The 2009 F1 Challengers: The McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

[Ed]

On Friday the 16th of January, the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team became the 3rd team to launch their 2009 F1 contender. As a cost cutting measure, the launch was a low key event held at the team's headquarters in Woking.

The team's aim for 2009 is to win both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.


more photos below

A press statement by the team read:

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team today launched the car it will campaign in the 2009 FIA Formula 1 World Championship at its headquarters in Woking, England.

Unveiled by world champion Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, the new MP4-24 bears little resemblance to its world championship-winning predecessor due to the introduction of a raft of new rules that have reshaped Formula 1 ahead of the 2009 season.

Now featuring heavily revised bodywork, re-sculpted front and rear wings, slick tyres and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), the MP4-24 has been in development since September 2007 in order to successfully accommodate the huge changes to the technical regulations.

The team has already completed two MP4-24 chassis and begins publicly testing at the Autodromo do Algarve circuit in Portugal on Monday. Test driver Pedro de la Rosa will conduct the first two days before Lewis (Wednesday) and Heikki (Thursday) sample the car.

Lewis Hamilton
"The arrival of a new car is always an emotional moment for any racing driver - and the unveiling of MP4-24 is even more special for me, not only because the car looks absolutely stunning but also because it carries the world champion’s number one. I believe this year’s world championship is open, given the new rule changes and that’s a great prospect for every Formula 1 fan. Personally, I’m hoping for another successful season and the chance to once again fight for the title - until the final race if necessary, but preferably before!"

Heikki Kovalainen
"I’m fortunate enough to have watched behind the scenes as this year’s car has taken shape and I’ve been amazed at just how hard everybody in Woking. Brixworth and Stuttgart has worked. Over the winter, I also feel like I’ve had the opportunity to prepare fully for the year ahead: I’ve been busy training and working with my engineers to ensure we start the season as strongly as possible. With so many new rules, adapting quickly will be essential and I feel more prepared than ever for the new season."

Ron Dennis
Chairman & CEO, McLaren Group
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
"Despite our victory in the 2008 drivers’ world championship we have taken nothing for granted in our preparations for the season ahead. Indeed, if anything, our efforts to fully understand this period of huge regulatory change have been more thorough and concerted than ever before. And while the scale of the technical changes makes it difficult to accurately assess the true competitive outlook of the year ahead, as a team we can feel proud of our efforts and look forward to another close season of Formula 1 motor racing. As ever, we exist to win and our target remains the successful acquisition of both this year’s drivers’ and constructors’ world titles."

Martin Whitmarsh
COO, McLaren Group
CEO Formula 1, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
"Such profound changes to the sport make it difficult to predict which teams will have most successfully developed their cars for the new technical regulations. These rules have presented us with considerable challenges throughout the design process of MP4-24 but we have thoroughly interpreted all their ramifications in order to design a car we can feel proud of. We are also optimistic that the Overtaking Working Group’s findings will help create a more thrilling and exciting sport that will provide greater entertainment and value to our biggest customers: the general public."

Norbert Haug
Vice-president, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"In sporting terms, the 2009 Formula 1 season will be a highly interesting one, particularly because of the so far biggest technical challenges in contemporary Formula 1 history. These include new aerodynamic rules, the reintroduction of slick tyres, the implementation of KERS combined with stringent testing restrictions. We developed and built the new car at most favourable conditions and it turned out to be strikingly elegant. Our colleagues in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart did an excellent job. I am convinced that the rule changes combined with drastic cost reduction measures will improve the Formula 1 show - and that’s great for the interested spectators."

David Wheldon
Global brand director, Vodafone Group
"With nearly three months until the opening grand prix of the season, today’s launch of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 raises anticipation and expectations before the first race in Australia in March. With new regulations and new cars, the season ahead looks likely to be more dramatic than ever and, like every Formula 1 fan, we are excited about the year ahead. Every Vodafone employee is looking forward to another successful season with Lewis and Heikki. We wish the whole team all the best for 2009."

Related:
New McLaren to debut on Saturday
Dennis to step down as team boss





VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES MP4-24 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Chassis: McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures. Contains integral safety fuel cell
Front suspension: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Rear suspension: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Suspension dampers: Koni
Electronics: McLaren Electronic Systems control units incorporating electronics for chassis, engine and data acquisition. McLaren Electronic Systems also supplies the electronic dashboard, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems
Bodywork: One-piece engine cover and sidepod covers. Separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
Radio: Kenwood
Race wheels: Enkei
Brake calipers: Akebono
Brake master cylinders: Akebono
Batteries: GS Yuasa Corporation
Steering: McLaren power-assisted
Instruments: McLaren Electronic Systems

Engine
Type: Mercedes-Benz FO 108W
Capacity: 2.4 litres
Cylinders: 8
Maximum rpm: 18,000 (FIA regulatory limit for 2009)
Bank angle: 90°
Piston bore maximum: 98mm (FIA regulation)
Number of valves: 32
Fuel: Mobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
Lubricants: Mobil 1 – for higher performance, lower friction and better wear resistance
Weight: 95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight)

Transmission
Gearbox: Seven forward and one reverse
Semi-auto: Yes
Driveshafts: McLaren
Clutch: Hand-operated

[Ed]

The McLaren MP4-23 and MP4-24 side by side

[Jim Watt]

Wow! Snowey must be doing back flips! You never can tell just by looking but this car looks like a WINNER!!

