The McLaren MCL33 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by McLaren to compete in the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by two-time World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, with additional testing and development work carried out by reigning European Formula 3 champion Lando Norris and McLaren's regular test driver Oliver Turvey. The MCL33 is the first car built by McLaren to use a customer Renault engine after the team terminated its engine supply deal with Honda after three years and also first McLaren car to utilize a French-licensed engine manufacturer since the Peugeot-powered McLaren MP4/9 in 1994. It made its competitive debut at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix. The car was launched with an orange and blue livery designed as a tribute to some of the team's earliest cars. Currently Fernando Alonso’s MCL33 is on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
The MCL33, driven by Fernando Alonso, during the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.
Comparison between the MCL32 (top) and the MCL33 (bottom) showing the addition of the "halo" cockpit protection device and removal of the "shark fin".
Fernando Alonso driving an MCL33 at the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix.
Stoffel Vandoorne during the Spanish Grand Prix
2018 Formula One World Championship
The 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship was the motor racing championship for Formula One cars and the 69th running of the Formula One World Championship. Formula One is recognised by the governing body of international motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. Drivers and teams competed in twenty-one Grands Prix for the World Drivers' and World Constructors' championship titles.
Lewis Hamilton won his fifth Drivers' Championship
Sebastian Vettel was runner-up, driving for Ferrari.
Kimi Räikkönen finished the season in third place, in his final season for Ferrari.
Mercedes retained the Constructors' Championship for a fifth consecutive year