McLaren fires up its new Mercedes-powered car for the first time

It is a moment all at McLaren have waited some time for since the team announced it would be returning to Mercedes power.

At its factory in Woking, McLaren has fired up the MCL35M for the first time with its new Mercedes power unit.

With CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andreas Seidl looking on, along with a number of other staff, you can see on the faces of those present - despite many wearing face masks - it represents a special moment.

McLaren ditched Mercedes at the end of the 2014 season after a 20-year alliance, initially reuniting with Honda for what proved to be a turbulent three-campaign spell as the Japanese manufacturer struggled to adapt to the new turbo-hybrid era.

The team then hooked up with Renault in a partnership that steadily improved and helped McLaren achieve third place in the constructors' championship last season for the first time since 2012.

Now McLaren is back with Mercedes, which will be powering four teams overall this year - its own works outfit, along with Aston Martin, Williams, and now the boys in papaya orange.

You can watch and listen to the fire up here.

The #MCL35M roars into life. ??

Watch on and listen in as we fire up our 2021 car for the first time… pic.twitter.com/v504FVupEX

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 27, 2021

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