McLaren presented their 2010 car to the world on Friday, when the MP4-25 was unveiled at the UK headquarters of sponsors Vodafone. The team hope the new machine will maintain their strong momentum from the latter part of 2009 and put them firmly back in title contention.

With its dramatic looking engine-cover fin, the car will bear the prestigious number one, thanks to reigning world champion Jenson Button joining McLaren from the former Brawn team to partner fellow Briton – and 2008 champion – Lewis Hamilton.

“I’m incredibly proud to be standing here today knowing I’ll be carrying the number one for the whole season: that’s a great responsibility but also a great honour,” said Button. “It’s something I’m relishing. From the very first day of testing, I’ll be working with the team to learn about the car and to develop it ahead of the first race. I’ve said it before: the pace of development in those opening tests could well determine the outcome of the championship.”

The 2010 McLaren looks noticeably different from last year’s race-winning MP4-24. It features a radical aerodynamic overhaul and a significantly larger fuel tank to take full advantage of this year’s new regulations, and its design team is confident it has explored every possible avenue to maximise the car’s performance. Horsepower once again comes from a subtly improved Mercedes-Benz FO 108X V8 engine.


Michael Schumacher, Mercedes-Benz; Valencia testing, Spain; Monday February 1st, 2010.
As Schumacher became accustomed to the car and the latest generation of tyres, he reduced his lap time to 1min 12.947sec, the third fastest of the day.
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Formula 1 will have a new points system for the 2010 after an agreement between the governing body (FIA) and the teams.

The new system will see places rewarded in a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 sequence.

F1 bosses believe a seven-point gap between first and second place, rather than the current two-point separation, will promote a ‘race-to-win’ attitude.

New tyre rules mean drivers must start races on the same tyres they set their grid time in, while ‘double diffusers’ will be banned from 2011.

The Formula 1 Commission, a decision-making forum for the teams and major stakeholders, agreed the amendments to the sporting and technical regulations at a meeting on Monday.