The new Ferrari, by comparison, looks rather like it was thrown together over the week end by scrounging around in a spare parts bin.

It may well be that for Felipe & Kimi --and the Tifosi (and me, too!)-- it will be for a very long season.

Now I'm wondering what Frank Williams will come up with! And what about the new Newey car over at Red Bull; will young Vettel have a machine that can spar with the defending W.D.C.? I sure hope so!!

And what will the new Renault look like! Right about now, Fernando must be thinking he was LUCKY Ferrari wasn't interested in him.

Last year was a great one; here's hoping this year is even better!

Jim Watt

[Julian Mayo]

I reckon it looks like a third place getter, Jim......I think the regs favour Newey, and Kimi is going to be serious this year............

[Jim Watt]

Hope you're right, Julian! It will be fun to see Seb. Vettel mixing it up with Lewis and Kimi and Fernando and Felipe! And don't count out the Webbo!

jim

[Julian Mayo]

Methinks I would love to see Hambone trying to bully Seb! I never count out the Webbo, it will be fun to watch he n Seb, especially in the rain I just want to see a couple of different cars dicing for the lead with the usual suspects

[Lloyd]

It looks smick. But it is Rons last one so im sure he made sure it was impressive. I predict that it will win the constructors trophy with the young finn being a more productive points scorer this season and Lewis doing a Kimi

[Ed]

The initial test for the MP4-24 didn't go as well as the team hoped. The start of the test was delayed and then test driver Pedro de la Rosa only managed 18 laps.

He set a best time of 1:28.719 which is faster that then best time he set in the modified MP4-23 and that should be encouraging for the team.

The full test at Algarve starts later today (Monday) with a number of teams including Ferrari, McLaren and Renault testing their new cars

[JayVee]

I think McLaren will go backward not because their car is going to be slow, no but because Hamilton's driving style won't suit those extra wide wings and by the time he learns not to be over the top aggressive it would be too late.

Kovalainen is signed for number 2 status regardless of what he says

[Julian Mayo]

I think McLaren will go backward not because their car is going to be slow, no but because Hamilton's driving style won't suit those extra wide wings and by the time he learns not to be over the top aggressive it would be too late.

Kovalainen is signed for number 2 status regardless of what he says

I do think Hambone is going to damage/destroy a few of those front wings in the process.

Guess you will be watching the V8Supercars if JV signs with Paul Morris........

[Snowy]

Looks like McLaren and just about every one missed a trick. Ferrari moving their sidepods back and allowing them to clip on some extra aero devices in an unregulated area shows just how determined and creative they are. By contrast it shows how timid and conservative their opponents are. McLaren's change of leadership needs to herald a march away from the timid conservatism that was epitomised by that almost catastrophic plod around for 5th place at the Brazilian GP. Any more such pitiful dicision making needs to be met with violent and total retribution.

Having said that I think the new regulations will suit Lewis down to the ground. He loves a pointy car and that huge shift of aero balance will be just the kind of thing that will undo anyone that prefers a car to have inherent understeer. Basically the majority of the grid are going to find themselves with major headaches setting their cars up to understeer predictably.

[Julian Mayo]

Looks like McLaren and just about every one missed a trick. Ferrari moving their sidepods back and allowing them to clip on some extra aero devices in an unregulated area shows just how determined and creative they are. By contrast it shows how timid and conservative their opponents are. McLaren's change of leadership needs to herald a march away from the timid conservatism that was epitomised by that almost catastrophic plod around for 5th place at the Brazilian GP. Any more such pitiful dicision making needs to be met with violent and total retribution.

Having said that I think the new regulations will suit Lewis down to the ground. He loves a pointy car and that huge shift of aero balance will be just the kind of thing that will undo anyone that prefers a car to have inherent understeer. Basically the majority of the grid are going to find themselves with major headaches setting their cars up to understeer predictably.

Don't forget the sticky tyres........................

[Snowy]

Apparently McLaren have lengthened their wheelbase, and some commentators say this will make it more difficult to get the balance right shifting the ballast around. We saw this with the Ferrari in 2007 and to a lesser degree in 08. It certainly gives me cause for concern.

[Julian Mayo]

Apparently McLaren have lengthened their wheelbase, and some commentators say this will make it more difficult to get the balance right shifting the ballast around. We saw this with the Ferrari in 2007 and to a lesser degree in 08. It certainly gives me cause for concern.

Why the '08 rear wing, Snowy?????

[RE30B#16]

Get ready to see Hambone win a few races! Unlike my comment about the Ferrari, when a McLaren looks as neat and clean as this, it is usually a big winner.