LISTEN: Hear the 2019 McLaren Fire up for the First Time

McLaren has successfully fired up its new 2019 Formula 1 car for the first time, with the team releasing a video of the Renault-powered machine bursting into life.

Ahead of the team’s official launch at its Woking factory on February 14, the fire-up of the MCL34 marks another important moment for the team as it bids to bounce back from a disappointing 2018 campaign.

The short video which was tweeted by McLaren, shows staff gathered in the F1 bays watching the fire up as engineers check through the data to ensure everything is working as planned.

With Carlos Sainz also overseeing proceedings, the staff applauds when the fire-up is completed.

The McLaren fire-up comes as teams continue their preparations for the first pre-season test that takes place in Spain next month.

Meanwhile, at Haas this week, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen have been at the factory for seat fittings in their new Ferrari-powered car. The team has not yet confirmed its launch plans though.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown admitted that the early signs suggest the future is looking bright for team, with both drivers seemingly impressed with what they have seen at the factory.

“They are obviously anticipating a good car,” said Brown. “We are anticipating a good car. The off-season development has gone according to plan.

“But ultimately you obviously don’t know what the competition has been up to, the competition is tough and getting tougher. We want and need good feedback from them (Sainz and Norris).”

In former Renault driver Sainz and rookie Norris, McLaren have one of the youngest line-ups on the 2019 grid – and Brown expects the racers to push each other to their limits.