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The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team unveiled the MP4-22 in Valencia.

To mark the occassion Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton will drive 2 MP4-21 race cars on a bespoke circuit around the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias.

The new MP4-22 will be unveiled after that.

The team will conduct a shakedown of the new car on Wednesday with an intensive programme starting a week later.



more information:

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes unveiled in Valencia
McLaren MP4-22 Technical Specifications
McLaren MP4-22 Design Philosophy
Team Personnel Q & A's

Selected quotes below

Will look forward to that.

Selected teams and driver Q&A's:

Martin Whitmarsh, Chief Operating Officer

Q: What are your expectations for the 2007 Formula 1 season ?

A: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has the expectation of winning each and every year. Inevitably people can look at our performance last season and be able to criticise us and frankly, we didn’t do a good enough job. My feeling, having been at this point of the season on many occasions before, is highly optimistic for 2007. We are devoid of the tyre competition that we have had in recent years; however we are very happy with our relationship with Bridgestone and their technical approach. We have been working hard on the engineering package and believe we have made good progress to improve our performance.

Meanwhile we have what we believe to be the most exciting driver line-up in Formula 1 for many years. Fernando is obviously a very proven product and an extraordinary double World Champion. He is still a very young and ambitious driver who wants to win many World Championships with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. His arrival in the team has been highly motivational.

Alongside Fernando we have the excitement of the debut year for Lewis. We have of course worked with Lewis for a decade so he is very well known to the team. His level of preparation and commitment is unprecedented. He has not only excelled, but exceeded our expectations with all the challenges that we have set him to reach this point. We must be a little cautious and control our enthusiasm because Formula 1 is a very challenging environment, but in time we have little doubt that Lewis will be a winning driver in the sport.”

Fernando Alonso

Q: Fernando, what was your inspiration behind joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes?

A: First of all, joining a new team always offers you something more and gives you this extra motivation. Everything is completely new, you are learning new things and understanding different approaches, it provides an extra challenge and inspiration. Also with my experiences over the past five or six years, I will also try to give something to the team, and I think this combination between the experience of the two can make a very strong package and great relationship in the next couple of years.

Q: What does it mean to be introducing your new team to your fans in your home country?

A: It is really important for me. I have a lot of fantastic support from the Spanish people and for me to be in this new project starting from Valencia in my home country will be something special for sure. I have very special feelings and emotions today and I am hoping it will be the start of a fantastic season.

Lewis Hamilton

Q: When did you first dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver, and did you then imagine it would be with one of the leading teams within the sport?

A: It is difficult to be sure but like most kids, I am sure I dreamt of one day racing with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Now my dream has literally turned into a reality and I am driving not only in Formula 1 but also for the same team as Ayrton and Alain did. I worked hard to make it to Formula 1 but never imagined it would actually be with a team such as McLaren and in my first year!

Q: 2006 was an incredibly successful year for you, how will 2007 continue this personal high?

A: 2006 was a fantastic year, a year in which everything I had learned through karting, Formula Renault and Formula 3 all came together in GP2. I learned a great deal in GP2 and thank Frederic Vasseur and everyone at ART for their support. At the end of each year, I sit down with my manager and we review and evaluate the year and come up with a plan for the following year. 2007 will be no different to any other year. Once I have a plan, I always follow it to the end. I know I have to work harder to be stronger mentally and physically and to prepare myself for whatever may come my way in Formula 1, but am ready and relishing the challenge.

Pedro de la Rosa

Q: Pedro, what does it mean to you to be launching the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in your home country?

A: It is extremely special to be launching the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in my country for two reasons: first, because I am Spanish and it is a honour that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have chosen my home country in front of my people. Second, because we are launching the team with Fernando, a fellow Spaniard and World Champion for whom I have a great respect.

Q: How are you looking forward to working with Fernando and Lewis?

A: Fernando is the first World Champion I have ever worked with. That, for me, is already a huge extra motivation. With Lewis we have already worked together in 2006 and get on well.

Gary Paffett

Q: What are you thoughts on the MP4-22?

A: I haven't seen much of it yet but it sounds very promising. Over the winter testing we seem to have a stronger package than we did this time last year so I can't wait to see what the MP4-22 can give us.

Q: How have preparations been progressing with the MP4-22 at the McLaren Technology Centre and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines?

A: We have been doing a massive amount of simulation work at the McLaren Technology Centre since the middle of last year, and we feel the development is going really well. HPE have a good understanding of the V8 engine and they seem to be making some fairly big steps forward.

This is what I have been waiting for

I recall reading an article in F1 Racing magazine (Jan issue) on how badly Alonso will be surprised in McLaren. I will try to dig up that article and post the details later on.

gkaytaz wrote:I recall reading an article in F1 Racing magazine (Jan issue) on how badly Alonso will be surprised in McLaren. I will try to dig up that article and post the details later on.

Good surprize, or bad surprize?

<T-K> wrote:

gkaytaz wrote:I recall reading an article in F1 Racing magazine (Jan issue) on how badly Alonso will be surprised in McLaren. I will try to dig up that article and post the details later on.

Good surprize, or bad surprize?

Bad... I am in the process of locating the magazine as we speak.

Still can't find it...

gkaytaz wrote:Still can't find it...

Not a problem, I understand what they are saying(i think)

He is not going to get there and be fighting for wins straight away.....

<T-K> wrote:

gkaytaz wrote:Still can't find it...

Not a problem, I understand what they are saying(i think)

He is not going to get there and be fighting for wins straight away.....

And will have to keep the new clean shaven look he is already sporting. All about the image you know
DC had to move to RBR to grow some hair on his face.

it looks like the Ferrari

And the Super Aguri
And the Toyota

First things first

This looks awesome. I was really worried that the red Vodafone would be dominant but that wasn't the case.

I bet it was Alonso's influence that he didn't want too much red on the car

As I mentioned some time ago, if this car is reliable Alonso will win the 3rd title this year
Last year many doubted Alonso to win with an untested V8 and with tyre changes but he did it (and I was right and will be right again )


For sure there are doubters but McLaren have domintated in the past and with Alonso they will do it again.

After looking at & reading about the new McLaren MP4-22, I'd say I'm impressed so far; the only question I can think of at the moment is........has McLaren gotten over all of the reliability problems that've plagued its' previous entries(the MP4-20 and MP4-21).....?

My view.....if they have, then McLaren could very well have a resurgent 2007; if not.....I think they'll still struggle a bit, maybe not as much as in 2006, but one never knows how things'll go this day and age......

its a merc it will fall apart on the first race and it will be alonso's.

it looks like a rusty nail.