Rory
01-07-2008, 10:56 AM
For copyright free high resolution images from Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launch, click here (http://www.mclaren.com/mediaroom/launch-photography.php). Further images will be added to this link during the course of the afternoon.
Please click here for the 2008 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes press pack (http://www.mclaren.com/mediaroom/presspack08/online/en/index.php)
More pics http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?S=F1&E=McLaren_Mercedes_MP4/Presentation&Y=2008
Stuttgart, Germany / Woking, UK, Monday 7th January 2008: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes today presented the MP4-23, the team’s 2008 Formula 1 car, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board, and Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group, welcomed all the guests to the official presentation, with Lewis Hamilton, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, and Heikki Kovalainen joined on stage by Pedro de la Rosa and fellow test driver Gary Paffett to unveil the MP4-23. The car was completed yesterday and left the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK at around 18:00 GMT on Sunday and was driven in a Mercedes-Benz Actros to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, having covered approximately 1000kms, arriving around 10:00 this morning.
Upon arrival in Stuttgart, the car was transported to the 53,000 sqm Mercedes-Benz Museum, one of the world’s largest and most renowned car museums. About 700 Mercedes-Benz employees from the nearby manufacturing plant Stuttgart-Untertürkheim had the opportunity to attend today’s event at the end of their early shift alongside the more than 400 media and other guests. The Mercedes-Benz employees had the opportunity to enter a draw of which the lucky winners were able to meet and spend some time with Lewis and Heikki.
Following today’s event the car will be transported to the Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain, where on Wednesday 9thJanuary Heikki and Pedro will start the test programme with two MP4-23 chassis at a private test. The team will remain at the circuit for five track days, excluding the weekend. Lewis will drive the 2008 car for the first time on Thursday 10th January alongside Heikki.
LEWIS HAMILTON
"The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 is the coolest birthday present you can get, well it is for me anyway! To see the car for the first time at such a great place as the Mercedes-Benz museum makes it an even more memorable day. I have had the past three weeks off and spent the time training and relaxing with family and friends. I know how much work has been going on in Woking, Brixworth and here in Stuttgart and it is a great looking car. My engineer has told me that approximately 14,000 manufacturing man hours have been involved to produce the car in time for today. I will be testing it for the first time on Thursday. It is going to be a busy time but myself, Heikki, who I welcome as my new teammate, and everyone within the team is looking forward to it as we push forward together."
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
"Today is my first official event as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver and it hasn’t come soon enough. After joining the team on the 14th December, I have already spent some time at the McLaren Technology Centre getting to know everybody and working with my engineers. It is also great to be here at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart today to meet the Mercedes-Benz employees, media and VIP guests for the first time as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. I was able to learn a lot last year, and hope to take that knowledge into the 2008 season. I am looking forward to contributing to the development of the car during the six main tests in the build-up to Melbourne. It is a really exciting time for me to be joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes."
Dr DIETER ZETSCHE, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE MANAGEMENT OF DAIMLER AG AND HEAD OF MERCEDES-BENZ CARS
"I am confident that, with Heikki and Lewis, we’ll have a very strong driver team on the track. All of us at Daimler are extremely proud of the tremendous track record of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. They prove once again: You can’t be with Daimler or Mercedes-Benz without wanting to belong to the best - that’s in the DNA of our company in a way. And that applies also for the motorsport."
RON DENNIS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, McLAREN GROUP
"The ultimate goal of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is to fight for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. We are looking forward to another competitive season as we look to build on the momentum of last year. Every single member of the team has worked extremely hard since the end of the 2007 season to get the MP4-23 on track as soon as possible, to ensure we have the maximum amount of testing time available before the cars leave for Australia. We are all extremely pleased to have the opportunity to launch our new car at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart underlining the strength of our partnership."
