McLaren has become the latest team to unveil its car for the 2023 Formula 1 season, the MCL60, during a launch event at is headquarters in Woking.
McLaren has given the car the designation MCL60, deviating from its usual chronological numbering pattern, to commemorate 60 years since the company’s foundation.
The team finished fifth in last year’s Constructors’ Championship, behind Alpine, as its gradual improvement across previous seasons plateaued.
Lando Norris consolidated his reputation as one of Formula 1’s standout young drivers with a measured 2022 campaign, finishing seventh in the standings, with a podium at Imola.
Norris is entering his fifth season in Formula 1 with McLaren and is contracted to the team through 2025.
He will be joined by debutant Oscar Piastri.
Piastri was signed by McLaren on a multi-year deal, which was eventually ratified following a protracted saga involving previous employers Alpine during the summer break.
Piastri, who came to prominence with successive titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2, was able to make his McLaren test debut in Abu Dhabi last November after being released by Alpine.
McLaren also enters 2023 with a new Team Principal following the departure of Andreas Seidl.
Seidl was released by McLaren to join Sauber as its new CEO and Andrea Stella has taken up the role in his place.
Stella has worked at McLaren since 2015 and most recently held the position of Executive Director, Racing.
McLaren, Stella says, has the target of finishing fourth in this year’s championship while closing the gap to Formula 1’s leading trio.
“We know realistically with the top three teams, this may mean potentially being the fourth best car over the course of the season,” he said.
“We are realistic in the very short term, there’s good developments already in the pipeline that should land trackside very soon in the season and should allow us to take a decent step forward.”
Norris added that McLaren’s focus remains on the 2025 season, when its new infrastructure – such as its wind tunnel – will be fully operational and influential.
“I think from where we are now, a realistic and successful year is to still take some big steps forwards,” he said
“We need to be the team that’s leading the way in the fight to the top three teams, and if we can at least end this season around that place, where we’re fighting for fourth in the constructors’, and we’re leading the way to the top three, then I think that’s what we need to be happy with.
“It’s ambitious, we have a lot of work to do to achieve it, but I think that’s a realistic goal.
“I don’t think you can expect us to be on par with the Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes at this time, we still have a long, long way to get to that point, so we’ll see.”
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