BREAKING: McLaren kicks off the 2021 F1 season and presents MCL35M

McLaren have launched their 2021 car ahead of the new Formula 1 season. Both Lando Norris and new driver Daniel Ricciardo were on the scene at McLaren's HQ in Woking. McLaren have found their way back to the top in recent years and finished third in last year's World Championship. In 2021, McLaren will race with a Mercedes engine. McLaren become the first team to launch their 2021 F1 car, which is titled the MCL35M.

It is the fourth car of the post Ron Dennis era for McLaren. Under his reign, McLaren used the abbreviation MP4 when naming their cars. An abbreviation for the team 'Marlboro Project 4' of Dennis in the early 80s.

The new acronym MCL has been in use since 2017, but the numbering of the cars continues. In 2020, the team used the number 35. The new car should actually be called MCL36, but because 2021 is a bit of a gap year for Formula 1, the team, like Red Bull Racing, decided to carry over the 2020 name.

Many changes under the bonnet at McLaren

Since 2017, they have been using the traditional orange colour that Bruce McLaren once used. Carlos Sainz will no longer be seen in this colour due to his departure for Ferrari, but both Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo will be racing with this colour in 2021.

However, especially at McLaren, a lot has changed this winter. They are the only team in F1 to introduce a different engine. The Renault engine will be exchanged for a Mercedes engine. The team has already indicated that they have had to make considerable changes to the rear of the car and that it contains more new parts than other teams.

Introducing our 2021 challenger, the #MCL35M.

It’s time to #SendIt

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 15, 2021