---
title: "McLaren announce MP4-31 launch plans"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/01/18/mclaren-announce-mp4-31-launch-plans/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Cameron Paterson"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2016-01-18T15:17:58Z"
modified: "2016-01-18T15:17:58Z"
---

# McLaren announce MP4-31 launch plans

McLaren have announced via Twitter that they will unveil their 2016 car, the MP4-31, on 21 February, the day before the start of pre-season testing.

The Woking outfit took an opportunity to reply to criticism of an anti-climatic event from [Ferrari this morning](https://readysetred.ferrari.com/en/). Over the weekend, the Scuderia have been building to an announcement via a countdown clock which finally disappeared at 11am UK time this morning.

However, the announcement was only that they will offer 10 fans the chance to watch the unveiling of the new Ferrari car next month by a social media contest using the hashtag #ReadySetRed.

> Feeling blue? Seeing red?? You can ALL see the MP4-31 launch on Feb 21! [#McLarenMP431](https://twitter.com/hashtag/McLarenMP431?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — McLaren (@McLarenF1) [January 18, 2016](https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/689047420957765632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

![Mark Thompson/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/01/472555044.jpg)

The team are the first Formula One team to officially announce their plans for unveiling their new challenger after an extremely quiet year so far for 2016 announcements.

In recent years, many teams have favoured either using online launches or launches at the track on the first day of testing.

It’s new car’s predecessor, the MP4-30, was announced online, and with the promise that everyone can see the unveiling, it may suggest they are going down that route again this year.