McLaren fire up 2023 car for the first time as new era begins : PlanetF1

McLaren have fired up their 2023 car for the first under the watchful eyes of Oscar Piastri, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown.

2023 marks the new dawn of a new era at one of Formula 1’s most historic teams with a new driver and new team principal charged with returning McLaren to the front of the grid.

Piastri will fill the boots of his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo while Stella has stepped up to replace the Sauber-bound Andreas Seidl.

It is just a few weeks until the 2023 car, expected to be named the MCL27, is shown to the world and McLaren have teased fans with a video of the car being fired up for the first time.

Inside their Woking factory, members of McLaren staff were seen gathered around the car inside the F1 department which lies on the other side of a window from the famous boulevard.

CEO Brown was in attendance alongside Piastri and Stella as the engine, which is again supplied from Mercedes, which was fired up for the first time.

Not much of the actual car was revealed aside from the tail light with fans having to wait a few more weeks for their first glimpse.

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The 2022 season could have hardly started worse for McLaren with a previously unknown brake problem rearing its head in testing but there is a sense of optimism heading into 2023.

Out goes the misfiring Ricciardo and in comes the highly-rated Piastri and while question marks remain over how the young Australian will cope in Formula 1, he has the credentials to suggest he will be a success.

Another question looming over the Woking outfit is just how Stella will do in the step up from racing director to team principal after Seidl moved over to Alfa Romeo but Stella also has the CV to suggest he is no fool.

And with Lando Norris going strength to strength, there is no reason to suggest that McLaren can not once again target the upper ends of the grid.

Photo credit: McLaren YouTube channel