McLaren MP4-26 launch – first pictures
2011 F1 cars
McLaren have launched their 2011 F1 car in Berlin.
Here are the first pictures of the car.
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26 launch, Berlin, 2011
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
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- McLaren MP4-26
McLaren staged an unusual launch in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz. Competition winners brought different pieces of the car and they were assembled together in front of the public and press.
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “I think today’s innovative launch demonstrates the enthusiasm within Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to engage the general public; to show them that our sport is intense and exciting and that we’re very keen to showcase Formula 1 to the wider world.”
As well as featuring KERS and an adjustable rear wing, as permitted by the 2011 rules, the MP4-26 sports an unusual U-shaped sidepod arrangement. McLaren say the layout is to direct air to the rear of the car more efficiently.
McLaren will conduct a shakedown test with the car at the Idiada Proving Ground in Spain on Tuesday, before arriving at Jerez for the second F1 test two days later.
You can also view the McLaren MP4-26 in 3D on the team’s website.
2011 F1 cars
- HRT F111 seen for the first time in Barcelona
- Williams FW33 livery revealed
- Force India VJM04 – first pictures
- Virgin MVR-02 launch – first pictures
- McLaren MP4-26 launch – first pictures
- Toro Rosso STR6 launch – first pictures
- Mercedes W02 launch – first pictures
- Red Bull RB7 launch – first pictures
- Renault R31 launch – first pictures
- Sauber C30 launch – first pictures
Browse all 2011 F1 cars articles
Images © F1 Fanatic, www.mclaren.com
Jeremy said on 4th February 2011, 12:39
…ahh sounds like I have the wrong end of the stick. Intriguing bit, anyway. Overall a shape that looks like it embodies myriad clever ideas. Slinky!
PJA said on 4th February 2011, 12:45
Because I have been busy at work I haven’t really been following testing or had a chance to have a good look at the other 2011 cars. First impressions are that I like the MP4-26
The front wing looks rather complex. I thought they may have put a more basic one on for the launch.
Also they McLaren still don’t have a sponsor on the back of the rear wing, which I find a bit surprising as it is one of the main areas for sponsors.
The Last Pope (@the-last-pope) said on 4th February 2011, 13:25
Yeah I couldn’t understand last year why they didn’t have any sponsor logo there. That area features so heavily in the incar camera view of a car close behind, you would think Mclaren would want to make use of that especialy if cars will now be able to get closer behind others.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 4th February 2011, 12:50
The airbox-in-an-airbox remins me of the xenomorph from Alien and the way it had a mouth in its mouth.
DobarDabar said on 4th February 2011, 12:53
I’m Ferrari fan, but… this is beautiful!! Go McLaren! I think this is a winner.
Ant W said on 4th February 2011, 12:54
That is last years front and rear wings.
Why use your new front wings and give the competition stuff to think about. Keep them guessing.
This is a base aero package and is likely to be different at the first race. Even ferrari, williams, renault and mercedes used last years front wings at valencia.
pobtoon said on 4th February 2011, 12:55
that is one crazy looking car. Hope all these radical designs pay off.
Ben said on 4th February 2011, 12:56
Shape of the sidepods strikes me as being inspired by the streamliners they used to use on the high-speed circuits back in the pre-war days and the 50′s.
At the time the bodywork would cover the wheels which gave them bulges on either side of the car. The effect these sidepods have with the channels formed by the side bulges and raised centre section reminds me a bit of that shape.
Oliver said on 4th February 2011, 17:08
Exactly what I have been thinking. Reminds me of some old Auto union race cars of way back. The only difference being that the wheels would have been directly mounted on what we now call the sidepod.
renzo said on 4th February 2011, 12:59
It looks very well developed and innovative in all the areas except from the nose that is in countertrend from the others teams.
Maybe just the renault’s front exhaust exit seems to be the much radical innovation at the moment.
Anyway it looks better than Ferrari which has lost any sign of innovation
S.J.M said on 4th February 2011, 13:05
To be fair, we have no idea where the Mclaren exhaust is going to end/come out. Heres a pic of it from earlier
http://yfrog.com/f/h8c7dwfj/
Its just ‘there’ but with no showing where it blows to.
renzo said on 4th February 2011, 13:13
it looks like it will be in a similar position as the RB7, but I don’t think it will be at the front as renault (which still has to prove the efficiency of the solution).
Jon E said on 4th February 2011, 13:15
look at pic 12 & 19 on official f1 site
Jon E said on 4th February 2011, 13:19
http://www.formula1.com/gallery/launches/2011/565.html
Jon E said on 4th February 2011, 13:26
Jon E said on 4th February 2011, 13:27
that was from
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89292
Oliver said on 4th February 2011, 17:14
That plastic engine is so small, it must be a 2stroke concept.
Vitaredux said on 4th February 2011, 13:02
I love that its so different. Either gonna be awesome or an epic fail.
Can’t wait for scarbs to cast his eye over it and tell me what its all for: http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/
Patrick T said on 4th February 2011, 13:04
I love this car. I like that they don’t use the gimmicky front nose like everybody else. I love the sidepod idea. Idk if the nose is narrower than last years, but if not the way it’s painted makes it look that way and it’s great.