MARTIN WHITMARSH, CEO FORMULA 1, VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
"Development of the MP4-23 began in earnest 10 months ago and everyone in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart have worked very hard during the last few weeks, and particularly over the Christmas period, to make today’s presentation here in Stuttgart happen. In addition we have continued to benefit from tremendous support from all of our Technology Partners. We are confident, based upon the simulation and analysis which has been an integral part of the development process, that the MP4-23 represents a step forward. Of course we will continue to develop the car from now until the first race in Australia and see whether we have done enough to be at the level where we want to compete this coming season. From today we have 68 working days until the Australian Grand Prix, and everybody within the team is highly motivated to travel to Melbourne with the most competitive package possible."
NORBERT HAUG, VICE PRESIDENT, MERCEDES-BENZ MOTORSPORT
"Our Museum is a unique place for this event. More than 160 Mercedes-Benz cars, amongst them 30 historic racing cars representing more than 100 years of Mercedes-Benz motor sport heritage create a most remarkable environment for the presentation of the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23. I am really pleased that we are able to present with this car launch many of our colleagues from the nearby Untertürkheim manufacturing plant a New Years surprise today. The media presence at our compact presentation today was massive, which is an additional motivation for everybody in the team to start the 2008 season with the target to finish one point ahead instead of one point behind the opposition."
DAVID WHELDON, GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER AND BRAND EXPERIENCE, VODAFONE
"Vodafone is delighted to be entering this second season as Title Sponsor and Official Mobile Partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. Formula 1 is all about 'Making the most of Now' and similarly, we want all our customers to get the most out of their time. We look forward to building on our successful partnership and wish the team all the best for the 2008 season."
MP4-23 FACTFILE
The first design meeting for the MP4-23 took place back in November 2006 with early layout work starting in March 2007.
Wind tunnel work commenced in late May 2007.
Since then the MP4-23 has spent over 3000 hours being developed in the wind tunnel.
The first MP4-23 chassis was ready for bonding in mid November 2007.
Lewis Hamilton, Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett had their provisional seat fittings for the MP4-23 back in September 2007. Heikki Kovalainen was fitted for his seat shortly after being announced as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver.
The car build process for chassis 1 began in early December 2007 and was finished in early January 2008.
Throughout the development process 150 different engineers have been involved in the whole project in all disciplines.
14000 engineering man hours have so far been put into the MP4-23 development project.
A similar number applies to the manufacturing man hours involved to produce the MP4-23 in time for its track debut on the 9th January 2008.
The MP4-23 is an evolution of the MP4-22 and as such there is no significant visual difference currently, however between now and the first race in Australia there are planned upgrades on most of the aerodynamic surfaces, wings, bodywork, bargeboards and additional bodywork components.
Alongside the development of the 2008 challenger, concept work has been started for the 2009 car since November 2007, with the KERS project (energy storage) beginning a year ago.
MP4-23 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
ENGINE
Type Mercedes-Benz FO 108V
Capacity 2.4 litre
No. of cylinders 8
Max. rpm 19,000 (FIA regulatory limit since 2007)
Bank angle 90O
Piston bore maximum98 mm (FIA regulation)
Bore spacing 106.5 mm
Number of valves 32
Fuel Mobil 1 Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
Lubricants Mobil 1, newly developed 2008 formula for lower friction and better wear resistance
Engine 95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight)
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox SpeedsSeven forward and one reverse
Semi-auto Yes
Driveshafts McLaren
Clutch Hand-operated
Chassis McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures.
Contains integral safety fuel cell
Front Suspension Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Rear Suspension Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Suspension Dampers Koni
Electronics McLaren Electronic Systems control units incorporating electronics for chassis, engine and data acquisition.
McLaren Electronic Systems also supplies the electronic dash board, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems
Bodywork Construction One-piece engine cover; separate sidepod covers; separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing.
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
Radios Kenwood
Race Wheels Enkei
Batteries GS Yuasa Corporation
Steering McLaren power-assisted
Instruments McLaren Electronic Systems
Q & A with Heikki Kovalainen
By Jonathan NobleMonday, January 7th 2008, 16:15 GMT
Q. Heikki, you said last year that you would not be joining a team unless they gave you an equal chance of winning the world championship. How do you feel about equal treatment at McLaren?
Heikki Kovalainen: Well, you almost answered the answered the question. I would not have come to a team if I did not think I had an equal chance to fight for the championship. With McLaren, I have that.
