MP4-27: McLaren first to fully unveil F1 car for 2012

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton had this morning the pleasure of making the unveiling of the new F1 car from McLaren Mercedes for the 2012 Formula One World Championship. At the McLaren Technology Centre, the team showcased a car which is clearly an evolution from lasrt year’s car. For the new season McLaren’s aim is to fight for both world titles from the very start.”

Looking close to the new single-seater, the MP4-27 definitely resembles last year’s runner. But according to McLaren the 2012 chassis has been substantially revised from the ground-up, with all major systems updated or re-designed for the new season.

One of the main differences can be found on the more tightly waisted rear bodywork, developed by engineers to improve flow to the rear of the car. The cooling system has also been revised for 2012, responsible for re-directing the gearbox oil-cooler. Because of FIA’s new exhaust regulations that are responsible for the redefining of the shape of the rear bodywork last year’s U-shaped sidepods have also been re-designed.

The driver lineup as been kept untouchable and with it McLaren continues to be the only team to have two world champions driving for one team.

About the new car Jenson Button said “With the regulations remaining relatively stable, we’ve really been able to focus on the detail with this year’s car.”

“I know that the whole team is extremely proud of the MP4-27. It may look like a direct evolution of last year’s car, but we’ve analysed every area of performance over the winter and the whole car has benefited from lots of fresh thinking and new ideas in every area. I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel in Spain next week,” added the Brit.

Lewis Hamilton says he has been following the development of the MP4-27 over the winter and he is very positive and happy with the outcome so far. “I think we already had a very strong base to build upon: Jenson and I won six races with MP4-26 last year and I think we’ve been able to retain all the strengths and the reliability of that design while also incorporating lots of improvements and new ideas into the new car,” he said.

He also talked about the changes for 2012. “Of course, the biggest changes for 2012 are the modifications to the exhaust regulations – that will reduce the downforce and grip that we had last year, but it just puts the emphasis on the designers to try and claw some of that back in other areas.”
After finishing second over the last two seasons Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh is definitely eager to take the two championship back to McLaren.

“We have a fantastically committed team of individuals, and MP4-27 is the fruit of their labours – it’s a beautiful car, and one we feel is the perfect platform from which to launch our assault on the world championship. While there are clear visual changes to this year’s car, there’s greater change beneath the skin, with lots of fresh thinking applied to every major system. The car is pleasingly complete,” said Whitmarsh about the MP4-27.

On the team’s rivals the team principal said “For 2012, we are well aware that Red Bull remains a very powerful and capable operation, and that both Ferrari and Mercedes AMG are ramping up their operational capacity. We have no room to be complacent – what you see today only scratches the surface of what we’re planning to deliver to the track both from an engineering and operational point of view throughout 2012.”