Lewis to debut 2011 carposted in F121 | 01 | 2011
LEWIS HAMILTON will give the 2011 McLaren MP4-26 its first drive of the year immediately after it's unveiled at the second Formula One test at Jerez on February 10. The team will use an interim car for the first winter at Valencia from February 1-3.
After Hamilton (pictured) gives the 2011 car its first run at Jerez, he and team-mate Button will alternate for the remainder of the pre-season testing build-up at Barcelona and Bahrain.
McLaren believes delaying the introduction of the 2011 car will give it more chances to win the world championship this year. And McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh was quick to confirm the team's decision is tactical and that the outfit’s plans are not late.
"The MP4-26 is on schedule and will be launched on February 4, after which it will go through the normal testing processes," Whitmarsh said. "We feel that timetable is optimal with regard to providing Jenson and Lewis with the best possible package for the first race in Bahrain."
With new F1 regulations being introduced this season — including the reintroduction of KERS — the team’s interpretation of the rules will only be shown in Jerez, meaning the other teams will have less time to copy any unique concepts the new car may feature. And Whitmarsh, whose team introduced the F-duct last season, has hinted at further innovations for 2011.
"There are new regulations for 2011, and the MP4-26 will not only adhere to them but it will also sport a few fresh design features in response to the opportunities presented by those new regulations," he explained. "So, yes, there will be some new elements, but as you can imagine I'm not prepared to add more detail at the moment.
"As ever, it's impossible to make firm predictions for the forthcoming season, but we think we're on course to be competitive. Having said that, we never underestimate our opposition and we're sure they're working every bit as hard as we are."
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