McLaren unveils fresh livery for 2024 contender

©McLaren

McLaren will head into the 2024 F1 season with a modified livery on its MCL38 car principally featuring its popular historic papaya base color, anthracite and a touch of chrome.

The Woking-based outfit managed by Andrea Stella - the chief architect of the team's remarkable 202 turnaround - showcased the new scheme on its 2023-spec machine, while the Italian let slip that it actual MCL38, that will be raced once again by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, will be rolled out on February 14, the same day as Mercedes.

The car's moniker marks a return to the numbering system employed before the MCL60, named in celebration of the team's 60th anniversary in 2023, and skips the unused MCL37.

McLaren says its new distinctive colourway was designed with its “fans at the core”, with their favourite OKX’s Stealth Mode livery embedded alongside the iconic use of chrome in the driver numbers, which was more widely carried by the team from 2006 to 2014 before making a return at the 2023 British Grand Prix with Google.

“We’re delighted to launch our 2024 Formula 1 livery ahead of the new season,” commented McLraen Racing boss Zak Brown. “The design looks awesome, and I can’t wait to go racing and see it come to life on track next month.

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“We didn’t start 2023 as we wanted but Andrea and the team did a great job following the organisational restructure coming into action, and the hard work continues as we carry that excellent momentum into the 2024 campaign.

“I’m confident the exciting pairing of Lando and Oscar will continue to create more mega memories together after such an impressive second half of last year which saw the team finish fourth in the championship with 302 points.

“These are all steps forward from the year before as we continue our mission to push and compete at the front of the grid.”

©McLaren

Norris, who scored more points than any other driver in the field – save for Max Verstappen – in the second half of the season, is looking forward to carrying his momentum into the new season.

“I’m looking forward to the new season ahead, it will be my sixth in Formula 1 and I'm hoping to carry the momentum we gained as a team at the end of last season to hit the ground running in Bahrain.

“The new livery looks great with the inclusion of segments from last year’s enhancements, I’m sure the fans will love it as much as me.

“Everyone at the factory has worked incredibly hard in the off season, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the 2024 car to challenge our competitors towards the front of the grid.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.