PierrePeter said on 4th February 2011, 13:04
WhooHoo, ahm… STRANGE :)
Dev said on 4th February 2011, 13:08
This car will win the championship!! period.
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:12
heres a quick pic of the Mclaren comapred to the Ferrari. Again ive tried to scale it as best i can (according to rim size)
the ferrari nose is a heck of a lot longer..
http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad33/NEM087/F1%202011/mp4-26f150compare.png
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:13
also the Ferrari is alot slimmer at the back
Mouse_Nightshirt (@mouse_nightshirt) said on 4th February 2011, 13:17
Gotta be careful saying it’s slimmer. Don’t forget the McLaren is missing a considerable chunk of volume in that sidepod.
And remember the Toyota’s nose from last season? It was virtually non existent!
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:26
thats true.. looking and the mclarenf rom a different angle it seems quite tall at the back but also quite narrow i width
Hare (@hare) said on 4th February 2011, 18:41
Revolution vs evolution…
Jeremy said on 4th February 2011, 13:27
Cool. Interestingly the tip of the Mclaren nose isn’t much lower than the Ferrari one, but it slopes all the way along whereas the Ferrari is pretty much horizontal all the way. I guess the “horizon” for the Mclaren driver will be lower as a result – a good thing for visibility I presume.
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:31
also noticed the mclaren hasnt got the camera/T bar up top.. probably just a launch thing right..?
The Last Pope (@the-last-pope) said on 4th February 2011, 13:41
Yes I would think so too, should be easier to see apexes. The ferrari nose does look laughably high next to the Mclaren, especialy at the front wheel.
Mach1 said on 4th February 2011, 13:41
I don’t know if it is the colour scheme of the maclarens – but they (for the last two years) seem to have much more bulk (bulge) down the inside of the sidepod (from where the driver sits, along the inside of the sidepod to the rear) when copared to the other cars, especially the ferrari. Again I dont know if this is due to light reflecting differently and an optical illusion but it always looks bulkier here
Oliver said on 4th February 2011, 17:18
Misleading image. The camera that took the Ferrari was positioned slightly to the right while that of the Mclaren was slightly to the left, you can tell that by the off set of the front wheels. This makes the Mclaren nose cone look much shorter than it really is.
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:25
heres an updated picture of the MP4-26 compared to last seasons lauch car..
seems i was mistaken before.. this years car appears to be shorter in wheelbase..!?
http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad33/NEM087/F1%202011/McLarenMP4compare-1.png
BasCB (@bascb) said on 4th February 2011, 13:40
Wow, are you sure you got the sizes right here. I get the impression the tyres look smaller on this years car, but it might just be the different shape confusing me there.
Would that also mean a slightly different comparison with the Ferrari?
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:42
no they are the same. i think the shiny tyres make them look bigger too.
I water-marked the images and plaed them ontop of eachother to get the scales as close as possible :)
Unipart said on 4th February 2011, 13:47
@ BasCB
You clearly must know that the camera capturing those two photographs were not in the same focal length range.
It would be completely different.
verstappen said on 4th February 2011, 13:42
I think BasCB is right.
From the look of it, the scaling in your first comparison between old and new were correct.
nemo said on 4th February 2011, 13:45
yeah i see what you mean. but looking at the water-marked scales i did the rear wheels are the same atleast haha
The Last Pope (@the-last-pope) said on 4th February 2011, 13:48
I think I would agree with BasCB. Now the 26 looks 2 or 3% too small.
Patrickl (@patrickl) said on 4th February 2011, 14:41
The MP4-26 is at slightly more of an angle. That makes it look shorter
Oliver said on 4th February 2011, 17:29
Thats true, slightly from behind.
the edge said on 4th February 2011, 14:54
nemo, using a bit of paper and the wheels as reference your scaling seems a tad out
but that said…good work
LuvinF1 said on 4th February 2011, 17:09
nemo … Thanks for taking the time to do the photo comparisons. It would appear that the different camera positions and the resulting perspectives may be at issue. In the 2010 launch the camera position appears to be in line with the cockpit, while in the 2011 launch the camera is a little aft of the cockpit. This allows you to see more of the left front wheel and in turn makes the nose appear shorter than it actually is. In the Ferrari shot, the camera appears to be slightly forward of the cockpit – note that you can see significantly more of the left rear wheel – which makes the nose look longer.
Pete said on 4th February 2011, 13:28
There are a lot of interesting parts on that car! I very much doubt what looks like the exhaust is where the actual exhaust will be.
You’d assume the extra inlet behind the airbox is for cooling but I wouldn’t be surprised to find out it isn’t!
They haven’t put their new wings on yet and the diffuser is just a basic diffuser to complete the car for the launch.
Can’t wait to see what it looks like come Bahrain!
Lee said on 4th February 2011, 14:16
I assume you mean the outlet behind the airbox? That is not the exhaust outlet it seems to be for exiting air from the cooling system. The exhausts currently exit directly on to the diffuser but they are plastic mock-ups so who knows where they will end up on the real thing.
I also assume the extra air box is for cooling the KERS instead of having larger side pod inlets. The double airbox most likely results in less drag.