McLaren unveils MCL36 2022 F1 car with updated livery
McLaren has revealed its challenger for the opening season of Formula 1’s new regulations in 2022, with the MCL36 also featuring an updated livery to the team’s previous designs.
McLaren has revealed its challenger for the opening season of Formula 1’s new regulations in 2022, with the MCL36 also featuring an updated livery to the team’s previous designs.
In a live event on Friday held at its Woking factory featuring drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, the British squad became the fourth team to unveil its new car – following the 2022 designs revealed by Haas and Aston Martin and Red Bull’s livery event earlier this week.
Of the three 2022 designs shown so far, the MCL36 is notable for featuring a third different take on the new regulations regarding rear bodywork – with the car being similar to Aston’s approach in extending the surfaces backwards, as opposed to Haas’ narrow and sharply drooping bodywork that leaves more of the top surface of the floor exposed.
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Unlike the Aston, the new McLaren’s bodywork appears to be not so tightly packaged around its Mercedes engine.
The MCL36’s colours retain the papaya orange main element, but the blue secondary detail is lighter for 2022.
The car’s colours appear to be much closer to the one-off livery inspired by team sponsor Gulf that McLaren ran at the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, than compared to the darker blue the team has used for the last four seasons.
In the same event, McLaren also unveiled the liveries of the cars it will enter in the 2022 IndyCar campaign for Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist, as well as for the team it will enter in Extreme E for the first time – all of which take their cues from the colours on the MCL36.
Speaking as the MCL36 was revealed, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said: “I’m delighted to see us launch all three McLaren Racing programmes across the Formula 1, IndyCar and Extreme E championships today.
“This is a first for us as a team, and in the wider world of motorsport, and it’s been fantastic to see how excited the fans have been as they get ready to join us on the next part of our journey.
“Our Formula 1 team continues to make great progress year-on-year with Andreas Seidl [team principal] at the helm, and this new era of regulations represents a real opportunity for the team.
“I’m excited to see Lando and Daniel get behind the wheel of the MCL36 and take it to the competition this year.
“Lando made great progress in 2021, scoring four podiums, and Daniel’s sensational victory in Monza reminded the team what it feels like to win again.
“As we head into 2022, we’re looking to build on that progress and further close the gap to the teams at the front.”
McLaren is the second team so far to launch its 2022 season by unveiling a physical car – with Haas opting to only release rendered images of its VF-22 (with the real initial design of the American team set to be revealed with a brief launch event in the pitlane at the upcoming first test at Barcelona last this month) and Red Bull painting an F1 show car in the colour scheme its RB18 will use this year.
James Key, McLaren’s executive director, technical, said his squad “can be proud of presenting a real car because it absolutely is”.
He added: “It’s the car we’ll be taking to Barcelona. Yes, we’ve hidden a few bits and pieces for obvious reasons, there are some sensitive areas, but that will all be seen when we’re running the car.”
The livery for the McLaren Shadow Esports programme was also revealed at the live event in Woking.
Related video
Aston Martin explains early real F1 car reveal
McLaren’s Monaco Gulf livery inspired 2022 F1 colour tweak
Ten things we learned at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Ten things we learned at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Ten things we learned at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Saudi Arabian GP: Verstappen tops first F1 practice from Perez, Alonso
Saudi Arabian GP: Verstappen tops first F1 practice from Perez, Alonso Saudi Arabian GP: Verstappen tops first F1 practice from Perez, Alonso
Ricciardo not looking at racing competitively in 2023
Ricciardo not looking at racing competitively in 2023 Ricciardo not looking at racing competitively in 2023
Ricciardo drives Supercars Mustang
Ricciardo drives Supercars Mustang Ricciardo drives Supercars Mustang
Why F1 risks not appreciating Ricciardo's inadvertent farewell
Why F1 risks not appreciating Ricciardo's inadvertent farewell Why F1 risks not appreciating Ricciardo's inadvertent farewell
Norris laments "silly mistake" at "easiest corner" in Saudi GP Q1 exit
Norris laments "silly mistake" at "easiest corner" in Saudi GP Q1 exit Norris laments "silly mistake" at "easiest corner" in Saudi GP Q1 exit
Piastri: Becoming “more comfortable” in McLaren F1 car led to Q3 charge
Piastri: Becoming “more comfortable” in McLaren F1 car led to Q3 charge Piastri: Becoming “more comfortable” in McLaren F1 car led to Q3 charge
Why Piastri being "almost constantly a little unhappy" pre-F1 debut pleases McLaren
Why Piastri being "almost constantly a little unhappy" pre-F1 debut pleases McLaren Why Piastri being "almost constantly a little unhappy" pre-F1 debut pleases McLaren
Dunlop optimistic of improved 2023 despite loss of Mugen car
Dunlop optimistic of improved 2023 despite loss of Mugen car Dunlop optimistic of improved 2023 despite loss of Mugen car
BMW Bathurst drive for De Pasquale
BMW Bathurst drive for De Pasquale BMW Bathurst drive for De Pasquale
Ganassi team expects Armstrong, Sato to shine in shared ride
Ganassi team expects Armstrong, Sato to shine in shared ride Ganassi team expects Armstrong, Sato to shine in shared ride
Alex Bowman enters Truck races at COTA, North Wilkesboro
Alex Bowman enters Truck races at COTA, North Wilkesboro Alex Bowman enters Truck races at COTA, North Wilkesboro
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay
How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay
The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off
The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off
Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come
Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come
How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem
How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much
Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much
CFD: How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance
CFD: How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance CFD: How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.