McLaren has presented its new car built to the heavily revised technical regulations for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
To illustrate the scale of the changes between this year’s cars and last, we’ve lined up a few pictures of the new McLaren MCL36 and its race-winning predecessor, the MCL35M.
One significant change for 2022 makes these comparisons trickier than in past seasons. The 13-inch wheel sizes F1 clung to for decades have been replaced with more modern 18-inch rims. The tyre sizes have also increased, from 660mm to 720mm, so that useful reference is gone. Instead these images have been compared using the Halos, the dimensions of which are unchanged, for reference.
The new rules force teams to use much simpler aerodynamic surfaces, as can be seen from the front and rear wings which are much more intricate on the older car. The most dramatic difference can be seen from the side of the car, where the hugely complex bargeboards from last year have disappeared.
This remains a…