You do not know how the season is going to go, but at least to start with I have exactly the same opportunity as Lewis has, and it is up to me to build a relationship with the team and to make it as strong as I can. And we will see what happens. Absolutely, I have equal treatment.
Q. What are your feelings on the banning of driver aids? Some drivers say it will be too dangerous in the rain without traction control?
HK: I don't agree with that. I think F1 is already quite dangerous and without TC and without engine braking I think it is going to be a little more difficult, but all the drivers will adapt to it reasonably fast. I don't think it will make a big difference even for the results.
Maybe we will see some more mistakes, because it is easier to make a mistake with the car, but apart from that I don't think it will change that much.
Q. How do you like your new teammate?
HK: Surely we are very competitive and I will do everything to beat Lewis on the track. It will not be very easy as he had a great season last year, and he showed that he can win a championship. But I work with my crew and the team as much as I can to beat him, and he will do the same.
At the end of the day, whatever happens in the races I think we can laugh about it off the track. As he has said, we need to bring the team forward and push the team forward together. And that is what we try to do. We must not forget Pedro (de la Rosa) and Gary (Paffett), who are a help for our team as well.
I get on very well with Lewis, I have known him and his family for many years since go-kart days. I think we will push each other, but we can also push the team forward and we won't have any problem.
Q. Lewis has known the team for 10 years. How much of a disadvantage do you think it will be for you to get up to speed, and how soon do you think you can get up to speed and know everyone in the team?
HK: Well, that is obviously something I need to work on over this period of time between now and Melbourne. To be honest I already started it the day I signed the contract. The next day I was in the factory, going around and getting to know everybody and how the team works.
It is something I need to focus on a bit more than Lewis. He is already on autopilot, as he knows already how the team works. I need to find my way there, but I just have to work harder so by the time I get to Melbourne and the first few races, I should be up to speed and fully integrated into the team. The guys have welcomed me very well, so so far it has been very easy to be honest.
Q & A with Lewis Hamilton
By Jonathan NobleMonday, January 7th 2008, 16:29 GMT
Q. Last season was a fantastic season for you, as it was your rookie season. But overall have you recovered from the disappointment right at the very end, because to lose the world title as you did must have been a blow?
Lewis Hamilton: I wouldn't say it was a blow, but for sure you feel it. You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel anything. But I have definitely recovered from it, and I feel even stronger both mentally and physically - some of that is training, preparing for this season. I am just excited and probably even more determined than I have been in the past. And perhaps that experience (of losing the title) has encouraged that.
Q. Lewis, if you look back over your career, your second season in any category has been markedly better than your first. Are you expecting something similar in your second season of F1, or do you think you hit your top level pretty quickly and it's now just steady improvement?
LH: Heikki just said I will be going backwards! No, I think I agree with that first sentence there. It should be better...
Q. Lewis, did you enjoy your present from the team? And also, yesterday, at Ferrari, somebody told us that with the new regulations it will be harder for
your driving style because you use the tyres more than other people. Do you agree with that? Are you changing your driving style?
LH: I haven't changed my driving style, but for sure when you drive a car and come from traction control and turn it off, it is a slightly different technique you have to use. But in terms of driving it is pretty much the same, but I think it will be tricky for all the drivers.
I don't believe it is going to be harder for us than for any other team, and I think for us I guess it gives you, as a driver, more control. We have to do the best job we can do with it, and I think the best drivers will do the better job, so I guess you will see what happens during the season.
Q. Did you learn something from Fernando (Alonso) last year, and if so, what?
LH: I learned a lot from Fernando throughout the season, as I did with every teammate I worked with. I think you learn something outside the car with their personality, how they present themselves, and as a driver I am always striving to be more professional and to be more competitive as an all-round driver.
And each time you work with someone new you learn something. You can take a little bit, and because he has got more experience, I was able to extract some good from it. And also in the driving, he was a fantastic driver and I was able to improve with his help.
Q. A year ago you drove a GP2 car without traction control. Do you think it is an advantage for this time without traction control, compared to those drivers who have driven with traction control for five or six years already?
