Vodafone McLaren Mercedes presented its MP4-23 this morning in Stuttgart and it was significant that the launch was attended by Dr Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of the Daimler Board and the boss of Mercedes-Benz - and by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, who was prominently featured in the launch.
There was no sign of FIA President Max Mosley.
"All of us at Daimler are extremely proud of the tremendous track record of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team," Zetsche said. "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."
The message was unspoken but clear. Mercedes-Benz is quite happy to be associated with the team despite all the problems that it has faced in the course of the last 12 months. In this respect the presence of Ecclestone was also significant as he does not usually attend team launches.
It is also clear from the cars that the team has retained the support of all of its major sponsors. The only major changes are the disappearance of Spanish insurance firm Mutua Madrilena, which has jumped ship following the departure of Fernando Alonso, and Henkel. Johnnie Walker has moved from the bargeboards to the rear wing endplates. It is perhaps worth noting that there are now no sponsors on the bargeboards nor on the front wing endplates.
The car itself looks remarkably similar to last year's MP4-22 but is a completely new design which McLaren dates back to a first design meeting in November 2006. Design work began under chief engineer Tom Goss in March 2007 and in May the team began 3000 hours of windtunnel testing. McLaren says that the entire development process has involved 150 different engineers and 14,000 man-hours. At the moment there is little visual difference between the new car and the MP4-22 but the team says that a series of aerodynamic upgrades are now planned before the finished car appears in Australia.
"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," says Martin Whitmarsh. "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."
Pictures/wallpapers of McLaren MP4-23
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
McLaren MP4-23
Ferrari F2008
The Ferrari F2008 is a Formula One motor racing car, which Scuderia Ferrari will use to compete in the 2008 Formula One season.
The car was unveiled to the public on January 6, 2008. It features a new electronic system called Standard Electronic Control Unit (SECU) produced by McLaren Electronic Systems. It also weighs more than last season's F2007 chassis due to rule changes which includes the gearbox which has to be used for four consecutive races, higher side protection around the drivers helmet etc.
The SECU also removes most of the driver aids used in previous seasons, including traction control, engine braking and electronically assisted starting system. It also makes the management of the differential, engine and gearchanges easier.
World champion Kimi Räikkönen gave the car its first shakedown at Ferrari's Fiorano test track on January 7th 2008.
Pictures/wallpapers of Ferrari F2008
BMW Sauber F1.08
New BMW Sauber F1.08
On August 21, BMW confirmed its driver line-up of Heidfeld and Kubica for the 2008 season. Their 2008 car, the F1.08 was officially launched in Munich at BMW Welt on January 14th, 2008. It made its track debut at Valencia the next day, with Robert Kubica driving.
The BMW Sauber F1.08 the car that BMW Sauber will compete in the 2008 Formula One season starting in Melbourne.
2008 Standard RulesThe FIA have implemented a set of rules for the 2008 season that will see all teams use one gearbox for 4 races and a standard MES ECU system that prevents the use of driving aids such as traction control and engine braking.
Technicial Developments of F1.08
The sidepod areas have undergone massive changes for 2008, they have also cleaned up the area infront of the rear wing this makes the air flow cleaner and smoother over the car to the rear wing increasing downforce. The F1.08 has also learned from McLaren and introduced a new front wing that is suspended beyond the nose and is more than the usall 2 profile front wing, the F1.08 has a triple profile front wing.
Livery & Sponsorship
The BMW Sauber team has kept the simple white livery for the 2008 season as it has gone with on the previous two seasons, but has had a sponsor change O2 have been replaced by T-Systems, Cadence Design Systems have also became a official equipment supplier for the 2008 season. The team are continued to be sponsored and supported by Petronas, Intel, Dell and Credit Suisse for the 2008 season.
Early 2008 Testing
In testing the F1.08 the BMW Sauber team had a three day exclusive test at the Valencia circuit in Spain, Nick Heidfield had the duty of testing the F1.08 whilst team mate Kubica took the F1.07B out on their exclusive test. However when the team returned to the same circuit to test the F1.08 on 23 January, the car was shown to be slow, in comparison to the team's pace the previous season, starting rumors that the car is slow, but technial director Willy Rampf has played down the rumors, Willy Rampf has confirmed that the car will be running in a revised form at the Barcelona test on 1 to 3 Febuary 2008.
Pictures/wallpapers of BMW Sauber F1.08
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