McLaren completed the first kilometers of its new 2023 F1 car, the MCL60, at the track that will host pre-season testing and the first race of the season in Bahrain, with both drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri testing the car.

After showing studio photos of the new MCL60 at the presentation, with which they are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of McLaren, the fifth-placed team of last year’s championship did the first test with the new car yesterday.

McLaren used the first of the two allowed days to shoot promotional materials on which a maximum of 100 kilometers can be driven, and McLaren decided to use the first day on the same track where the three-day pre-season test will start tomorrow.

Last year, McLaren had major problems with the brakes at the start of the season, which showed up at the second test in Bahrain, and because of this, they suffered greatly in terms of performance in the first races, which later reflected on the entire development of the car during the season.

2023 McLaren MCL60 launch spec vs Bahrain shakedown spec comparison Photo McLaren Edited by MAXF1net
2023 McLaren MCL60 launch spec vs Bahrain shakedown spec comparison Photo McLaren Edited by MAXF1net

McLaren wants to start this season more prepared and try to claw back the fourth place in the standings that Alpine took from them last year, and with the new MCL60, which is inspired by last year’s Red Bull RB18, they hope to open the season in a competitive way.

Attention was also drawn to the new, much narrower and more rounded nose, which is very reminiscent of last year’s Red Bull and which, unlike the one at the presentation, also has an opening in the middle for cooling the cockpit, which is necessary on a track like Bahrain where temperatures are high.

“I think it was a super important day for us, especially because we have to start this season better than last,” Norris said.

“We’ve been doing exactly that so far, so I’m happy that the team is happy. It’s a lot of hard work to make sure we start off smoothly, with reliability, and get everything set up the way it should be. They did exactly that, so this day is super important for us.”

2023 McLaren MCL60 Bahrain shakedown side Photo McLaren Edited by MAXF1net
2023 McLaren MCL60 Bahrain shakedown side Photo McLaren Edited by MAXF1net
2023 McLaren MCL60 Bahrain shakedown side front Photo McLaren Edited by MAXF1net
2023 McLaren MCL60 Bahrain shakedown side front Photo McLaren Edited by MAXF1net

Load More Related Articles
Load More In News
Subscribe
Obavijesti me o
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Check Also

First F1 race in Austin – Hamilton beats Vettel to victory

Lewis Hamilton won the first F1 race in Austin on this day in 2012 after he defeated Sebas…