LH: I don't particularly think so. I think for all the drivers, they all came through F3000, Formula Renault or F3, so we all have had the experience and we have all got the ability and talent. As you can see in the testing, everyone is adapting quite quickly, and that is what we do as racing drivers – we adapt as quickly as possible. I don't believe there is an advantage but I think you will see some drivers can deal with it better than others.
Q. Was this the best birthday present you have had? And what do you think about your new teammate?
LH: Firstly, birthday presents. I haven't yet had the contract signed yet to say I will have the car to keep! So I can't really comment if it is the best birthday present yet…but I am working on it.
On Heikki, we have known each other for a while. Our friendship has grown over the years. I find it very easy to get on with him. As you can see, there is a mutual feeling between each other.
We both are very, very competitive and we both want to beat each other, but in doing that we will try and do the best job we can individually, but also to push the team forward and just enjoy the racing. At the end of the day that is what we are here to do.
Q. Last year it was an excellent season for you, but at the beginning of the season you started as the second driver. This year you start as first driver,
how much pressure do you feel and how much do you think it will change your role this year?
LH: I don't believe that I am starting as the first driver. As Heikki said earlier, we expect to have the exact same opportunity and I believe that is what we are going to be given. For sure, as teammates we are going to push to beat each other and push each other forward. We both want to win the world championship at the end of the day.
Whoever finishes higher, or is more consistent, or wins more, it doesn't mean they are the lead driver. As you saw at the end of the season, even though I was leading the world championship we were given the same opportunity. It didn't matter that I was leading. It just meant I had to work just as hard as always to stay ahead.
Q. And the pressure?
LH: No problem, no problem.
Q. So much happened last year, with you coming to F1 and nearly winning the title. How much has it changed you? And how different does it feel to start
the second season after that?
LH: As you know, it is a steep learning curve. If anything I think I just grew up. I grew up as a person and as a driver, and that is obviously the aim. With all the experiences you have, whether they are good or bad, you learn and you move forward. This year, I feel more at home, I feel more confident, I feel more relaxed and even more sure of what I want.
Q. Did you ever have the feeling that things were happening too fast, because it was so incredible what happened?
LH: I think I live my life in the fast lane. We are racing drivers, and for sure this year and 2007, everything came so quickly. But I think, for people, perhaps it seemed it was too quick, but if you look at my career, I have been racing 15 years. There was a lot of hard work from me and my family over a long period of time. So it wasn't too big a shock to the system.
Q. You talked about simply enjoying the racing this season. Does that stem from the fact that last season there was just so much politics in the background, and you didn't enjoy it as much as you should have done?
LH: I enjoyed the season. I thoroughly enjoyed last year, just the whole year, and all the way up until Christmas and the new year. It was the best year of my life. I know it can be better, and lots of things can matter for sure – but perhaps there will be less problems and politics, and hopefully we will enjoy it a bit better.
Q. Last year's car was based a lot on the driving style of Fernando Alonso. What did you ask McLaren to change on the MP4-23?
LH: First of all, the car wasn't based around Fernando. It was an evolution of the MP4-21, and it goes way back. Every year they develop the car, it is always an evolution of the previous season. My car last year was how I wanted it. He had his car set up how he wanted it and mine set up the way I wanted.
I haven't called the boss and said I want my car like this. The team are developing the car and moving forward to try and make the best car possible for this year, and it is down to me Heikki, Pedro and Gary to put in the mileage and to give the correct feedback and move the team forward.
Q. Lewis in terms of the championship, who are your biggest opponents?
LH: Same as last year, but perhaps now I have Heikki alongside me who has a great opportunity to really show his true colours in the team. I know that he is going to be pushing all the way and we will be pushing each other.
We haven't even got to the first test, or tested against each other yet, and when you get to the first race you perhaps still don't know how much you are going to be pushing each other. I have no doubt in my mind that Heikki will be one of the quickest guys there, and I think with the other guys there, whether Fernando will be up at the front we don't know.
