They were beaten to top honours by Lotus, but McLaren became the second team to launch their 2013 Formula 1 machine.
It was a highly anticipated launch, that took place at the teams modern base. The McLaren Technology Centre was home to the teams big reveal. It marked 50 years of the now Woking based squad, so the build up was took considerable time with numerous appearances from legendary machinery and videos detailing the teams history.
The Media were looking on, eager to kick off the launch. Fans could also tune in at home via the teams website and YouTube channel. However viewing figures were lower than the Lotus launch, as the mid-morning launch meant that many were unable to tune in.
Jenson Button and Sergio Perez both made spectacular entrances in McLaren road cars. The latter joins the team, replacing Lewis Hamilton who had a long history with the squad. The Brit's championship winning 2008 car made an appearance, joining the iconic 1988 car that Prost and Senna so famously piloted.
McLaren ended last season third in the constructors, behind Red Bull and Ferrari. However they scored the same amount of victories when comparing Red Bull and McLaren, but they failed to show the consistency of the Milton Keynes squad.
Sky Sports F1's Natalie Pinkham hosted the launch, which took place at 11AM. The build up started 30 minutes prior and contained some emotional video's features.
The teams Managing Director Jonathon Neale said "When you have small regulation changes, do you do something conservative or do something more ambitious?"
"On this occasion we have chosen to be more ambitious.
"We believe that rather than run out of gas in the middle of the season it gives us more development potential."
Neale was referring to McLaren's radical suspension and exhaust changes, trying something different. It means that they will find more potential, but it could take time to exploit.
Team Boss Martin Whitmarsh said at the launch "We finished last year with undoubtedly the quickest car,"
"We could have continued to develop that car and found some performance.
"In changing things you inevitably step back, but this car is already quicker than the car we finished last year with. In all that we are looking at, this car is responding very well.
"We had a detailed technical review yesterday and you cannot help coming out of this thinking we have a competitive car.
"Our competitors are off the radar screen and you cannot rule out them having a Eureka moment, but we are pleased with where we are with this car today and this car will look different before the season."
He also discussed rumours of technical director Paddy Lowe moving to Mercedes. He said “The certainty is that Paddy will be part of the team for another year, It’s less certain, I think as has been speculated in the media, beyond that. That’s something I’m sure we’ll have some certainty on in the near future.”
The drivers took the covers off the new car, Button saying at the launch. "The winter for me has been long and very enjoyable, with good time to rest and recharge the batteries. But a Formula 1 Driver wants to get back in the car and feel the speed again, it has been an exciting few weeks.
He continued to mention the cars new design path, saying "It is exactly the same colour scheme and I think it looks similar to last year, but it is completely different to last year under the skin,"
"We know the regulations haven't changed much since 2012 but it's enough to make a difference."
New signing Sergio Perez said at his first McLaren launch "It feels amazing (to be a McLaren driver), it has been a very busy couple of months since my last race, it has been incredible and it is hard to believe I'm part of this great family, with rich, great history. But I'm very motivated and looking forward to bit targets that we all have this season."
He continued after the cars unveiling, "It is amazing, to see my name on it. It is really special. It is hard to believe, and as Jenson says the car might look similar with the colours but it is a big project that the people have worked day and night for. I think we have a really good car."
Both drivers seemed to get on well, joking with host Pinkham and showing their excitement for revealing their new car.
Jenson Button will kick off the teams testing schedule at Jerez, ahead of the first race in Melbourne.
Check out highlights from the launch below, sourced from the official McLaren YouTube channel.
Images courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
It was a highly anticipated launch, that took place at the teams modern base. The McLaren Technology Centre was home to the teams big reveal. It marked 50 years of the now Woking based squad, so the build up was took considerable time with numerous appearances from legendary machinery and videos detailing the teams history.
The Media were looking on, eager to kick off the launch. Fans could also tune in at home via the teams website and YouTube channel. However viewing figures were lower than the Lotus launch, as the mid-morning launch meant that many were unable to tune in.Jenson Button and Sergio Perez both made spectacular entrances in McLaren road cars. The latter joins the team, replacing Lewis Hamilton who had a long history with the squad. The Brit's championship winning 2008 car made an appearance, joining the iconic 1988 car that Prost and Senna so famously piloted.
McLaren ended last season third in the constructors, behind Red Bull and Ferrari. However they scored the same amount of victories when comparing Red Bull and McLaren, but they failed to show the consistency of the Milton Keynes squad.
Sky Sports F1's Natalie Pinkham hosted the launch, which took place at 11AM. The build up started 30 minutes prior and contained some emotional video's features.
The teams Managing Director Jonathon Neale said "When you have small regulation changes, do you do something conservative or do something more ambitious?"
"On this occasion we have chosen to be more ambitious.
"We believe that rather than run out of gas in the middle of the season it gives us more development potential."
Neale was referring to McLaren's radical suspension and exhaust changes, trying something different. It means that they will find more potential, but it could take time to exploit.
Team Boss Martin Whitmarsh said at the launch "We finished last year with undoubtedly the quickest car,"
"We could have continued to develop that car and found some performance.
"In changing things you inevitably step back, but this car is already quicker than the car we finished last year with. In all that we are looking at, this car is responding very well.
"We had a detailed technical review yesterday and you cannot help coming out of this thinking we have a competitive car.
"Our competitors are off the radar screen and you cannot rule out them having a Eureka moment, but we are pleased with where we are with this car today and this car will look different before the season."
He also discussed rumours of technical director Paddy Lowe moving to Mercedes. He said “The certainty is that Paddy will be part of the team for another year, It’s less certain, I think as has been speculated in the media, beyond that. That’s something I’m sure we’ll have some certainty on in the near future.”
The drivers took the covers off the new car, Button saying at the launch. "The winter for me has been long and very enjoyable, with good time to rest and recharge the batteries. But a Formula 1 Driver wants to get back in the car and feel the speed again, it has been an exciting few weeks.
He continued to mention the cars new design path, saying "It is exactly the same colour scheme and I think it looks similar to last year, but it is completely different to last year under the skin,"
"We know the regulations haven't changed much since 2012 but it's enough to make a difference."
New signing Sergio Perez said at his first McLaren launch "It feels amazing (to be a McLaren driver), it has been a very busy couple of months since my last race, it has been incredible and it is hard to believe I'm part of this great family, with rich, great history. But I'm very motivated and looking forward to bit targets that we all have this season."
He continued after the cars unveiling, "It is amazing, to see my name on it. It is really special. It is hard to believe, and as Jenson says the car might look similar with the colours but it is a big project that the people have worked day and night for. I think we have a really good car."
Both drivers seemed to get on well, joking with host Pinkham and showing their excitement for revealing their new car.
Jenson Button will kick off the teams testing schedule at Jerez, ahead of the first race in Melbourne.
Check out highlights from the launch below, sourced from the official McLaren YouTube channel.
1 comment:
McLaren
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