Hot on the heels of Ferrari, McLaren presented their 2010 car to the world on Friday, when the MP4-25 was unveiled at the UK headquarters of sponsors Vodafone. The team hope the new machine will maintain their strong momentum from the latter part of 2009 and put them firmly back in title contention.With its dramatic looking engine-cover fin, the car will bear the prestigious number one, thanks to reigning world champion Jenson Button joining McLaren from the former Brawn team to partner fellow Briton - and 2008 champion - Lewis Hamilton.
“Im incredibly proud to be standing here today knowing Ill be carrying the number one for the whole season: thats a great responsibility but also a great honour,” said Button. “Its something Im relishing. From the very first day of testing, Ill be working with the team to learn about the car and to develop it ahead of the first race. Ive said it before: the pace of development in those opening tests could well determine the outcome of the championship.”
The 2010 McLaren looks noticeably different from last years race-winning MP4-24. It features a radical aerodynamic overhaul and a significantly larger fuel tank to take full advantage of this years new regulations, and its design team is confident it has explored every possible avenue to maximise the cars performance. Horsepower once again comes from a subtly improved Mercedes-Benz FO 108X V8 engine.
“Ive seen just how much effort and attention has gone into making this car what it is,” commented Hamilton. “Weve been pushing like crazy to find the performance and the result is something that looks very special and very uncompromising. Both Jenson and I are world champions, and we both want to add to the teams incredible winning legacy.
“I think a strong driver line-up will be very important this year as there are a lot of very competitive teams and drivers - and the stronger we can be, the better chance well have of winning races. We all understand that. Obviously, I want to win the drivers world championship, thats clear. But, just as important, I want to help the team win the constructors world championship. I think its set to be a great year for Formula 1 - it should be brilliant.”
McLarens 2010 line-up marks the first time since 1989 - when the team ran Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna - that they have fielded a joint-world champion driver line-up, and marks the first time in Formula One history that the sports two most recent world champions have been partnered together.
Members of the design team who contributed to the development of MP4-25 can also trace their involvement back through seven of the teams 12 drivers world championships, five of the teams eight constructors world championships and 112 of the teams 164 Grand Prix victories.
“At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, weve demonstrated that strength in depth is the best approach to take in Formula One,” said team principal Martin Whitmarsh. “The group of engineers, designers and strategists weve assembled demonstrates how much can be achieved by a very focused team operating at the very limit of their abilities.
“In Jenson, we saw a champion driver hungry for more success. Weve already seen those qualities in Lewis, too. Im convinced that we have one of the very strongest driver line-ups in Formula One, and that both Jenson and Lewis are committed to working together to enhance the teams prospects in what promises to be a fiercely competitive season.”
Like most of their rivals, McLaren begin pre-season testing at the Spains Valencia circuit on Monday.
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