Alright when was that again.....?

Interesting news today, that Red Bull can keep using the Honda engine until 2025, even though Honda have said they are done.
That's good news for F1, along with budget cap & the engine development freeze. Hopefully better years than 2020 are ahead.

Beyond that, Red Bull may build their own engines which is good to know.
 
McLaren Racing become the first team to reveal their 2021 Formula One challenger this evening - displaying their MCL35M via a livestreamed event at the impressive MTC in Woking.

Returning to Mercedes power for the first time since the conclusion of the 2013 Formula One season, this year looks set to be a big one for McLaren as the British team continue their upward trajectory of recent seasons - adding Mercedes power to the rear of the car and bringing in multiple Grand Prix winner and former Red Bull and Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo to the teams driving strength.

From third in the Constructors Championship last season, and now with a proven race winner behind the wheel in the form of Daniel Ricciardo - 2021 could be a breakout season for the multiple World Championship winning squad - and the new car certainly looks like a statement of intent from the outfit, with a beautiful new livery and of course the dominant Mercedes power unit strapped to the back...

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Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“We’re thrilled to launch our 2021 team with Lando and Daniel, as we prepare to get the Formula 1 season started. We’ve got an incredibly exciting driver line-up this year, both are formidable racers on-track and great characters off-track. Lando is a naturally fast and intelligent racer on an exciting trajectory, while Daniel is a multiple grand prix winner with a sharp racer’s edge and exceptional talent.

“After a challenging but rewarding 2020, we have firmly hit the reset button for this season as we continue on our path towards the front of the grid. This will be an even tougher season but we’re ready to meet the challenge. I want to pay tribute to Formula 1 and the FIA and our fellow teams in continuing to work hard for the benefit of our sport as we strive to bring exciting racing to fans around the world.

“We head into this season with an incredible group of committed and valuable partners at our side, who are such a vital part of our team. 2020 represented a significant challenge, not just for McLaren Racing but also many of our partners, so to have maintained their support is a testament to the quality of our partners and the relationships we have formed on our journey together.

“We’ve really missed having our fantastic fans with us at track, and we can’t wait to have them join us again when safe to do so. As always, we go to every grand prix weekend with the ambition of putting on a great show and achieving the best possible result for our incredible fanbase.

“I’m proud of our team and the progress we’ve made together so far. We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’ve got a great spirit in the team and we’re becoming stronger competitors as we continue on our journey.”

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Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren F1, said:
“All of us at McLaren are ready and determined for another season of intensely competitive Formula 1 racing. The entire team has worked hard over the short winter, together with our colleagues from Mercedes-AMG, to produce the MCL35M and provide a strong car for our drivers to race this year. This has been no small challenge, and I want to thank every member of our team, whether at the MTC or working remotely, for the massive effort they’ve put in. Lando and Daniel will, I know, do their very best to represent the team out on track.

“We’re all extremely pleased by how Lando has developed from test and development driver in 2017, to Britain’s youngest podium finisher in 2020. His passion and experience for the sport are growing hand-in-hand, and he’s now one of the fastest and most exciting racing drivers on the grid.

“Daniel represents our next step as a team and his decision to join McLaren is a validation of the progress we’re making. As a proven race-winner and formidable competitor, Daniel brings energy and experience to push McLaren forward on our mission to the front of the field.

“Together, Lando and Daniel comprise one of the most competitive driver line-ups in the sport. With these two behind the wheel of the MCL35M, we know we’ll have a team that gives total commitment in the pursuit of on-track performance as we head into the 2021 season.”

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James Key, Technical Director, McLaren F1, said:
“Despite relatively stable technical regulations from 2020, there are several significant aerodynamic changes to the rules that are important to get right. Every change to these regulations presents an opportunity, and the team in Woking has been working incredibly hard in difficult conditions to maximise those opportunities.

“One of the key elements of the MCL35M design is the integration of the Mercedes-AMG power unit, which has taken a considerable effort from the team in Woking, as well as our colleagues at Mercedes. Despite our limited scope for installation in a homologated car, the team has done a fantastic job of optimising our design work.

“Building a Formula 1 car is never easy. These are the fastest and most technically complex racing cars in the world and that challenge has only been compounded by the covid-19 pandemic. Over the past year, the team in the factory has been subject to incredibly strict, rigorous testing and working procedures aimed at keeping our people safe. I’m immensely proud of how our incredible group of people has risen to this challenge and developed the best possible package.”


