McLaren MP4-24 Ready for 2009
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By Mr. C.
McLaren are the third and final team to launch their 2009 chassis this week. The MP4-24 will be unveiled at a press launch at the MTC in Woking this morning.
The team aren't planning on running the car on track until next week, but drivers and team personnel will be on hand with a sound bite or ten. We're hoping for good things on the chassis front, last year McLaren's reflective livery offered one of the better looking packages on the grid, but how will it compare to those we've already seen?
Unlike Toyota, this isn't specifically an online launch, so we're not all invited to this one. However, we'll keep the thread updated with press clippings and pictures as and when they become available. If you spot anything exciting on the car, or are just hanging around praying for a decent looking chassis, let us know in the comments.
Update: As before, more pictures and reactions in the comments. It does look as though McLaren have managed to produce a decent looking car for this season. Although the team have been careful to only photograph the most complimentary angles, and we've yet to see a head-on view. Of the three we've seen, this one is by far the best looking.
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have found a countdown on the mclaren homepage. makes things a little more exciting. not as much fun as yesterday though :(
big question of the day... will the server's handle the strain?
which one. Yours or theirs?
haha. ours don't cope with friday mornings at the best of times :)
Talking to Dad last night, he said he had a feeling McLaren would bring out something really good looking. Judging by the testing shots of that '09 spec nose and front wing, I'm inclined to agree. I think that Toyota will have a new rival in the good looks department. ;)
Am I the only one who prefers the look of the Ferrari to the Toyota?
Mind you, it's a bit like trying to decide which of the Ugly Sisters is best looking knowing that Cinderella is no longer available.
I prefer the Toyota simply because they've done some styling on the wings. Which to be fair is more that can be said for Ferrari.
yewouch!
The Toyota defo has the edge over the Ferrari in the looks department
Mclaren have a sneak peak of the MP24 colours next to the countdown timer and it looks a lot darker, verging on red and black chrome. I do hope she's a sexy beast.....:-)
good spot sir.
Morning everyone! Sadly the prediction of a pink car with yellow spots didn't come true yesterday for Toyota's Extra-White-Tin-Of-Paint-From-B&Q reveal so I'm gonna pin my hopes on Mclaren being the team to have this luxury livery. :D
True, but wings will change a lot before the season starts, I can't see Toyota managing to make the rear end as sleek as the Ferrari as things progress. We'll see though - neither car has been as bad looking as I'd thought they might be!
Less than 15 minutes to go. I actually have a good feeling about this car.
Looks like the lighting making it darker to me.
As you can probably tell from the comments above, that is not the case ;)
heikki's lid:
pretty similar to last years
That sneak peek must be of the nose because I can see what look to be the struts which run down to the front wing - and they look quite tall. *waits nervously*
Erm...it's kinda exactly the same?
and one from lewis:
Again, apart from the "LH1" logo, exactly the same. :P
I'm predicting Lenovo, their new sponsor, to be somewhere on the engine cover, probably where Santander is/was.
hmmm. may have lost the macca website already.
They're the reigning champions, so I guess that to happen on the morning of their new car launch is to be expected. :P
still got it here
1 Min...God i haven't been this excited since........
Site works fine for me.
Think he'll change it every year to reflect his driver number? ;)
Less than 2 minutes! I can't wait! :D
T-minus 1 minute and counting.
I lost everything for a while there, no sites would work annoyingly...
sorted now... just about.
...and nothing so far?
Yep the site has crashed
I got the feeling this gonna happen on every team website when there's a launch
I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo underwhelmed
what an anti climax....
3,2,1......nothing....
:D
I'm sure something exciting is happening somewhere, just not on their website!
Yeah, at the actual goddamn launch itself which we can't see! Grrr...
2009 lineup:
Where are you getting these pics by the way? :P
Site back
the car!
Hurrah for gary paffett!
...that's about it so far.
pics: http://tinyurl.com/8q6t6t
ugh, such an anticlimax. Exactly the same really... no darker shade or anything, no pink with yellow dots, nothing!
IS THAT A NUMBER I SEE ON THE BACK OF THE REAR WING!
