McLaren unveils the MP4-28

Second team to present its new car for the 2013 season, McLaren pulled out all the stops during the ceremony organized at noon at its Woking factory. Before unveiling the MP4-28, the English team organized, as part of its fiftieth anniversary celebrations, a retrospective of its most significant creations, from the model entered in Can-Am where Bruce McLaren died in 1970, to the latest championship model in 2008 driven by Lewis Hamilton, not to mention the GTs like the F1, the MP4-12C Spyder, and the future P1.

According to Martin Whitmarsh, the team principal, a fitting tribute to the founding father: « The launch of a new Formula 1 car is always an exciting and nerve-wracking moment. The parade of some of our greatest and most significant cars was a sensational way to kick off our 50th anniversary celebrations and our 2013 campaign, but it’s a reminder of the enormous responsibility everyone within the McLaren Technology Center shares in maintaining the legacy left by Bruce McLaren and passed on by Teddy Mayer and Ron Dennis. […] Like Bruce and his closest friends, we always have the conviction that we can face the world, risk it all, and come out victorious. That’s ultimately the spirit that guides us within this organization. »

Once all these distinguished guests were settled, the curtain was lifted on the MP4-28. While the chrome and red livery remains broadly unchanged, the shapes of the new car differ in several areas from its predecessor. The most visible change is the height of the nose: as allowed by the 2013 regulations, the bump at the nose’s attachment point to the chassis has been covered by a non-structural panel. The nose is therefore positioned higher than on the MP4-27. In the same area, the Ferrari F2012 seems to have inspired others, as McLaren has developed its own pull-rod front suspension.

Finally, the pontoons have clearly been the subject of sustained work: as on the 2005 to 2008 models, the cooling openings are concave, which has allowed for more sculpting of the lower part for better airflow towards the diffuser and around the exhausts.

But the biggest change at McLaren is not technical: Lewis Hamilton left for Mercedes, and his seat is now occupied by Sergio Pérez. For Jenson Button, it’s always interesting and inspiring to start working with someone new, and the working relationships already seem very positive. I know from personal experience that one can feel intimidated when visiting the McLaren Technology Center for the first time, but I also remember how quickly I was made to feel at home and how welcoming I found the whole McLaren family. I’m sure Checo [Sergio Pérez, editor’s note] already feels more comfortable here.

And Martin Whitmarsh enumerates the qualities he finds in his new driver: « Checo joined us after a sensational 2012 season and immediately proved he was smart, modest, hardworking, and did not make mistakes: he is very, very fast. Of course, there will be a learning curve as he acclimates to our organization, particularly during the hustle and bustle of the weekends and the start of the season, but he understands that we are not putting pressure on him. »

The main person concerned measures the path that remains to be taken: “I am very proud to be a driver for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. Seeing so many famous racing cars come to life today, and knowing that I am driving for the team on its 50th anniversary – it’s a truly special feeling. Obviously, I am fully aware of the mountain that stands before me: I have already had a few intense weeks, getting used to a new team, meeting my engineers and mechanics, learning new work methods, learning everything about a new car – I will have to do all this in only six days of track testing.”

Unsurprisingly, the goal of the season is to reclaim the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, which have eluded Woking since 2008 and 1998, respectively. “For the season of our fiftieth anniversary, I want McLaren-Mercedes to remind everyone why we are the best team in the world,” even declares Whitmarsh. Jenson Button shares the same sentiment: “We were extremely strong throughout the 2012 season but, for one reason or another, we didn’t manage to put everything together to fight for the championships. That’s something we want to resolve for 2013.” Sergio Pérez, on the other hand, has a shorter-term vision for his season: “My goals are to be confident, comfortable, and ready to race when I land in Australia in a few weeks.”

But before that, the MP4-28 will run for the first time this Tuesday in Jerez.