McLaren unveiled the new 2010 Formula 1 car: the MP4-25.
The 2010 car look great. The MP4-25 looks relatively similar to last year’s MP4-24 car. Although this time round the car has a longer wheelbase due to the fuel tank volume increase, which has to contain enough fuel to last an entire race distance in 2010.
You looked unstoppable around the Abu Dhabi circuit, but the race brought the first mechanical retirement of your Formula 1 career – was it a weekend of mixed fortunes?
Not really. Of course, it’s disappointing not to finish a race – particularly when you’re at the front leading it – but I have to be realistic: to have got through nearly three seasons of racing and to only now be stopped by a mechanical failure is an incredible statistic.
You almost take reliability for granted these days, so it was weird to be stood in the garage watching the race rather than being in it. But I think we can all be proud of what we’ve achieved this year. We started the season with what was the slowest car in the field, but we never gave up, and on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, you could argue that we had the fastest car out there. That’s an absolutely incredible achievement – and I can’t think of a single team other than Vodafone McLaren Mercedes that could have done that.
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As most Formula 1 fans are probably aware of what happened after the Melbourne race this matter will (hopefully) be resolved and taken off the table and F1 can continue as normal again (if there is such a thing).
Lewis made a mistake. This is now a fact as admitted by Lewis in the video below. Unfortunately this is being used (and abused) by the media calling Lewis a “liar” publicly on front pages (even before Lewis admitted this and laid out the facts). This is simply not acceptable and is outrageous. Especially for a relatively minor incident Lewis is being portrayed to be a nasty person who lies often.
This is simply not the case. Anybody can see this if they’re watching.
All this negative press is not good for Hamilton’s image, especially for all the young and aspiring racing drivers and fans. It seems the media is being overly harsh against Lewis and frankly – the punishment does not fit the crime, it exceeds it by miles!
The whole situation simply does not seem fair on Lewis. I don’t know of a single Formula 1 driver who hasn’t made a mistake before, but I know fewer how are man enough to admit it.
Regarding Jarno Trulli: I can understand that he was upset as he temporarily lost his third place – as anybody racer would be.
Ok, enough of the chatter, let see and listen to the man himself has to say…
Lewis Hamilton has been excluded from the Australian Grand Prix after the overtaking Jarno Trulli. Previously Jarno had reveived a 25-second penalty but now Trulli has now has his 3rd position reinstated and Lewis Hamilton lost his 3rd position.
Apparently Lewis or McLaren had giving ‘misleading’ information to the stewards by giving them a different version of the events which have been said said publicly shortly before.
We are disappointed by what has happened but in the circumstances we are not going to appeal. There is no implication that Lewis lied to the stewards.
As I understand there is a belief that the team was not explicit enough in the content of the radio communications to the stewards. What they believe is that the omission of the information about the radio communication between the team was withheld and that is misleading.
I believe it was a harsh decision. Lewis made a legitimate pass and then was repassed – at the time the team asked race control several times about the repass but they were too busy to answer that question so we felt the decision in the immediate aftermath was fair. I think it’s a regrettable day. It certainly wasn’t a deliberate attempt (to mislead the stewards).
The medal system which was put forward last year by Bernie Ecclestone and approved by the FIA are now being back tracked and axed – only days before the the Formula 1 season starts in Melbourne.
The simple aim of the medal system, which basically means that the driver with the most race-wins wins the Formula 1 driver’s championship,was to make F1 more exciting with drivers going for a win rather than taking 8 points for second position.
FOTA had recommended a 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 points system, but the FIA World Motor Sport Council instead voted in favour of Bernie Ecclestone’s idea for the title to automatically go to the driver with the most race wins, with the points only being used to decide tie-breaks and the lesser positions.
There have been numerous criticisms of the medal system including from Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher.
The Formula 1 season will soon be upon us again. The first race will be on the 29th of March in Melbourne, Australia, in a few weeks time.
The 2009 season looks to be reintroducing wider competitiveness into Formula 1, for the top teams anyway according to Massa. Most teams seems to be behind schedule with KERS – the kinetic energy retention system. This will allow the drivers to store energy which is generated from braking, for instance, this then can be used to give a temporary boost. This can be very useful for overtaking – as this is one of the main purposes.
Update: The 2010 MP4-25 McLaren
McLaren unveiled the new 2009 Formula 1 car: the MP4-24.
The car looks quite different from the 2008 because of the numerous regulation changes that come into effect in 2009.
The rear wing just looks… well, ‘different’ than what we’re used to from last year. I must admit that the new F1 cars do take a while to get used to. They look like lower formula cars now – simpler and less sophisticated. 
At least we’ve got slick tyres again!
Lewis Hamilton is runner-up of the BBC sports personality of the year 2008!
Unlucky Lewis! I really thought sports personality of the year was on the cards! You’ll probably win in next year (2nd time lucky 
).
A behind the scenes and sneak peek video of Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren team getting the car ready for the Singapre Grand Prix night race.
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