13 February 2023 , 17:15
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McLaren have revealed the livery of their 2023 Formula 1 car as they celebrate a landmark year in their storied history.
The racing team is celebrating six decades since it was founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren. To mark the occasion, the team has eschewed its usual naming system for the F1 chassis it creates, which would have meant their 2023 car would be known as the MCL37.
Instead, they took the decision to skip to MCL60 in a nod to McLaren's anniversary. It will be the fifth F1 car driven competitively by Lando Norris since he debuted with the team in 2019, and the first for his new team-mate, rookie Oscar Piastri.
The new livery remains instantly recognisable as a McLaren car thanks to the colour scheme – the 'papaya' orange used by the racing brand in all the different series in which it is involved. Black has always been one of the accent colours but, following what seems to be the trend this year, it features more heavily on their new machine.
That is because teams have had to go to extra lengths to save as much weight as they can on their cars. Using exposed carbon fibre instead of paint only shaves a few grams off the car's weight overall, but those marginal gains are vital in F1 – as evidenced by Norris' new helmet, which is also light on paint compared to recent variations.
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McLaren's 2023 car keeps the papaya orange, light blue and black colour scheme (McLaren Racing)While the orange stands out, it is again a darker livery compared to McLaren's usual designs. The other five teams to show off their cars so far – Haas, Red Bull, Williams, Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri – have also used more carbon fibre and darker colours than before.
New team principal Andrea Stella said: "It's an honour to lead McLaren Racing into the team's 60th anniversary season. We have a committed and talented group of people at McLaren, and we are all looking forward to taking the MCL60 racing, after the hard work and the efforts over the last months, in all areas of the team."
The car livery features a significant amount of unpainted carbon fibre as a weight-saving measure (McLaren Racing)Norris added: "The off-season has been good but I'm looking forward to getting back on track and behind the wheel of the MCL60 for the first time. The new car looks great, and everyone involved in the build has played an important role."
Meanwhile, debutant Piastri said: "The time I've spent at the factory and in the sim has been enjoyable and productive, and everyone in the team has been welcoming. I've settled in well and I'm now fully focused on getting out on track in Bahrain."