McLaren reveals their MP4-26 F1 car in Berlin

McLaren chose to reveal their car after the first round of Formula One testing last week, having run last year's car during the Valencia sessions. The decision was clearly tactical, as McLaren used the extra time to further develop their car to help it come to grips with the new Pirelli tyres for this season.

As McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button said, "I am sure they are saying also that they have got an advantage because they are driving the new car already, and doing set-up work, KERS work and rear wing work, but I think that for us as a team we understand KERS and that is important. I think it was important for us to spend as much time as possible building our car and that when we get it on the circuit it is competitive. For us it was the best situation to go to Valencia with the old car and to drive the new Pirellis, and it is good because we can compare the tyres - and you can get lost if there is so much going on. We have had to limit also some set-up changes and really think about what we are doing, because you are just getting used to the tyre the whole time. But we found some really interesting things at the test and we should be happy with what we have learned."

The MP4-26 has some unique design features, such as the long flat high nose, radical, high L-shaped side-pods, and air-box modifications. The exhaust layout is also more standard, compared to the radically-styled ones of its rivals such as Renault.

Martin Whitmarsh, team principal of the McLaren-Mercedes team, is confident of their chances for the upcoming season. "With Lewis and Jenson, we have two of the most exciting, charismatic and high-profile personalities in the sport, and the whole team feels a powerful sense of responsibility to provide them with the very best machinery with which to showcase their very evident talents to the world," explained Whitmarsh.

"The MP4-26 is the result of an incredible amount of hard work, innovative thinking and dynamic teamwork. Under the leadership of Paddy Lowe [technical director], Tim Goss [engineering director] and Neil Oatley [director of design and development programmes], our design department is more integrated than ever. While we're all hopeful of once more adding to our tremendous record in Formula One, this sport is so unpredictable and finely pitched at the moment that it's impossible accurately to forecast the state of play until the season starts next month. That's a tantalising prospect for Formula One's many millions of existing fans - and, I hope, something that will attract many millions more by the end of what looks set to be an absolutely fantastic year," he added.