But I expect the guys I was competing against last year, (Kimi) Raikkonen and (Felipe) Massa, and I do hope there are other teams up there with us, rather than just two F1 teams fighting for the world championship.
Please click here for the 2008 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes press pack (http://www.mclaren.com/mediaroom/presspack08/online/en/index.php)
More pics http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?S=F1&E=McLaren_Mercedes_MP4/Presentation&Y=2008
Stuttgart, Germany / Woking, UK, Monday 7th January 2008: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes today presented the MP4-23, the team’s 2008 Formula 1 car, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board, and Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group, welcomed all the guests to the official presentation, with Lewis Hamilton, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, and Heikki Kovalainen joined on stage by Pedro de la Rosa and fellow test driver Gary Paffett to unveil the MP4-23. The car was completed yesterday and left the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK at around 18:00 GMT on Sunday and was driven in a Mercedes-Benz Actros to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, having covered approximately 1000kms, arriving around 10:00 this morning.
Upon arrival in Stuttgart, the car was transported to the 53,000 sqm Mercedes-Benz Museum, one of the world’s largest and most renowned car museums. About 700 Mercedes-Benz employees from the nearby manufacturing plant Stuttgart-Untertürkheim had the opportunity to attend today’s event at the end of their early shift alongside the more than 400 media and other guests. The Mercedes-Benz employees had the opportunity to enter a draw of which the lucky winners were able to meet and spend some time with Lewis and Heikki.
Following today’s event the car will be transported to the Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain, where on Wednesday 9thJanuary Heikki and Pedro will start the test programme with two MP4-23 chassis at a private test. The team will remain at the circuit for five track days, excluding the weekend. Lewis will drive the 2008 car for the first time on Thursday 10th January alongside Heikki.
LEWIS HAMILTON
"The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 is the coolest birthday present you can get, well it is for me anyway! To see the car for the first time at such a great place as the Mercedes-Benz museum makes it an even more memorable day. I have had the past three weeks off and spent the time training and relaxing with family and friends. I know how much work has been going on in Woking, Brixworth and here in Stuttgart and it is a great looking car. My engineer has told me that approximately 14,000 manufacturing man hours have been involved to produce the car in time for today. I will be testing it for the first time on Thursday. It is going to be a busy time but myself, Heikki, who I welcome as my new teammate, and everyone within the team is looking forward to it as we push forward together."
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
"Today is my first official event as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver and it hasn’t come soon enough. After joining the team on the 14th December, I have already spent some time at the McLaren Technology Centre getting to know everybody and working with my engineers. It is also great to be here at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart today to meet the Mercedes-Benz employees, media and VIP guests for the first time as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. I was able to learn a lot last year, and hope to take that knowledge into the 2008 season. I am looking forward to contributing to the development of the car during the six main tests in the build-up to Melbourne. It is a really exciting time for me to be joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes."
Dr DIETER ZETSCHE, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE MANAGEMENT OF DAIMLER AG AND HEAD OF MERCEDES-BENZ CARS
"I am confident that, with Heikki and Lewis, we’ll have a very strong driver team on the track. All of us at Daimler are extremely proud of the tremendous track record of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. They prove once again: You can’t be with Daimler or Mercedes-Benz without wanting to belong to the best - that’s in the DNA of our company in a way. And that applies also for the motorsport."
RON DENNIS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, McLAREN GROUP
"The ultimate goal of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is to fight for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. We are looking forward to another competitive season as we look to build on the momentum of last year. Every single member of the team has worked extremely hard since the end of the 2007 season to get the MP4-23 on track as soon as possible, to ensure we have the maximum amount of testing time available before the cars leave for Australia. We are all extremely pleased to have the opportunity to launch our new car at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart underlining the strength of our partnership."
MARTIN WHITMARSH, CEO FORMULA 1, VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
"Development of the MP4-23 began in earnest 10 months ago and everyone in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart have worked very hard during the last few weeks, and particularly over the Christmas period, to make today’s presentation here in Stuttgart happen. In addition we have continued to benefit from tremendous support from all of our Technology Partners. We are confident, based upon the simulation and analysis which has been an integral part of the development process, that the MP4-23 represents a step forward. Of course we will continue to develop the car from now until the first race in Australia and see whether we have done enough to be at the level where we want to compete this coming season. From today we have 68 working days until the Australian Grand Prix, and everybody within the team is highly motivated to travel to Melbourne with the most competitive package possible."
