McLaren unveil new car, the MP4-26, for 2011 F1 season
British Formula One team McLaren recently unveiled their new car for the 2011 F1 season, the MP4-26, in a launch ceremony in Berlin, Germany. British racing duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, both of whom have a world title
to their name, are hoping that they will be able to make it ‘two’ (wins) this season.
Most of the teams unveiled their cars last week, but McLaren decided to take a week longer so that they could work on the final design a bit more.
Jenson Button was very optimistic about the new car. He said that he was hopeful that the new car would be able to help get either him or his teammate Hamilton to a World Championship win this year.
Button said: "This is our new baby, the car we hope will take one of us to the drivers' championship and the team to win the constructors'. It's beautiful."
McLaren did not have the best season last year, and even though mathematically both their drivers had a chance of winning the title in the final race, realistically they were both out of it before the final 4 races of the season.
"We'll be quite a bit more competitive than we were last year," said Hamilton.
McLaren are hoping that the extra time they took to give an extra edge to their car would give them some advantage over their rivals when the season begins.
The body design of the new car is extensively sculpted and the engine cover design is very novel. There are two air inlets and there is a series of dramatic shapes on the front wing.
Another unique element of the car - which has never been seen in F1 before - is the air intake design of the sidepods.
The team said that the new ‘L’ shaped sidepod design is intended to allow more airflow to the rear wing, which in result would increase the aerodynamic down-force of the car.
Last season, McLaren ended the season 2nd in constructors’ title. Lewis Hamilton got the 5th spot in the driver standings and last season’s defending champion Jenson Button could manage just the 4th spot.
Over all, if all the records of last season are taken into account, including the qualifying sessions and the races, McLaren were clearly the 3rd fastest car on the circuit, behind Red Bull and Ferrari.
Red Bull, the eventual winner of both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championship, along with Ferrari have already put down some quick times in the first test session. Meanwhile, Renault was also quite impressive in the first session
in Valencia.
Hamilton remains confident, however – especially after the new car was fully unveiled - that the team has a real chance of winning the title this year.
Hamilton said: "Last year was one of the best ever, and this year I think we'll have an even more competitive season.
"We've seen it in the wind tunnel but this is the first time we've seen it all together and it looks even better in full size."
The 2008 champion said that the shape of the car is much better than last year. He added that as well a better car he has his personal life in order this year. Hamilton admitted that he had some issues going on in his personal
life that effected his performance on the tracks, but that all is now well on both fronts and he is raring to go.
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