McLaren-Honda: The MP4-30 has been started for the first time
The McLaren-Honda MP4-30, which will be driven by Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button in 2015, was successfully started for the first time this Monday in Woking, at the British team McLaren's factory.
The McLaren team reunites with Honda as their engine supplier from this year onwards—through the 1.6L Turbo V6—thus reforming the duo from the golden age of the Woking team in the 1980s.
The initial tests conducted on a hybrid single-seater from 2014 at Silverstone and Abu Dhabi at the end of 2014 were not straightforward for the team and the Japanese engine manufacturer.
But the problems encountered were understood by the engineers on both sides, and the British team announced on its Twitter feed yesterday that it had successfully started its future single-seater, the MP4-30, at its factory in Woking.
As a reminder, the car will be officially unveiled on January 29, this Thursday, through an online digital presentation on the British team’s website.
Today, at the #MTC, we fired up the McLaren-Honda MP4-30 for the very first time. #MakeHistory
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) 26 Janvier 2015
Note that Fernando Alonso will have the chance to drive the car for his debut this Sunday at the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera. The Spaniard also posed in his new suit during a filming session for Mobil1. For the moment, the McLaren-Honda drivers’ suits are quite simple, pristine white with few sponsors since the McLaren team has not had a title sponsor since Vodafone’s departure at the end of the 2013 season.
Fernando Alonso: suited and booted. #MakeHistory #McLarenHonda pic.twitter.com/BfdS5Mq0q7
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) 27 Janvier 2015
