A stunning new colour scheme that harks back to the team’s 1960s roots, a restructure in senior management, a new race driver and a set of challenging but exciting new technical regulations all frame the genesis of McLaren-Honda’s newest Formula 1 challenger, the MCL32.
The MCL32 follows in the evolutionary footsteps of its two immediate predecessors, MP4-30 and MP4-31, but it has been overhauled in every area as the design team has looked to capitalise on a series of new aerodynamic regulations introduced for 2017.
The result is an extremely elegant but aggressive-looking racecar, fitted with Honda’s latest-generation power unit, the RA617H, which has been thoroughly revised by the Japanese company’s team of talented engineers.
Most strikingly apparent is the MCL32’s new colour scheme, which blends old-school McLaren history with contemporary thinking on vehicle livery design. Exclusively painted by long-term partner AkzoNobel Sikkens, Tarocco Orange is a custom McLaren colour with a pearl sparkle, and a contrasting satin black and gloss white finish.
The new colouration is a particularly crowd-pleasing touch, intended not only to revisit McLaren’s past but also to kick-start a fresh chapter in the team’s history.
McLaren-Honda’s driver No.2 Stoffel Vandoorne said: “It’s really nice to see a McLaren looking like a proper McLaren. The livery is a great mix of the past and the future – the orange of the 1960s and 70s, but pushed forwards. I really like it. As for the car itself, it looks great. There are so many beautiful little details, it all looks incredibly well finished and thoroughly thought-out.”
McLaren-Honda’s driver No.1 Fernando Alonso said: “What I’ve seen of the MCL32 appears to be really promising, the new regulations seem to be well thought-out, and the cars look fast and aggressive. The look of the car makes me really want to get in the cockpit. I’ve lost none of that all-important hunger every Formula 1 driver needs. I can’t wait to get going in the car.” 
F1 pilot Fernando Alonso put the new Honda NSX through its paces.
