McLaren Successfully Fires Up MCL38 in Pre-Season Milestone

McLaren Racing has reached a pivotal moment in their pre-season preparations, proudly announcing the successful completion of the first fire-up of their 2024 car, the MCL38. In a brief social media post accompanied by the caption “It’s alive…”, McLaren shared an audio clip featuring the distinct sound of the Mercedes power unit roaring to life, signaling the birth of their new machine ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

The first fire-up of a new car is a significant milestone in the intricate process of pre-season development, symbolizing the culmination of months of collaborative efforts from the entire McLaren team.

McLaren had already made waves in the lead-up to the new season by unveiling their 2024 livery in early January, surprising the Formula 1 community with the early reveal. While the color scheme has been showcased, the full launch of the MCL38 is scheduled for February 14. This event will provide enthusiasts and fans a closer look at the intricacies of McLaren’s latest creation, developed at the McLaren Technology Centre.

The team enters the 2024 season as a resurgent force, having transformed from lower-midfield contenders to consistent podium challengers in the latter part of 2023. Notably, a series of upgrades introduced during the Austrian Grand Prix marked a turning point for McLaren, propelling them into the upper echelons of competitiveness.

With ambitious goals on the horizon for 2024 and both drivers secured under long-term contracts following Lando Norris’ recent extension, Team Principal Andrea Stella hinted at the MCL38 being an “innovative evolution” of its predecessor.

Stella stated, “I think there will be some areas of the car that we’ll show that there’s been innovation, there’s been some steps compared to the MCL60. But very often in Formula 1, it’s much more about the incremental gains that you can share in all the areas of the car.”

He continued, “So there will be some visible elements of almost discontinuity with the past. But for the bulk, most of the improvement from an aerodynamic efficiency point of view, mechanical grip, interaction with the tyres, it will come from many details that not necessarily will be so clearly visible.” 

As McLaren’s journey towards the 2024 season gains momentum, fans eagerly anticipate the official unveiling of the MCL38 and the team’s continued pursuit of excellence on the Formula 1 circuit.