McLaren unveil 2025 Formula One automotive forward of the brand new season – because the reigning constructors’ champions bid to win back-to-back titles

Reigning constructors’ champions McLaren have become the first team to unveil their new car ahead of the 2025 Formula One season. 

The MCL39 made its public debut at Silverstone on Thursday, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sharing the permitted 200 kilometres of track time. 

McLaren ran the car with an alternative ‘geometric camo design’ in shades of their iconic papaya and black. All 10 teams must reveal their 2025 liveries at F1’s 75th anniversary launch event next Tuesday. 

Zak Brown, McLaren Racing chief, told Sky Sports: ‘Today is a big milestone in our journey in the fight for the 2025 title. It’s great to get our championship challenger, the MCL39, on track for the first time and to launch the culmination of the team’s hard work.

‘We must be realistic that every team will have made progress over the winter. Last year highlighted just how much the grid has closed up, which is a brilliant thing for the sport. We believe we have made further steps forward since the championship-winning MCL38 but we won’t know where we sit in the standings until we get into qualifying in Australia.

‘We’re a team that never stops racing and we’ll be giving it our all to bring both championships back to Woking.’

Reigning constructors’ champions McLaren have become the first team to unveil their new car ahead of the 2025 Formula One season

The Woking-based outfit ended a 26-year wait for the constructors title last season

Lando Norris, who finished second in the driver’s championship last term, said the team is focussed on more success in 2025

McLaren ended a 26-year wait for the constructors title last season but costly errors contributed to their inability to secure a drivers’ championship for Norris.

The Brit faces another tough battle to topple four-time champion Max Verstappen, though he may first seek to establish his supremacy over Piastri, who enjoyed a stellar campaign last term. 

Norris said: ‘It’s exciting to hop in the MCL39 for the first time and see what it can do on track, ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain. The camo livery is a fun one and it’s great to be able to showcase something different ahead of our full livery reveal at the official F1 75 launch.

‘Thank you to the entire team for their work in getting us to this point. This year will be more competitive than ever, so we’ve got a lot to do to be able to retain our constructors’ title and go for the drivers’ as well.

‘I’ve been back at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) prepping for the season ahead and the mood is feeling positive but focused. We’re all looking forward to getting the car on track in Bahrain ahead of our competitive debut in Australia and to see where we net out amongst the other teams. It’s shaping up to be an exciting season.’

The new season, which gets underway Down Under next month, promises to be one of the most competitive in several years, with up to six drivers with realistic ambitions of taking the title. 

In addition to McLaren’s pairing and Verstappen, Ferrari boast perhaps the most formidable partnership in Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. While Hamilton’s former team-mate George Russell will also have his sights set on the title, having won two races last term.