McLaren Formula 1 fans were treated to images of the team's 2025 Challenger with an impressive camouflage camouflage as the team filmed the MCL39 on Thursday during a filming session at the Historic Silverstone Circuit.
But if these fans wanted to be what the team's official search for for the 2025 season, they're a bit disappointed.
McLaren has brought new challengers to the track for filming dates, but the team has confirmed that they will be unveiling the 2025 colouring at the upcoming F1 season launch event at O2 in London next week. According to the team “[t]His designs showcase some of the world's largest brands, [organizations] McLaren's valuable partners continue to support their teams both on-look and off. ”
The team also confirmed that this year's challenger will be named MCL39, maintaining the recent naming convention.
“Today is a major milestone in our journey in the fight for the 2025 title. It's great to be able to get the MCL39, a championship challenger, on track for the first time and start the pinnacle of the team's efforts. is.” I said Zack Brown, CEO of McLaren.
“We must be realistic that every team has made progress over the winter. We highlighted how much the grid was closed last year. This is great for sports. We have I believe I have made even further since MCL38, which won the championship, but I don't know where I will be sitting in the rankings until I qualify in Australia,” Brown added. “We are a team that doesn't stop racing and we'll give both championships everything back to walking.”
Team principal Andrea Stella predicted a “challenging” season.
“We look forward to the first MCL39 hit the track on today's Silverstone circuit. It ended as a champion last year, but in 2024 we highlighted how competitive the grid is. This year's champions are, and this is the champions of the year. It's something that will be carried over to the ship. So you have to stay focused to compete in front of this tight field. It's going to be an exciting yet incredibly challenging year,” Stella said. .
“The team has worked very hard to prepare as much as possible for the start of the season. I learned a lot from last year's fight, so I took this and did it to push this goal for this year. “We'll use it,” added the McLaren boss.
“Thanks to my entire team. They have prepared today's car for their work, and a colleague from Mercedes HPP has provided continuous collaborations. Before the first competition session in Australia, We are focusing on future work to maximize testing time.”
The driver also took part in the track with a one-off race kit called “stealth mode” by the team.
Randorris, who many consider to be the front runner for the 2025 F1 driver championship, also predicted a “competitive” season.
“It's exciting to jump on the MCL39 for the first time ahead of the preseason tests in Bahrain and see what we can do and get back on track. The duck colouring is fun and I have the official F175 release. It's great to be able to showcase something different before the release of their full colouring,” Norris said.
“We're grateful to the whole team who took us to this point. As this year is more competitive than ever, we're going to be able to retain the constructor title and go to the drivers. There's a lot to do in it,” Norris added.
“I've returned to preparing for MTC for the upcoming season, but I feel positive, but I'm focused. I've been riding Bahrain cars ahead of my competitive debut in Australia. I look forward to getting it on. It's becoming an exciting season.”
Oscar Piastri, who broke off last season's Grand Prix victory, hopes to carry the team's momentum into 2025.
“It's great to get behind the wheel of the MCL39 for the first time before us. The camouflage colouring looks cool and we're excited to showcase the release of the official colouring next week that we'll be racing this season. “I'm doing that,” Piastri said.
“I've been working hard in the offseason to make sure I'm ready for the upcoming season. The upper margin is likely to be very tight, but I'm sure I'll be growing after two seasons in the sport. I'm excited about the room for that. Earning Grand Prix early in my career has given me a preference for success.
“As a team, after such a great year in 2024, we'll have great momentum in 2025. Thank you to everyone who's returned to the bass and trackside for all the hard work that's been done so far. I'll do that.”
