Skip advert
Advertisement
Features

McLaren F1 team 2019

McLaren F1 car 2019

Twitter: @McLarenF1Engine: RenaultRaces: 846Wins: 182Titles: 8Last year: 6th 

McLaren endured another horrendous campaign in 2018, and only the heroics of Fernando Alonso – who scored all of the team’s points – saved its blushes. But there will be no relying on the Spaniard this year; he has retired from F1 (for now, anyway) and McLaren fields an all-new driver line-up for the first time in 12 years. Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris join from Renault and F2 respectively, with bags of talent to their names but little else. Sainz was overshadowed by Verstappen at Red Bull and Hulkenberg at Renault, so the pressure to prevail is huge. And make no mistake: Norris is promising, and rapid.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Our verdict: Testing suggested McLaren is in the midfield mix. But the absence of a proven winner could be its Achilles’ heel over the course of the season

Drivers

55 – Carlos Sainz Jr.

Carlos Sainz Jr. - 2019

Races: 81Wins: 0Titles: 0Last year: 10thAge: 24Twitter: @Carlossainz55

Did you know? Carlos’ father – Carlos Sainz Snr– won the Dakar Rally for a second time in 2018

4 – Lando Norris

Lando Norris - 2019

Races: 0Wins: 0Titles: 0Last year: N/AAge: 19Twitter: @LandoNorris

Did you know? Norris raced alongside Alonso at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018, finishing 38th

Formula 1 2019: the grid

  • • Mercedes
  • • Ferrari
  • • Red Bull Racing
  • • Renault
  • • Haas
  • • McLaren
  • • Racing Point
  • • Alfa Romeo
  • • Toro Rosso
  • • Williams
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Dodge Charger 2026 review: real US muscle makes some UK sense
Dodge Charger Sixpack - front cornering

New Dodge Charger 2026 review: real US muscle makes some UK sense

The Dodge Charger is both characterful and practical, but it's likely to be a rare sight on UK roads.
Road tests
17 Sep 2026
New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost
Alastair Crooks with the Mercedes C-Class Electric

New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost

New model has launched in Germany but won’t be coming to the UK
News
17 Sep 2026
Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Range Rover Evoque is now just £455 a month
Range Rover Evoque P300e Autobiography - full width front

Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Range Rover Evoque is now just £455 a month

Not often do we feature a Range Rover, but today is an exception. The top-spec Evoque is our Deal of the Day for 18 September.
News
18 Sep 2026

Find a car with the experts