With the MP4-29, gone are naturally aspirated engines - a Formula One mainstay for a quarter of a century. Replacing them are 1.6-litre V6 hybrid power units, which sophisticatedly integrate turbocharging and turbocompounding systems, fuel flow restrictions, and a powerful energy recovery system.
The new regulations further represent the biggest and most dynamic change to the sport since its inception in 1950, and are duly destined to re-shape grand prix racing.
According to McLaren, the MP4-29 will potentially undergo more technical changes throughout a single season than any other car in McLaren's long history. The front end is designed to adhere to new safety regulations regarding the height of the front of the nose while also allowing airflow to the floor of the car.
It also features narrower front wing and a solo exhaust exiting at the middle of the rear in line with the 2014 regulations. The higher cooling requirements have resulted in bigger sidepod openings. After 20 long years, the forthcoming season is McLaren's last with engine partner Mercedes-Benz as it returns to Honda sourced units from 2015.
Former world Champion, Jenson Button, returns for his fifth season with the team and McLaren believes his experience, level-headedness and innate ability to read the behaviour of a racing car will be a powerful asset to the team. Replacing Sergio Perez is, 21-year old, Kevin Magnussen, who joins having proven with a stunning record in Renault Word Series 3.5. His eagerness and commitment is expected to sync perfectly with Jenson's experience, providing a perfectly balanced driver pairing.
"I don't think anybody will be coming out of this first test feeling certain that they've cracked this new formula. I think it'll be more of a case of slowly peeling away successive layers as the engineers and designers gather more information and gain an understanding of how the cars and power-units are behaving - and we'll see that being gradually refined throughout the forthcoming tests and into the opening races," explained Jenson Button.
