It’s that magical time of the year, that month of February when engines start up again and the covers are taken off the new cars. It’s an extremely busy month for the teams, who are working behind the scenes on assembling the cars and producing the components to fit on them not only for pre-season testing but also for various filming days.
However, there’s a nearly “solemn” moment in this period of apparent calm: the fire-up, the first ignition procedure of the car that will compete in the championship. After Williams, the current World Champion team, McLaren, has also completed the fire-up, marking the start of its season.
In the Woking factory, the first “roar” of the power unit to be fitted on the new car took place, the one that will defend the Constructors’ title won a few months ago and aim to fight for the Drivers’ Championship with Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri. The name of the car hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but it’s expected to be the MCL39.
The first ignition of an engine is always a special and unique moment for a team, the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes work. However, it also represents a crucial test to ensure all the car’s systems are functioning properly before pre-season testing or filming days begin, avoiding any unpleasant surprises.
In 2024, McLaren made a difference with two central elements: on one side, a cohesive group that, under the direction of Andrea Stella, managed to find the technical key to make the MCL38 not only competitive but also versatile, adapting to a wide range of tracks.
On the other side, the second secret was the development because, unlike other teams, the Woking-based squad didn’t make a single misstep throughout the season, confirming a technical consistency that led them to have what was for a long time the reference car of the championship.
Now, the next step is to piece together all the puzzle pieces. The work done by Andrea Stella has put the team on the right track, but progress is needed in other areas as well, such as strategies and key decisions at crucial moments. Additionally, the drivers will need to be able to capitalize more effectively on the opportunities presented.
In 2024, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri weren’t always able to convert the car’s potential into the best possible result, not only due to some team decisions but also personal errors. After finishing second, the Brit clearly aims for the championship, and the Australian also believes he has all the characteristics to target the most important goal.
For Oscar Piastri, though, it will be important not just to make a step forward in qualifying and tire management but also to find the consistency that was missing in 2024.
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