Formula One: MP4-26, the new McLaren in town
Britain-based team McLaren revealed the all new MP4–26 for the 2011 F1 season at a launch ceremony in Berlin, and it appears that both drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, liked what they saw on Friday.
While unravelling the ‘finished product’ could potentially be a gripping show in itself, McLaren went a step further and revealed their new model piece by piece as it was assembled in front of an expectant audience in Berlin. Both
former world champions presently racing for the team provided the finishing touches.
Here was Lewis Hamilton’s take on the new car:
"I love it. I think it looks great. The way the car is shaped out, I think it's so much better than any other car I've seen this year. Hopefully that'll translate into a good feel on the track."
To our faithful readers and diehard motor-heads, it is worth reminding that the new Formula One models will be very different from the speed-demons that we saw in the previous season. The FIA permitted the use
of a driver controlled moveable rear wing system that would greatly improve overtaking on track. Secondly, the hybrid engine would make the car more fuel efficient. Getting back to the McLaren picture, the MP4-26 sports distinct U-shaped sidepods to direct
air to the rear in response to the downforce specifications for the coming season.
Jenson Button too is hopeful and feels that the car would be competitive enough to ensure a driver’s champion from the McLaren camp along with the constructor honours. However, the Briton, though satisfied with the team’s progression,
predicted that this season would be even more competitive than the last one. The 19-race season in 2010 ended in dramatic fashion as Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel took the driver’s championship on the final day of the season.
The former Brawn GP driver was back to his humorous best as he remarked: "I think it's going to be a good fight this year, but hopefully not too good. Hopefully we're going to have a few tenths on everyone."
While McLaren were bold enough to showboat their spare parts for all to see, team principal Martin Whitmarsh reminded everyone that he hadn’t shown all his cards just yet. "Be warned. There are some bits you can see but hopefully
some you can't. We haven't shown you, or our competitors, our full hand yet."
The build-up to the 2011 Formula One season makes for an interesting 20-race battle and it would be interesting where McLaren actually line up at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which is scheduled to wrap
up the F1 calendar.
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