NORBERT HAUG, VICE PRESIDENT, MERCEDES-BENZ MOTORSPORT
"Our Museum is a unique place for this event. More than 160 Mercedes-Benz cars, amongst them 30 historic racing cars representing more than 100 years of Mercedes-Benz motor sport heritage create a most remarkable environment for the presentation of the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23. I am really pleased that we are able to present with this car launch many of our colleagues from the nearby Untertürkheim manufacturing plant a New Years surprise today. The media presence at our compact presentation today was massive, which is an additional motivation for everybody in the team to start the 2008 season with the target to finish one point ahead instead of one point behind the opposition."
DAVID WHELDON, GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER AND BRAND EXPERIENCE, VODAFONE
"Vodafone is delighted to be entering this second season as Title Sponsor and Official Mobile Partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. Formula 1 is all about 'Making the most of Now' and similarly, we want all our customers to get the most out of their time. We look forward to building on our successful partnership and wish the team all the best for the 2008 season."
MP4-23 FACTFILE
The first design meeting for the MP4-23 took place back in November 2006 with early layout work starting in March 2007.
Wind tunnel work commenced in late May 2007.
Since then the MP4-23 has spent over 3000 hours being developed in the wind tunnel.
The first MP4-23 chassis was ready for bonding in mid November 2007.
Lewis Hamilton, Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett had their provisional seat fittings for the MP4-23 back in September 2007. Heikki Kovalainen was fitted for his seat shortly after being announced as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver.
The car build process for chassis 1 began in early December 2007 and was finished in early January 2008.
Throughout the development process 150 different engineers have been involved in the whole project in all disciplines.
14000 engineering man hours have so far been put into the MP4-23 development project.
A similar number applies to the manufacturing man hours involved to produce the MP4-23 in time for its track debut on the 9th January 2008.
The MP4-23 is an evolution of the MP4-22 and as such there is no significant visual difference currently, however between now and the first race in Australia there are planned upgrades on most of the aerodynamic surfaces, wings, bodywork, bargeboards and additional bodywork components.
Alongside the development of the 2008 challenger, concept work has been started for the 2009 car since November 2007, with the KERS project (energy storage) beginning a year ago.
MP4-23 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
ENGINE
Type Mercedes-Benz FO 108V
Capacity 2.4 litre
No. of cylinders 8
Max. rpm 19,000 (FIA regulatory limit since 2007)
Bank angle 90O
Piston bore maximum98 mm (FIA regulation)
Bore spacing 106.5 mm
Number of valves 32
Fuel Mobil 1 Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
Lubricants Mobil 1, newly developed 2008 formula for lower friction and better wear resistance
Engine 95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight)
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox SpeedsSeven forward and one reverse
Semi-auto Yes
Driveshafts McLaren
Clutch Hand-operated
Chassis McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures.
Contains integral safety fuel cell
Front Suspension Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Rear Suspension Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Suspension Dampers Koni
Electronics McLaren Electronic Systems control units incorporating electronics for chassis, engine and data acquisition.
McLaren Electronic Systems also supplies the electronic dash board, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems
Bodywork Construction One-piece engine cover; separate sidepod covers; separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing.
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
Radios Kenwood
Race Wheels Enkei
Batteries GS Yuasa Corporation
Steering McLaren power-assisted
Instruments McLaren Electronic Systems
Q & A with Heikki Kovalainen
By Jonathan NobleMonday, January 7th 2008, 16:15 GMT
Q. Heikki, you said last year that you would not be joining a team unless they gave you an equal chance of winning the world championship. How do you feel about equal treatment at McLaren?
Heikki Kovalainen: Well, you almost answered the answered the question. I would not have come to a team if I did not think I had an equal chance to fight for the championship. With McLaren, I have that.