As for the car itself, I like it! :D
i think they've picked its best side :)
btw. best twitter message ever:
http://twitter...use/status/1123431376
:D
It's porn
sorry. not that one this one:
http://twitter...444/status/1123433903
It just is, isn't it :D
Something tells me Ron had a hand in the uniform look of this pic. "Helmets in your right hand, look straight ahead, best foot forward."
I just looked on my twitter to see 50 or so messages sent out from drop.io and thought 'what on earth' then realised...
Ah well, could be harmless avdertising I spose :P
I love that black nose sweeping into the central body work then fading dark again
Shame my girlfriend won't allow me to do the bedroom like that
the Ron army march!
great response :)
here she is:
*faints due it its utter gorgeousness*
and one from the top:
I think by the way no-one's commented yet we're all uttery speechless :D
bbc's take on matters:
http://news.bb...rmula_one/7832501.stm
Well that's 1-0 to McLaren v Ferrari
Only the new Williams could possibly rival it
Wow wow wow wow
Or it just looks the same.
The pic of it sitting at an angle makes it look a bit more menacing - the angle makes it look like some parts are black rather than the all silver it actually is.
Nice looking though, bring on the front shot!
Give McLaren the award for Best Looking Car of 2009, that is simply awe-inspiring. Excellent job, Ron!
The little Vodafone rear wing is making me giggle for some reason.
They've painted the whole inside of that rear wing luminous vodafone red!
Here's my favourite picture of the new Mclaren:
http://drop.io...clarencover_large.jpg
I don't think there's a sufficent english word to describe how pretty she is!!
Makes Victoria B-H look a little plain in comparison!!
obligatory vodaphone pic:
from the front:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2qx96s0.jpg
Doesn't matter which angle you look at it, it still looks gorgeous. I just hope it wins the world championship now! :D
Ok...been posting in the daily thread.... D'OH!
ANyone notice the sidepod openings being bloody tiny yet?
blimey, they are tiny!
;) First thing I looked at.
It's the cool Germans - unlike the hotheadded Italian mob... :D
They've obviously gone for minimum gaps and maximum airflow for aerodynamic efficency.
Wow ... a 2009 car that isn't ugly - well done Mclaren! I am happy now!
Now let's wait and see what the Williams looks like... ;-)
wow ...
definatley the best f1 car launched so far.
I thought the toyota yesterday was nice, but the Mclaren definatley looks better.
I just has to perform on the track now to see if its any good.
The rear of it isn't as slim as the Ferrari - could be some interesting packaging going on back there.
I'll give a mate a call and see if I can get the full press shots. ;)
Oh aye :D
Not answering his phone at the moment. I wonder why... ;)
I got the feeling this gonna happen on every team website when there’s a launch {RCC}
Force India's held up to the strain last year - maybe they're more used to dealing with the online world than McLaren and Toyota are
or alot less people visited it :P
Any high res shots on the net? Ie something more then 110kb!!
Looking at the side on shot again... can anyone else see an severe undercut - possibly producing a gap between the floor and the sidepod producing an upside down wing shape? ;)
That is astounding if they have done that.....
If each car to be revealed looks better, then this makes me very enthusiastic for what Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Force India will unveil...
...and if ex-Honda get to the grid, their car will be so stunning that nobody will ever hit their cars for fear of marring their beauty...
or alot less people visited it {Jon Waldock - 4 comments ago}
I suppose that, too, is a possibility...
Love the ingenuity of it if it does produce some downforce
from mr. dennis:
“This is a fully running car, the first car is in Portugal at the circuit and we will start testing tomorrow."
“At the same time we have tried to make a good looking car because that’s important to us”
and it really shows. good effort.
more: http://www.itv...id=44940&PO=44940
Something else I've spotted.
Ferrari were showing off their diffuser at the launch which was unusual.
McLaren have theirs covered up.
ferrari ran theirs on track though. won't we see mclarens tomorrow?
is ron stepping down?
http://www.leq...laisser-sa-place.html
translated:
"During the inaugural ceremony of the 2009 season for McLaren, Ron Dennis has epxliqué that he would leave his post at the direction and leave his place to Martin Whitmarsh."
