Will the new F1 car be good enough to secure Lando Norris' maiden victory?
McLaren has unveiled its contender for the 2022 F1 Grand Prix Season.
Unlike Red Bull and Aston Martin, who have already shown their cars to the public, McLaren also showcased the rest of its racing cars for the year.
The new F1 car, codenamed MCL36, will be driven by Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. There is no number one slot at Mclaren, with both drivers getting an equal shot at the title. Ricciardo has eight Grand Prix wins on his CV, while Norris is a five-time podium finisher. McLaren also expects great things from Norris, as he recently signed a new contract worth millions.
Hopefully, he'll claim his maiden victory this season and get a limited edition McLaren 720S named after him.
McLaren also presented the 2022 Arrow McLaren SP team. Pato O'Ward will pilot the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, while Felix Rosenqvist will get behind the wheel of the No.7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet. The 2022 Indycar championship kicks off on February 27 at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
McLaren also unveiled its first-ever Extreme E buggy, which Emma Gilmour will pilot. Gilmour is a former Extreme E champion. Joining her is Tanner Foust. You know who he is, but if you live somewhere else on the planet, he's a four-time US rallycross champion.
Gilmour is McLaren's first female racing driver, as the brand takes a big step toward diversity in motorsport. The Extreme E Team will start racing at the Desert X-Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, on February 19.
All cars wear a brand-new Fluro Papaya and blue livery. The MCL36 is the best-looking F1 car we've seen to date. We especially like the view from the top, where you can see the Fluro Papaya form a sort-of teardrop shape. Fans in the bleachers will undoubtedly love seeing this shape fly by at speed.
McLaren also shared some exciting details about the MCL36, which F1 fans will enjoy.
It weighs just 1,750 lbs, including the driver, excluding fuel. The weight on the front axle varies between 44.5% to 46%. As the race progresses, the weight on the rear axle changes as the fuel is obliterated. Not that it matters, as an F1 car relies more on aerodynamic grip than anything else.
The entire powertrain, including all the hybrid components, weighs just 150 kg. It's a 1.6-liter 90-degree V6 that can rev to 15,000 rpm. The maximum rpm for the exhaust turbocharger is 125,000 rpm.
Lando, Daniel, and the team will take the MCL36 to the track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, during the first of two pre-season tests ahead of the opening race of the season at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.
Keyword: McLaren Has Big Hopes For F1 Season With All-New Papaya MCL36