McLaren MP4-27 breaks cover at Woking launch
1 February, 2012
McLaren MP4-27
Feb.1 (YallaF1.com) One of the most anticipated cars of the 2012 Formula 1 season, the McLaren MP4-27, was revealed today at the team’s Woking factory with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton present for the unveiling. These are the first pictures of the car which McLaren are hoping will be able to challenge for the 2012 drivers’ and constructors’ world championships.
McLaren launch statement:
McLaren MP4-27
The continuation of our double world-champion driver line-up, further consolidation of our championship-winning engineering team and a subtle, yet deep-reaching technical update of our car all underpin the world-class strength, experience and ambition that exists at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ahead of the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
This morning’s technical presentation of the MP4-27 at the McLaren Technology Centre showcased a natural evolution of last year’s six-race-winning car and underlined the message that the new season is very much one of growth through strength and continuity. After finishing second in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2011, our aim for the new season is to fight for both world titles from the very start of this year’s campaign.
Evolutionary design of MP4-27 masks overhaul of all major systems: While the all-new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-27 closely resembles last year’s multiple race-winning car, the 2012 chassis has been substantially revised from the ground-up, with all major systems updated or re-designed for the new season. The most evident visual differences include more tightly waisted rear bodywork, developed to improve flow to the rear of the car, and a revised cooling system, which re-directs the gearbox oil-cooler. Last year’s U-shaped sidepods have also been re-designed – a legacy of the FIA’s new exhaust regulations that redefine the shape of the rear bodywork.
Best driver line-up in Formula 1 retained for third successive season: Maintaining the belief in the validity of strengthened continuity, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is the only team in Formula 1 whose driver line-up consists of two world champions: Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. Between them, they have scored 22 grand prix victories for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and are the strongest and most consistent driver line-up in the sport. Maintaining the partnership into a third successive season was merely a formality.
McLaren MP4-27
Strength drawn from consolidation of engineering and race teams: On the technical front, our exemplary engineering trio Tim Goss (director of engineering), Paddy Lowe (technical director) and Neil Oatley (director of design and development programmes) once more remain at the forefront of the drawing office. For 2012, they will be joined by sporting director Sam Michael, whose arrival coincides with the re-organisation of our trackside personnel roster to ensure both growth and development within the group.
Off-track the most complete team in Formula 1: Away from the track, the team continues to develop, too: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes last year became the world’s first carbon-neutral Formula 1 team, efficiently managing its carbon footprint and purchasing carbon credits to completely offset its emissions.
As well as continuing relationships of record-breaking length with partners such as Hugo Boss (31 years), TAG Heuer (27 years), Kenwood (22 years), ExxonMobil (18 years), Mercedes-Benz (18 years), Hilton (eight years) and Vodafone (six years), our new strategic partnership with GlaxoSmithKline continues to gather pace. Development and planning continue on the McLaren GSK Centre for Applied Performance, while GSK’s Lucozade scientists are busy developing a groundbreaking cockpit drinks formula to hydrate our drivers during grands prix in 2012.
Finally, in a year when the world’s spotlight will shine on London and the 2012 Olympics, we’re proud that equipment and technology pioneered at the racetrack by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and developed by McLaren Applied Technologies will be used by Team GB’s athletes in their quest for Gold this summer.
Following a one-day private shakedown, Jenson Button will begin track testing of the MP4-27 at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez on Tuesday February 7.
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- Abu Dhabi Day 2: McLaren report
- Abu Dhabi GP: McLaren preview
- Singapore GP: McLaren preview
- Day 1 Belgian GP: McLaren report
- Hamilton and McLaren all out Canada attack
It looks a lot like the MP4-24.
@John – let’s hope that this means that Newey hasn’t been able to develop the best car this season, I’m hoping there will be a new champion this year.
The car is fairly plain looking in it’s launch guise.
That’s quite an undercut if you look closely at the side pods.
Despite it’s apparent ‘plainness’ I have a feeling that this car is going to be fast.
Good spot @vZ-2 just glanced at the Caterham’s nose and it has none of the ducting and none is there. Guess we’ll need more cars to compare it to. I guess it is a front wing stalling device. The faster it goes the more air flows in and pushes the car down. Can’t see how it helps in slow corners without ‘activation’ by a driver, computer or the brakes.
Looks real nice none of the Caterham nasty nose.
Looking forward to seeing the performance and an idea of how fast it is compared to the Adrian Newey, the Ross Brawn and Ferrari.
Adrian Newey stated that the rule tweak has stuffed his design’s already penned and that they had to start again after the blown rear laws were tightened.
Let the testing begin.
@ Addmanniw: Notice the front nose…. before the wings, it’s noticeable that there’s an extra slotting under nose, which explains why they hadn’t need to stoop down the nose… It looks like a diffuser but inserted at the front;– I think that extra opening/ gutter would allow them to direct the air to go under, creating more downforce… I wonder if it’s maneuver-able. E.g. straight line close up, braking, opens down.
I assume the ‘potentially illegal feature obvious at launch’ is the vanes/wings on the front of the side pods. Not so noticable in the front photographs, but on the pictures of Jenson stood by the side pods, there is a clear step out to the side of the car where the Vodafone logo ends. Genreally a fast car looks pretty. This is certinly pretty!
When the Caterham was launched, it was said that most of the cars will have a stooped up nose! The McLaren surely looks pretty but has a typical flat nose as compared to that of Caterham! As per design, the difference seems quite a lot! What also feels apparent, 1 of these 2 teams has got it right & the other hasn’t! I know there is much more that’s related to aerodynamics but the stooped up nose of a Caterham seems like a very extreme make over of a F1 car, which was designed to follow the new rules of 2012! 2 different designs but will both of them work or just 1 & if 1 of them then which 1? We will come to know next week! Also there are some teams with the stooped up nose so lets see how many teams go for an extreme step or remain like McLaren!
nice car and its nose similar to the nose of williams bmw 2004
looks pretty plain compared to past years…like its a devolution
Nice
Wow.. seems last year car,, no “platypus nose”…