Well, almost ;-)
ummmmmmm....
Cheerio Ron!
http://www.aut...s/report.php/id/72820
:(
No more Ronspeak.
....wow. Did NOT expect that :|
One thing for certain. Mosley will be a happier person this year. :(
Didn't you? It was rumored for ages that he wanted to step down after Mclaren became champions again. Also look how much Martin Whitmarsh became the 'face' of Mclaren this year - he was doing a lot of interviews, etc.
Not that surprised to see Ron step aside.
After 9 years - and the spying scandle, he has finally guided the team back to championship winning form. With the new rules comming in, it was the ideal time to had the reins over while the team is at thr top.
I really didn't expect it today. I can understand what you mean with the interviews and whatnot but I didn't think Ron would step down alongside the unveiling of the car today, maybe at the end of the 09 season or seomthing
OK fair enough. But if you think about it, what Mattw said is right:
yep, I absolutely agree. It's just naive thinking from my part :P
Looking back, it was probably all building up to his announcement today. As stated above Martin Whitmarsh did a lot of Tv coverage last year. Ron won't be missed by many people in F1, but i think he will be missed by many mclaren fans.
We all love to hate him... but he is one of the characters in F1 and one of those that have been in the game for a long time - so we should all be sad to see him go :-(
Yup, the McLaren is the best looking car so far. I did notice though, from the comparison photo, the Ferrari seems to be less high. At the front wheels, for instance.
Beautiful car. McLaren's larger 'shark fin' thing on the engine cover is much beefier than the F160. That'll probably give 'em a wee bit more rear stability now the rear wing's much narrower. I'm loving what's going on underneath the car too...
For me, the rear wing endplates on the new Ferrari are just too big! Spoils the rest of the car in my opinion.
Lovely car, rear and frongt wings for a change.
Livery looks like something you find on on of them lego cars, very simplistic, not too my tastes.
Best design so far, but best livery is Toyota.
If you have a white car, you too can have a Toyota livery. Just throw a can of red paint over the car. Or do it with style - drive through a farmer's field and aim to hit the small animals ;-)
and symmetrical
It may mean Ron is more outspoken the more he pulls back from the day to day dealings. It could also mean he has time on his hands to plan a campaign against Max.
Yeah, the McLaren is clearly higher there. But what's most stunning for me is how the drivers' seat and the engine cover start are much more in the back of the car than in the Ferrari. An judging by the position of the exhaust opening, the engine is also more towards the back. I though that they where trying to put more weight in the front...
Other interesting points (differences compared to the Toyota and Ferrari): they're using vertical (and short) attachments for the front wing with a low nose, the front suspension has all the arms towards the back, and it doesn't have any vertical deflector in the sidepod (how much time before it appears?)
By the way, I like the shape around the exhaust exit, it remembers me a silver arrow from the '50s
so we're not seeing anything like the car that will debut in melbourne are we? how late will they leave it to bring new bits, friday practice?
Probably. Don't remember where, but I read an interview to Whitmarsh in December saying something like 'we already have the car for the presentation'. He also said that with such a big change in regulations the pace in the evolution of the car at that point was clear in a daily basis...
video from the launch:
Has anyone tracked down Hi-Res photos yet? Please post the links if you have. Thanks.
http://drop.io/sidepodcast
right-click on an image and select download. most of the macca shots are high-res.
Comment in mod - but it links to 4chan, so I wouldn't be so quick to release it either.
you're suggesting your own comment is left in moderation? that's a first.
dave, the files you've linked to are exactly the same ones we put in drop.io this morning. just right-click and download.
Yeah, I was confusing myself when I posted those links/request for non-release. I just wanted you to compare the 2 resolutions. etc. Thanks for the picutres.
i likes it. your starting a new trend moderation appreciation.
..Nurse, get Scott some tablets please!
Uh-Oh!! ;)
Well is it really any nicer than the Ferrari or the Toyota?!?
I was more concerned about Scott's history with sidepodmedication.
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