VIDEO: McLaren fire up 2019 F1 car for first time!

VIDEO: McLaren fire up 2019 F1 car for first time!

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Thursday 31 January 2019 16:55

McLaren are the first team to have shared footage of a 2019 Formula 1 car being fired up, having posted a video of the moment that a MCL34 came to life for the first time at the team's Woking headquarters on Thursday.

McLaren will hope 2019 brings an upturn in fortunes after last season proved to be another difficult campaign.

Article continues under video

Fernando Alonso's fifth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix was as good as the team managed all year, having spent preseason predicting a return to the podium and potential race wins would follow the decision to ditch Honda for Renault power units.

The dip in form prompted Alonso to walk away from the sport, while Stoffel Vandoorne was dropped after being outqualified by the double world champion at all 21 races in 2018.

It leaves Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild one of F1's most famous teams.

The first step was taken this week as the MCL34 was fired up in front of a healthy audience of McLaren employees.

Turn your volume up ???? and get ready to hear the #MCL34 come to life as our McLaren and Renault teams get together for the first fire up of 2019. ???? #FearlesslyForward pic.twitter.com/aXluGEWLV9 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 31, 2019