01 – Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Credit: www.mclaren.com

Stats

• Team Principal: Martin Whitmarsh
• Factory: Woking, UK
• Website: mclaren.com
• Drivers: Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton
• F1 Debut: Monaco 1966
• Championships: 8 WCC, 12 WDC

Full WCC Results

• 1966 – 9th
• 1967 – 10th
• 1968 – 2nd
• 1969 – 5th
• 1970 – 5th
• 1971 – 6th
• 1972 – 3rd
• 1973 – 3rd
• 1974 – 1st
• 1975 – 3rd
• 1976 – 2nd
• 1977 – 3rd
• 1978 – 8th
• 1979 – 7th
• 1980 – 9th
• 1981 – 6th
• 1982 – 2nd
• 1983 – 5th
• 1984 – 1st
• 1985 – 1st
• 1986 – 2nd
• 1987 – 2nd
• 1988 – 1st
• 1989 – 1st
• 1990 – 1st
• 1991 – 1st
• 1992 – 2nd
• 1993 – 2nd
• 1994 – 4th
• 1995 – 4th
• 1996 – 4th
• 1997 – 4th
• 1998 – 1st
• 1999 – 2nd
• 2000 – 2nd
• 2001 – 2nd
• 2002 – 3rd
• 2003 – 3rd
• 2004 – 5th
• 2005 – 2nd
• 2006 – 3rd
• 2007 – Excluded
• 2008 – 2nd
• 2009 – 3rd
• 2010 –

2010 Preview

From the F1 Digest 2010 Season Preview:

So far, we have two teams where the drivers appear to be more important than any of the other developments. It’s fair to say that McLaren outweigh them all. The first team in goodness knows how long to pair the two latest champions with each other. Two British drivers, with big personalities, and who, so far, appear to be getting on okay. Already, though, there have been plenty of notes that Lewis Hamilton doesn’t seem as happy as he did even last year when he had a terrible car. Jenson is bouncy bouncy, happy with his new challenge. Hamilton seems more reserved, wary of what lies ahead. He has experience of difficult teammates though, so it makes sense that he would be treading carefully to begin with.

Meanwhile, the car itself was launched in spectacular style, well, compared to the other teams anyway. Far from the Technology Centre, and nestled in the surrounds of Vodafone HQ, McLaren invited the press and bloggers to watch the MP4-25 be unveiled. All reports would suggest they were quite impressed with what they saw. The engine cover is reminiscent of the regular shark fin but extends further back to attach itself onto the rear wing, similar to the Red Bull of last year. The nose looks quite similar to the 2009 version, although a little less bulky and quite a lot higher. The McLaren also seems to be longer than it’s predecessor, which is a bit of a trend this year. The livery is still very much the same silver and red that we’ve seen for the past couple of years, and it’s plastered with Vodafone stickers.

Pre-season testing has looked slightly worrying for the team, as the car has been sporting plenty of flow vis and measuring dongles, just like last year. In 2009, things started badly but improved very quickly. I hope they can avoid a similar performance in 2010, and that the green paint is just an aid, rather than a desperate measure to find some pace. They’ll be hoping for vast improvements over this time last year, and perhaps to continue the momentum from Hamilton’s couple of wins towards the end of the season. If he and Jenson are competitive, then we really might see sparks flying.