AS IT HAPPENED: Watch as McLaren reveal their 2021 challenger, the MCL35M

It's been more than two long months since the last race of last season, but now, finally, the build-up to a brand new season of Formula 1 is here.

On Monday evening, McLaren became the very first team to reveal their new car for 2021, the MCL35M – and you can watch the launch from start to finish in the video above, as it happened from the team's headquarters at the McLaren Technology Centre.

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Last year saw the Woking team finish a superb third in the constructors' championship, and this season they will have high hopes once again after switching from Renault to Mercedes power (hence the 'M' in the new car's name), and with seven-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo joining to drive alongside Lando Norris.

So hit play in the video above to watch as the covers come off the first new car of 2021 - and tap here to see the first pics of McLaren's new challenger.