McLaren takes covers off all-new F1 2022 car

After Haas, Red Bull and Aston Martin, McLaren have become the fourth team to unveil their brand-new revolutionary Formula One car ahead of the 2022 season.

The Woking based outfit held a special event today at its headquarters, revealing its contenders for the 2022 Formula 1, IndyCar and Extreme E seasons, including the all-new McLaren MCL36 as the team takes on a new era of F1 regulations.

The MCL36 will compete in the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship and will be piloted by Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. The revolutionary car will complete the pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Bahrain International Circuit before the season kicks off at Manama on 20 March.

Earlier this week, the British outfit announced that Norris had committed his future to the Woking based squad with a contract extension that will keep him at the team until at least the end of 2025. His team mate Daniel Ricciardo completed a difficult first season with McLaren, but clinched a sensational win at the Italian Grand Prix with the Australian eager to capitalize on the momentum he gained throughout the late phase of the past season.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “I’m delighted to see us launch all three McLaren Racing programmes across the Formula 1, IndyCar and Extreme E championships today. This is a first for us as a team, and in the wider world of motorsport, and it’s been fantastic to see how excited the fans have been as they get ready to join us on the next part of our journey.

“Our Formula 1 team continues to make great progress year-on-year with Andreas Seidl at the helm, and this new era of regulations represents a real opportunity for the team. I’m excited to see Lando and Daniel get behind the wheel of the MCL36 and take it to the competition this year. Lando made great progress in 2021, scoring four podiums, and Daniel’s sensational victory in Monza reminded the team what it feels like to win again. As we head into 2022, we’re looking to build on that progress and further close the gap to the teams at the front.

“In the US, Arrow McLaren SP enters the 2022 INDYCAR season with great momentum after a close championship battle in 2021. Pato has grown tremendously over the past two seasons, securing two wins and staying in the title fight right until the final race. Felix is an incredible talent who joins us again to show his true potential in the No.7 car.

“We’re thrilled to be launching our Extreme E team and livery ahead of the first race in just under a week, with Emma and Tanner getting behind the wheel of the No.58 McLaren car. It’s fantastic to be joining this innovative and exciting new series, which will help accelerate our own sustainability mission. All of us at McLaren can’t wait to see what Emma and Tanner can do out in the desert at our inaugural X Prix.

“Commercially, we head into the 2022 season as strong as ever with an expanded portfolio of valued partners, each crucial in driving our ambitions as a team forward, and without whom we simply wouldn’t be able to go racing. Together we’re working closely, not only to unlock on-track performance, but also to innovate and develop new ways of addressing sustainability challenges in broader society.

“Being voted the fans’ favourite F1 team last year by some margin and being ranked a close second in the same survey in IndyCar after just two years, is not just hugely rewarding but more importantly reminds us that our fans are at the centre of everything we do. We never take them for granted.

“Launching each of our competitors together this evening is an extremely proud moment for our team, a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to prepare for today, and now all that’s left to do is hit the track and start racing.”