McLaren unveils the new livery for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who will compete in 2024. (1:12)
McLaren has given the first glimpse of what Formula One will look like in 2024 by unveiling its livery for the coming season, sticking true to its look of recent years.
The British added more papaya orange hue, synonymous with founder Bruce McLaren’s early race cars, around the engine cover.
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The company’s chief executive, Zak Brown, who brought McLaren back in papaya colours after taking over the company in 2016, said fan feedback on last year’s car was significant.
“I think the car looks spectacular, it’s a reaction to the feedback we get from our fans. Obviously papaya is very important to us, so we have to make sure we are distinctive, so when you see our car, you know “It’s a McLaren,” he said.
McLaren’s new look, revealed without fanfare on Tuesday, in an undisputed announcement on social media, featured the color scheme of an old car – cars finalized for 2024 are unlikely to be noticed before pre-season testing in Bahrain at the end of February.
Most of McLaren’s competitors are expected to launch their own designs in the first two weeks of February. McLaren expects the 2024 designs to continue the upward trajectory of its predecessor.
After a slow start, a significant mid-season improvement propelled McLaren up the standings and saw it emerge as the second- or third-fastest team, Red Bull, for most of the remaining races.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both widely considered long-term world champions, are teammates for the second year in a row.
Norris will be in his sixth season with the team and will be looking for a tough win in his first race.
Piastri was inspired as a rookie last year, winning the sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix, and will be looking to take extra steps as a second-year F1 student.
Images released on Tuesday show the new colour scheme of an old car – most teams may not field their true rivals for 2024 until pre-season testing in Bahrain at the end of February.
McLaren’s livery has unofficially kicked off F1’s “launch season”, with groups revealing the new looks they will wear for the new year.
This year sees two notable rival launches: Sauber will officially kick off its new era with Stake, after 4 years of racing as Alfa Romeo, while Red Bull junior team AlphaTauri will change its name ahead of the new season.