This is the new McLaren MP4-25 Formula One car that Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will drive this season.

The British team will be competing with the two most recent world champions in its ranks, the first time this has ever happened in F1 history.

See pics of the new McLaren F1 car being unveiled by Button and Hamilton

"During the development of MP4-25, we set ourselves some very high targets - and I'm enormously pleased with the way our designers and engineers have tackled the approach to the new car," said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

"The new regulations have obviously had an effect on the car's appearance, with the much higher-capacity fuel tank looking more striking than before.

"But we're pleased with a number of solutions we've been able to bring to the car, and I think we're cautiously optimistic that, after the experience of last year and, in particular, the momentum we gathered in the second half of the season, we'll have a competitive car for both Jenson and Lewis."

McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale said the team's sole aim was to win both world championships due to the driver talent at its disposal.

However, Whitmarsh held off from saying the car would be good enough to help Button defend his world crown, or Hamilton regain it.

"Is it a championship contender? It's still far too early to say," he said. "Will it win races? We certainly hope so. Am I proud of the effort we've currently invested in the car? Most definitely."

Jenson Button said he was already felt an integrated part of the team.

"In my brief time here I feel I've become part of the team," he said. "I really sense the start of the last year makes McLaren hungrier for success this year.

"I've spent a lot of time in the simulator which has allowed me to work with my engineers. This is the hardest part of my change, getting to know my new colleagues."

Lewis Hamilton said the team had been very accommodating towards Button and he was looking forward to competing against him.

"We've been very welcoming to Jenson," he said. "I've spent some time working on the car now and am proud of my input on it. Hopefully we can add some more input and have a great year."

Whitmarsh also praised his all-British driver line-up.

"I'm relatively relaxed about the driver partnership. Knowing Lewis as I do, and having got to know more of Jenson during the limited time I've spent with him during his busy visits to MTC, I feel relatively confident that our driver line-up this year will be a very stable and mutually productive one," he said.

"Neither became world champion simply by driving at the limit on the racetrack; they've each been responsible for moulding and developing an organisation around them, and in exploiting the skills of their respective engineers to the best of their abilities.

"And it's that sort of approach that we'll be looking to encourage from both drivers in order to give us a performance advantage.

"Of course, we wouldn't be going racing if we couldn't let our drivers 'off the leash', but our absolute priority is to develop a front-running car."

source:McLaren launches new F1 car - Autocar.co.uk

 

 

I wonder if they realize it's ugly?

Then again, looks don't matter if you're leading the pack in speed.

 

That front wing is a thing of beauty.

 

Agreed, but it all goes wrong from the cockpit back.

 

it will grow on you Alex, afterseeing it in parc fermé after every race that is.

 

^^^Parked next to Massa and Alonso's cars?!

 

Hahaha yeah, I just feel bad for the other drivers out there. It's got an ugly ass but that's all anyone else on the grid is going to see!

Kinda like the Panamera....

 

Massa, maybe but Alonso is banned from the podium, he needs to trim the Ol' eye brows first as its not good for TV.

 

Yeah, now that you mention it.