What do you think? Check it out below:

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Check out the Live Stream show from the new car launch below:


2021 McLaren Mercedes MCL35M Technical Specification:

CHASSIS

Monocoque Carbon fibre composite, incorporating driver controls and fuel cell
Safety structures Cockpit survival cell incorporating impact resistant construction and anti-penetration panels, front impact structure, prescribed side impact structures, integrated rear impact structure, front and rear roll structures, Halo secondary roll structure, driver headrest protection and safety seat
Bodywork Carbon-fibre composite, including engine cover, sidepods, deflector, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing with driver-operated drag reduction system
Front suspension Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Rear suspension Carbon-fibre wishbone and steel pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Weight Overall vehicle weight 752 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)
Weight distribution between 45.4% and 46.4% on front axle
Electronics McLaren Applied. Including chassis control, power unit control, data acquisition, sensors, data analysis
Instruments McLaren Applied steering wheel display
Brake system 6 piston brake calipers with front / rear master cylinders
‘Brake by wire’ rear brake control system
Carbon-carbon ventilated discs and pads
Steering Power-assisted rack and pinion
Tyres Pirelli P Zero
Race wheels Enkei
Paint AkzoNobel Sikkens products
Cooling systems Charge air, engine oil, gearbox oil, hydraulic oil, water, and ERS cooling systems
Advanced manufacturingStratasys 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Mazak Advanced Technology Solutions


POWER UNIT

Power unit typeMercedes-AMG M12 E Performance
Minimum weight 150 kg
Primary PU components Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)
Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K)
Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H)
Energy Store (ES)
Turbocharger


INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Capacity 1.6 litres
Cylinders Six
Bank angle 90-degree vee angle
No of valves 24
Max speed 15,000 rpm
Max fuel flow rate 100 kg/hour (above 10,500 rpm)
Fuel consumption110 kg ‘lights to flag’ regulated fuel capacity limit
Fuel injectionDirect injection, single injector per cylinder, 500 bar max
Pressure charging Single-stage compressor and exhaust turbine, common shaft


ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM

ArchitectureIntegrated Hybrid energy recovery via Motor Generator Units
Crankshaft coupled electrical MGU-K
Turbocharger coupled electrical MGU-H
Energy store Lithium-Ion battery, between 20 and 25 kg
Maximum energy storage, 4 MJ per lap
MGU-KMaximum speed, 50,000 rpm
Maximum power, 120 kW
Maximum energy recovery, 2 MJ per lap
Maximum energy deployment, 4 MJ per lap
MGU-HMaximum speed 125,000 rpm
Maximum power, unlimited
Maximum energy recovery, unlimited
Maximum energy deployment, unlimited


TRANSMISSION

GearboxCarbon fibre composite main case, longitudinally mounted drive train
Gear ratiosEight forward and one reverse
Gear selection Electro-hydraulically operated seamless shift
DifferentialEpicyclic with limited slip by multi-plate friction stack
ClutchElectro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate


Follow the Formula One news and discussion, start up a new thread in the Formula One sub forum here at RaceDepartment today!
 
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The new floor regulations to me work really well aesthetics wise.
While the car still looks rather long, the tapering floor makes the rear of the car appear far less bulky.

PS. Also not a single Mercedes-, Amg-, HPP- or any of these combinations- logo on the car? Am i seeing that correct?
 
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I'll be interested to read various eagle eye analyses people spot with differences from last year (counting on Marc Priestly here). What I do know is that this is basically a new car because the Mercedes engine required a complete engine bay overhaul. The weight distribution is also different. So it's not fair to expect them to just pick up where they left off.

It's going to be interesting to see the Lando/Danny Ric dynamic. Lando has already said that he's going to dial back the goofy a little bit. It sounds like he feels like a real F1 driver now and not just a new kid. I doubt that they'll have an incident like Max/Danny at Baku, but I bet that Lando will be even more fierce on track. We saw some of that with Carlos last year.

Should be fun.
 
Its a good looking car and watching the launch people have had that moment of "wtf are we watching here?" but i dont see an issue with it. The drivers are relatively young, fun loving guys and Mclaren are stronger now than theyve been for years. As a mclaren fan it sucked seeing them struggle for so long.

One thing i do find odd though is no mercedes badges on the sides of the car unlike when they had Honda and Renault engines. Kind of sounds right though, Mclaren Mercedes. Have that niggling feeling though that even if they are quick Mercedes wont want them to be beating their Number 2 team, Aston Martin
 

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