2022 sees a radical change in F1. The new technical regulations are aimed at improving the racing following years of complaints from drivers that it was impossible to follow the car in front closely. 

McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl has spoken of his excitement ahead of the new season and talked about the challenge the team has faced to get their 2022 challenger ready in time.  

''Very exciting times at the moment, knowing we go into this new era of Formula One with completely new technical regulations,'' he said. 

''A big challenge, a big task for the team... not just on the engineering team but also on the production side and for the race team. 

''We shouldn’t forget that in parallel to these new, challenging technical regulations, we had the cost cap in place for the first time last year, which meant that we actually had to question a lot of things and how we were doing them in the past, and change the approach in many aspects. 

''I’m very happy to see how the team was rising to that challenge; it’s simply great to see today how the car was coming together and is actually in one piece now.''

McLaren have been on an upward trajectory in recent seasons, finishing P3 and P4 in the Constructors’ Championship in the past two seasons. 

They also scored their first win in nine years at the Italian Grand Prix last September, thanks to Daniel Ricciardo’s commanding drive. 

With the new regulations, however, it’s an unknown where they’ll be heading into 2022. Seidl expects the pecking order to change throughout the season as teams upgrade and improve their packages.  

''Everyone at McLaren can’t wait to get back on track in Barcelona and see where we are in terms of pecking order,'' he continued.

''Then I think what will also be very interesting going into this first year under these new technical regulations is how the development war between all the teams will play out, because I definitely think that the pecking order we see at the first race will not necessarily be the same throughout the season.''