McLaren launch MP4-25
McLaren launched their new F1 car, the MP4-25, at Vodafone’s headquarters in Newbury today.
2010 marks the first time since the 1989 pairing of Senna and Prost that McLaren will have an all world champion driver lineup and as the 2008 champion and the 2009 champion pulled back the cover, Lewis Hamilton remarked how different the MP4-25 looks from its predecessor.
The significantly larger fuel tank has forced an aerodynamic overhaul, the most noticeable feature of which is the long shark-fin that stretches all the way back to the rear wing – similar to last year’s Red Bull RB5. McLaren’s chief engineer, Tim Goss:
The dorsal fin is partly to accommodate the additional cooling duct and partly a logical development of the high-downforce wing we ran last year at races like Monaco, which feeds air more efficiently to the rear wing upper element.
The car looks stunning; even more like a rocket-ship than last year’s MP4-24. McLaren have retained the striking silver finish, despite Mercedes GP also adopting the same colour. While I like the carbon fiber touches on the Mercedes, I think the McLaren has the better finish of the two.
But the thing I like most about all the cars this year is the uncovered wheels. Can’t wait to see those glowing discs again!
Images: McLaren
More details on the McLaren’s air intake valve on the front of the car, the driver controlled valve and where the air is sent to here.
@Andrew Hill
Interesting. I remember when we saw this at the test in Barcelona I was under the impression the air was directed underneath the car not to the rear wing.
@David
Yeah, that’s definitely what the McLaren PR guy said the vent was for, but apparently even the PR department isn’t above some mis-information — or the PR department are not well trusted by the engineers to keep secrets!