McLaren unveil new car for F1 2016 season

Reuters: McLaren unveiled their new Formula One car on Sunday (21), certain it cannot be any worse than last year’s but still unsure when they might get back to winning ways after their longest drought in decades.

The former champions have not won a race since 2012 and finished last season, the first of a new partnership with Honda, ninth of the 10 teams with just 27 points compared to 703 for dominant Mercedes.

The three years without a win is the team’s longest barren stretch since their absence from the top step of the podium in 1994-96.

The new MP4-31 car was presented online in a predominantly black livery with some prominent new sponsors in LVMH’s sparkling wine brand Chandon and watchmaker Richard Mille replacing the departed Tag Heuer.

The short-nosed car, described by the team as innovative, will make a first track appearance with Jenson Button at the wheel when testing starts at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Monday.

McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain takes a curve with his new MP4-31 F1 car during the first testing session ahead of the upcoming season at the Circuit Catalunya-Barcelona in Montmelo, Spain, February 22, 2016. REUTERS