Automobilista 2 once again looks back toward one of the most beloved eras among virtual motorsport fans: mid-2000s Formula 1. And this time, all signs point to a very special protagonist: the McLaren MP4/20, the car with which Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya battled throughout the 2005 season.
The car’s arrival has not yet been presented with all the final details, but the latest teasers from Reiza Studios leave little room for doubt. The silhouette shown matches the 2005 McLaren, and its inclusion would make perfect sense given the direction Automobilista 2 has been taking in its recent updates: more historical content, more cars from the 2000s, and an increasingly clear commitment to recreating memorable grids.
The MP4/20 was not simply “another McLaren.” It was one of the fastest cars of 2005, though also one of the most dramatic in terms of reliability. In the hands of Kimi Räikkönen, the car delivered some of the most memorable performances of the decade. Juan Pablo Montoya also brought that aggressive, spectacular touch that made the McLaren team one of the biggest threats to Fernando Alonso’s Renault R25.
The teaser doesn’t appear in a vacuum. Reiza had been preparing version V1.6.9.9, whose release was pushed back a few days to finish fine-tuning details. The studio itself indicated that early July would be especially eventful, which further fueled anticipation around this update.
The hint about the McLaren MP4/20 also arrives alongside another car eagerly awaited by fans of the 2000s: the Saleen S7R, intended for the 2005 GT1 class. That double move reinforces an increasingly clear feeling: Automobilista 2 wants to become one of the go-to simulators for those who enjoy the golden eras of motorsport, both in single-seaters and in endurance racing.
The Question of McLaren Licenses
One of the most interesting points is the licensing situation. Reiza has already explained that Automobilista 2 is a particularly complex project in this regard, since it brings together manufacturers, teams, championships, circuits, and historical content under different agreements. In McLaren’s case, the studio indicated that negotiations to expand the license had run into obstacles related to the presence of other licensed F1 cars within the game.
This matters because the possible arrival of the MP4/20 could indicate that Reiza has found a way to move forward with McLaren. It shouldn’t yet be taken as absolute confirmation of every detail, but it is a fairly strong signal.
The practical consequence is that some licensed F1 cars from other manufacturers could end up being replaced by generic models for new buyers, depending on how the situation is resolved. For those who already own the content, Reiza has suggested that existing cars would remain available.
That’s why this isn’t just a matter of “a new McLaren is coming.” It also affects which licensed F1 content may be available in the future within Automobilista 2.
Automobilista 2 already had a very solid foundation for lovers of classic motorsport. With the MP4/20, it could take another important step toward something even more appealing: becoming the place to relive, drive, and reinterpret some of the greatest eras in racing.
See you on the track!
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