Lewis Hamilton unveils new McLaren f1 car
Lewis Hamilton will unveil his new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Grand Prix challenger at the team factory outside Woking today (16/01/2009).
The world champion, just 24, is hoping it will carry him to a second successive world title after winning the championship by a single point on the final corner in Brazil last November.
But his challenge takes place against a back drop of the most radical changes in the sport in a quarter of century.
Such changes have historically disrupted the natural order of things and thrown up new challengers from the lower order of the grid where designers have gambled on radical car concepts.
Among the changes incorporated into this year’s cost-conscious framework is a KERS system which generates boost by harvesting braking energy.
Engines must now last three Grands Prix and gearboxes four while there have been drastic revisions to the cars’ aerodynamics in a bid to improve overtaking.
The front wings distance from the track has been halved to just 7.5cm and is 40cm wider stretching the width of the front tyres to improve grip at the front.
And the giant rear wing has been lifted and reduced in size in the hope that the vortex behind cars which torpedoed overtaking will be reduced.
Cars will now use super adhesive ‘slick’ tyres for the first time since they were banned at the end of the 1997 season.
Some drivers fear the new formula will increase the dangers.
McLaren’s launch is the third of the year following Ferrari’s unveiling last week in Italy and Toyotas a day earlier.
Most of the teams will unveil their races machines in the next fortnight with Red Bull currently slated to be last on February 9 in Spain.
Post credit to The Mirror.