You do not know how the season is going to go, but at least to start with I have exactly the same opportunity as Lewis has, and it is up to me to build a relationship with the team and to make it as strong as I can. And we will see what happens. Absolutely, I have equal treatment.
Q. What are your feelings on the banning of driver aids? Some drivers say it will be too dangerous in the rain without traction control?
HK: I don't agree with that. I think F1 is already quite dangerous and without TC and without engine braking I think it is going to be a little more difficult, but all the drivers will adapt to it reasonably fast. I don't think it will make a big difference even for the results.
Maybe we will see some more mistakes, because it is easier to make a mistake with the car, but apart from that I don't think it will change that much.
Q. How do you like your new teammate?
HK: Surely we are very competitive and I will do everything to beat Lewis on the track. It will not be very easy as he had a great season last year, and he showed that he can win a championship. But I work with my crew and the team as much as I can to beat him, and he will do the same.
At the end of the day, whatever happens in the races I think we can laugh about it off the track. As he has said, we need to bring the team forward and push the team forward together. And that is what we try to do. We must not forget Pedro (de la Rosa) and Gary (Paffett), who are a help for our team as well.
I get on very well with Lewis, I have known him and his family for many years since go-kart days. I think we will push each other, but we can also push the team forward and we won't have any problem.
Q. Lewis has known the team for 10 years. How much of a disadvantage do you think it will be for you to get up to speed, and how soon do you think you can get up to speed and know everyone in the team?
HK: Well, that is obviously something I need to work on over this period of time between now and Melbourne. To be honest I already started it the day I signed the contract. The next day I was in the factory, going around and getting to know everybody and how the team works.
It is something I need to focus on a bit more than Lewis. He is already on autopilot, as he knows already how the team works. I need to find my way there, but I just have to work harder so by the time I get to Melbourne and the first few races, I should be up to speed and fully integrated into the team. The guys have welcomed me very well, so so far it has been very easy to be honest.
Q & A with Lewis Hamilton
By Jonathan NobleMonday, January 7th 2008, 16:29 GMT
Q. Last season was a fantastic season for you, as it was your rookie season. But overall have you recovered from the disappointment right at the very end, because to lose the world title as you did must have been a blow?
Lewis Hamilton: I wouldn't say it was a blow, but for sure you feel it. You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel anything. But I have definitely recovered from it, and I feel even stronger both mentally and physically - some of that is training, preparing for this season. I am just excited and probably even more determined than I have been in the past. And perhaps that experience (of losing the title) has encouraged that.
Q. Lewis, if you look back over your career, your second season in any category has been markedly better than your first. Are you expecting something similar in your second season of F1, or do you think you hit your top level pretty quickly and it's now just steady improvement?
LH: Heikki just said I will be going backwards! No, I think I agree with that first sentence there. It should be better...
Q. Lewis, did you enjoy your present from the team? And also, yesterday, at Ferrari, somebody told us that with the new regulations it will be harder for
your driving style because you use the tyres more than other people. Do you agree with that? Are you changing your driving style?
LH: I haven't changed my driving style, but for sure when you drive a car and come from traction control and turn it off, it is a slightly different technique you have to use. But in terms of driving it is pretty much the same, but I think it will be tricky for all the drivers.
I don't believe it is going to be harder for us than for any other team, and I think for us I guess it gives you, as a driver, more control. We have to do the best job we can do with it, and I think the best drivers will do the better job, so I guess you will see what happens during the season.
Q. Did you learn something from Fernando (Alonso) last year, and if so, what?
LH: I learned a lot from Fernando throughout the season, as I did with every teammate I worked with. I think you learn something outside the car with their personality, how they present themselves, and as a driver I am always striving to be more professional and to be more competitive as an all-round driver.
And each time you work with someone new you learn something. You can take a little bit, and because he has got more experience, I was able to extract some good from it. And also in the driving, he was a fantastic driver and I was able to improve with his help.
Q. A year ago you drove a GP2 car without traction control. Do you think it is an advantage for this time without traction control, compared to those drivers who have driven with traction control for five or six years already?
