---
title: "Papaya Power: McLaren MCL35 Will Show the 2020 Formula 1 Grid What Woking’s Made Of"
description: "McLaren looks to capitalize on its momentum from a stellar 2019 with this extremely orange racer."
date: "2020-02-13"
modified: "2020-02-13"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/32206/papaya-power-mclaren-mcl35-will-show-the-2020-formula-1-grid-what-wokings-made-of"
categories:
  - "F1"
  - "McLaren News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "mclaren"
---

# Papaya Power: McLaren MCL35 Will Show the 2020 Formula 1 Grid What Woking’s Made Of

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/02/Screen-Shot-2020-02-13-at-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Formula 1's first winter test is nearly a week out, and that means it's F1 car launch season. The latest team to reveal its challenger for 2020 is the Woking-based McLaren, which intends to use [its new MCL35](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/32026/listen-to-mercedes-amg-and-mclaren-fire-up-their-2020-f1-cars-for-the-first-time>) as a ladder to climb back toward the front of the grid.

McLaren had a rough run of the Twenteens, falling from Grand Prix-winning form in 2012 to recording two of its three worst championship finishes since 1980. Splitting with much-maligned engine supplier Honda failed to improve McLaren's form for 2018, and after [losing star driver Fernando Alonso](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/28112/why-now-is-the-time-for-fernando-alonso-to-abandon-a-dazed-and-confused-mclaren>), the prognosis for 2019 looked grim. But that's what made the team's terrific rebound as sweet as its paint color's namesake. It achieved a comfortable fourth in the Constructors' Championship and [attained its first podium in more than five years](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/31072/f1-post-race-penalty-gives-mclaren-first-podium-in-five-years-at-brazilian-grand-prix>) at last year's unforgettable Brazilian Grand Prix.

![message-editor%2F1581627309696-eqqogi6wsaahg9r.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1581627309696-eqqogi6wsaahg9r.jpg>)
**McLaren Racing**

For this season, the manufacturer's racer wears a predominantly Papaya Orange livery with splashes of brilliant blue, similar to last season's entry. However, the patterned overlay is gone with a sleeker incorporation of the near-cobalt hue in its place. Most of the team's major sponsors are retained from 2019 as well, [including Arrow Technologies](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/32121/these-are-mclarens-2020-indycar-racers>) and the somewhat infamous British American Tobacco.

![message-editor%2F1581626993554-mclarengallery1.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1581626993554-mclarengallery1.jpeg>)
**McLaren Racing**

McLaren hopes the MCL35 will continue to propel the team on its upward trajectory and close the gap to frontrunners Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes-AMG. While showing up the newly Honda-powered Red Bulls and winning races is McLaren's stretch goal, team principal Andreas Seidl told [*Auto Motor und Sport*](<https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/andreas-seidl-interview-mclaren-2020/>) that the iconic outfit doesn't expect to challenge for wins until 2023. Likewise, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown cautioned [*Autosport*](<https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/147885/mclaren-doesnt-expect-repeat-of-huge-step-in-20>) not to expect the same "huge step" forward in 2020 that the team took in 2019.

![message-editor%2F1581627090126-mclarengllaery3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1581627090126-mclarengllaery3.jpg>)
**McLaren Racing**

The MCL35 will be campaigned by the same duo that drove the MCL34—former Red Bull prospect Carlos Sainz and current up-and-comer Lando Norris. Both drivers demonstrated more maturity than anyone could have hoped for in 2019, and did so with flairs of personality that surely delighted sponsors, a big deal at the top level of motorsport. Let's see if they step up their game as much as the team that backs them does in 2020.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1227954307166855168

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## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)