Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have voiced their admiration for McLaren's newly-unveiled 2016 challenger, the MP4-31.
McLaren hopes its latest car will see the team return to the front end of the grid with Honda power after its horrid 2015 campaign. The design has retained many of the features of its predecessor, the MP4-30, including the 'size-zero' packaging at the rear of the car.
Alonso says he is raring to go for the new season.
"The aero package shows fantastic attention to detail," Alonso said. "The whole car is beautiful in fact -- it's particularly nicely packaged from an aerodynamic point of view as I say -- and I'm 100 per cent ready for the challenge ahead. The start of a new season is always a special feeling, characterised by a lot of anticipation for the year ahead. This year is no different: I'm excited and raring to go."
Button will be the first driver to sample the MP4-31 when he takes the wheel at the opening day of testing in Barcelona. The 2009 world champion says he has been impressed with the amount of work which has gone into the development of the new car.
"I really can't wait to take the wheel of the new MP4-31 tomorrow. All Formula One drivers need a winter break, but I'm massively excited to get started on the 2016 season now, and I have to say the brand-new McLaren-Honda MP4-31 really looks the part. The immense amount of sheer hard work that has gone into the development of the MP4-31 over the winter makes me immensely proud, and consequently I go into the new season with even more motivation and belief.
"Despite the ups and downs we saw last year, there were steady improvements all year long, and that gives us confidence in the design direction we're taking. There are a lot of positives we can build on, and a strong platform to take forward. I'm not about to make any over-optimistic predictions -- Formula One is far too unpredictable for me to do that -- but, from what I've seen so far, the aero detailing on the car looks fantastic, and I'm really looking forward to beginning the process of testing those new innovations when I get behind the wheel tomorrow."
Both drivers also tweeted about the new car on Friday morning.
Well here it is, our 2016 challenger the MP4-31. She's a beauty and I can't wait to jump in her... https://t.co/tvzV8gJjeR
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) February 21, 2016