LH: I don't particularly think so. I think for all the drivers, they all came through F3000, Formula Renault or F3, so we all have had the experience and we have all got the ability and talent. As you can see in the testing, everyone is adapting quite quickly, and that is what we do as racing drivers – we adapt as quickly as possible. I don't believe there is an advantage but I think you will see some drivers can deal with it better than others.
Q. Was this the best birthday present you have had? And what do you think about your new teammate?
LH: Firstly, birthday presents. I haven't yet had the contract signed yet to say I will have the car to keep! So I can't really comment if it is the best birthday present yet…but I am working on it.
On Heikki, we have known each other for a while. Our friendship has grown over the years. I find it very easy to get on with him. As you can see, there is a mutual feeling between each other.
We both are very, very competitive and we both want to beat each other, but in doing that we will try and do the best job we can individually, but also to push the team forward and just enjoy the racing. At the end of the day that is what we are here to do.
Q. Last year it was an excellent season for you, but at the beginning of the season you started as the second driver. This year you start as first driver,
how much pressure do you feel and how much do you think it will change your role this year?
LH: I don't believe that I am starting as the first driver. As Heikki said earlier, we expect to have the exact same opportunity and I believe that is what we are going to be given. For sure, as teammates we are going to push to beat each other and push each other forward. We both want to win the world championship at the end of the day.
Whoever finishes higher, or is more consistent, or wins more, it doesn't mean they are the lead driver. As you saw at the end of the season, even though I was leading the world championship we were given the same opportunity. It didn't matter that I was leading. It just meant I had to work just as hard as always to stay ahead.
Q. And the pressure?
LH: No problem, no problem.
Q. So much happened last year, with you coming to F1 and nearly winning the title. How much has it changed you? And how different does it feel to start
the second season after that?
LH: As you know, it is a steep learning curve. If anything I think I just grew up. I grew up as a person and as a driver, and that is obviously the aim. With all the experiences you have, whether they are good or bad, you learn and you move forward. This year, I feel more at home, I feel more confident, I feel more relaxed and even more sure of what I want.
Q. Did you ever have the feeling that things were happening too fast, because it was so incredible what happened?
LH: I think I live my life in the fast lane. We are racing drivers, and for sure this year and 2007, everything came so quickly. But I think, for people, perhaps it seemed it was too quick, but if you look at my career, I have been racing 15 years. There was a lot of hard work from me and my family over a long period of time. So it wasn't too big a shock to the system.
Q. You talked about simply enjoying the racing this season. Does that stem from the fact that last season there was just so much politics in the background, and you didn't enjoy it as much as you should have done?
LH: I enjoyed the season. I thoroughly enjoyed last year, just the whole year, and all the way up until Christmas and the new year. It was the best year of my life. I know it can be better, and lots of things can matter for sure – but perhaps there will be less problems and politics, and hopefully we will enjoy it a bit better.
Q. Last year's car was based a lot on the driving style of Fernando Alonso. What did you ask McLaren to change on the MP4-23?
LH: First of all, the car wasn't based around Fernando. It was an evolution of the MP4-21, and it goes way back. Every year they develop the car, it is always an evolution of the previous season. My car last year was how I wanted it. He had his car set up how he wanted it and mine set up the way I wanted.
I haven't called the boss and said I want my car like this. The team are developing the car and moving forward to try and make the best car possible for this year, and it is down to me Heikki, Pedro and Gary to put in the mileage and to give the correct feedback and move the team forward.
Q. Lewis in terms of the championship, who are your biggest opponents?
LH: Same as last year, but perhaps now I have Heikki alongside me who has a great opportunity to really show his true colours in the team. I know that he is going to be pushing all the way and we will be pushing each other.
We haven't even got to the first test, or tested against each other yet, and when you get to the first race you perhaps still don't know how much you are going to be pushing each other. I have no doubt in my mind that Heikki will be one of the quickest guys there, and I think with the other guys there, whether Fernando will be up at the front we don't know.
But I expect the guys I was competing against last year, (Kimi) Raikkonen and (Felipe) Massa, and I do hope there are other teams up there with us, rather than just two F1 teams fighting for the world championship.