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Lewis Hamilton salutes the new McLaren with former team-mate Fernando Alonso

World champion's attention caught by the MCL33; Alonso also happy with new car; Winter testing underway on Monday

Lewis Hamilton has saluted the new McLaren car, and exchanged best wishes with former foe Fernando Alonso, following the launch of the striking new MCL33.

The first McLaren-Renault car, dressed in an arresting papaya orange livery, was unveiled on Friday in Spain ahead of the start of winter testing.

And with his well-documented social media sabbatical a thing of the past, the McLaren's attention-grabbing new look prompted Hamilton, who made his F1 debut as a McLaren driver, to exchange pleasantries across Instagram with Alonso when the Spaniard posted an image of the new car.

"Looks dope bro, McLaren looking as it should," posted an approving Hamilton.

"Looks good man, hope to be closer to you guys," responded Alonso in reference to Hamilton's Mercedes team.

Hamilton expects three-way fight in 2018
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The exchanges underline how the pair's relationship has been transformed from foes to friendship. While their solitary year together as team-mates a decade ago at McLaren ended in a state of civil war and the team nearly being ripped asunder, Hamilton and Alonso have since formed a mutual admiration society, regularly lavishing praise on each other.

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Earlier this month, McLaren chief Zak Brown admitted he would leap at any opportunity to pair Hamilton with Alonso again if the reigning world champion fails to agree a new deal with Mercedes.

That scenario remains highly unlikely as a contract extension - set to make Hamilton Britain's highest-paid sportsman - is expected to be agreed in the next few weeks.

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But Hamilton's interest in the new McLaren is nevertheless noteworthy in another respect.

At the launch of his own new car, the Mercedes W09, on Thursday, Hamilton admitted he hadn't paid much interest to the 2018 car reveals. "I haven't even see the Red Bull yet," Hamilton confessed despite the RB13 being billed as one of Mercedes' closest challengers in 2018 and its unveiling taking place 48 hours beforehand.

Such indifference doesn't, however, seem to extend to McLaren - Hamilton's former home and still, it seems, his first love in F1.

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Monday February 26 Sky F1 digital live blog, SSN updates 9pm: Paddock Uncut 9:15pm: Ted's Notebook
Tuesday February 27 Sky F1 digital live blog, SSN updates 9pm: Paddock Uncut 9:15pm: Ted's Notebook
Wednesday February 28 Sky F1 digital live blog, SSN updates 9pm: Paddock Uncut 9:15pm: Ted's Notebook
Thursday March 1 Sky F1 digital live blog, SSN updates 9pm: Paddock Uncut 9:15pm: Ted's Notebook

What the drivers are saying about their new cars
Although pre-season testing only starts on Monday, six of the teams - Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, Toro Rosso, Haas and Sauber - have already taken their new cars on track during designated filming days.

F1 in 2018: The new cars revealed

And if first impressions are any guide, the drivers are happy with their new challengers...

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