Launching the cars late enables the team to produce better results: McLaren
Formula 1 team McLaren recently revealed that they plan to launch their 2011 Formula 1 car later than the rest of the teams. While most of the teams will launch their new chassis at the first pre-season practice session in Valencia, McLaren vows to reveal
theirs on the 4th of February after the test session is over.
However, Martin Whitmarsh believes that this will not affect the MP4-26’s reliability in any way and is confident that this decision was the best choice for the team. It is a sort of a tradition that McLaren reveals its new car later than the rest of the
teams and it seems that this team wants to carry on with that tradition.
It is expected that the team will launch its new car in Berlin as Vodafone, McLaren’s main sponsor and partners have their main office there. It is expected that the team will bring an interim car to Valencia in order to test the new tyres provided by the
new tyre suppliers Pirelli. The drivers will get their hands on the new car at the second test session in Jerez, that is expected to take place on the 10th of February.
“The MP4-26 is on schedule and will be launched on February 4, after which it will go through the normal testing processes. We feel that timetable is optimal with regard to providing Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton with the best possible package for the
first race in Bahrain,” Whitmarsh told the media.
Since KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and movable rear wings will be allowed in the 2011 Formula 1 season, the teams will experiment with their new cars more than they usually do. However, it is going to be a big challenge for the teams and Whitmarsh
has hinted that the team is currently working on some unique developments that will help the MP4-26 shine brighter than its rivals.
“There are new regulations for 2011 - and the MP4-26 will not only adhere to them but it will also sport a few fresh design features in response to the opportunities presented by those new regulations,” said Whitmarsh.
He added that launching the car later will help the team a lot as they will get to experiment more and ensure that they have made the right decisions. McLaren is aiming for nothing less than the titles in 2011 and since Martin Whitmarsh is so confident,
it seems that McLaren has some tricks up its sleeves for next season.
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