351

With a little less pomp but definitely with ceremony, McLaren has unveiled its MCL35 to the world at the team’s Technology Centre.

Unlike Ferrari’s song and dance about its 2020 challenger or Red Bull’s single image release, McLaren opted for the middle ground for its Thursday launch.

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris were present at the McLaren Technology Centre, along with team principal Andrea Seidl and McLaren chief Zak Brown. So too was the MCL35.

Living up to its promises, McLaren had the covers off the car within six minutes of the presentation beginning.

The MCL35 sticks with the tried and tested papaya orange livery of the past few years, but have added a touch of shiny blue with a matte finish.

It is, however, clear to see the car is an evolution of last season’s although it does sport a narrower nose and tightened packaging at the rear.

“I pretty much designed the whole thing,” Norris joked.

“This car was made last year, everything we said last year has been put into this and based around this.

“It’s a lot more my car, my baby. I can’t wait to drive it.”

With the rules stagnant for 2020 ahead of next year’s major philosophy change, McLaren have built on the MCL34’s strong points.

The car finished best of the rest last season with Sainz netting McLaren’s first podium in five years when he finished third at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

This season, with the MCL35 powered by Renault for the final time, McLaren is hoping to add further podiums to its tally but concede no one is expecting a massive surprise given the regulations.

“It looks tighter, slimmer and a bit better,” said Sainz.

“We have put goether a better package, a better car.

“Everything is coming together and we are growing as a team. A lot of positive energy.”

Sainz and Norris will put the car through its first laps when testing gets underway at the Circuit de Catalunya on the 19th.

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