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McLaren launches radical new MP4-25

The McLaren Mercedes team launched its new car for the 2010 season on Friday morning, with the target of clinching both titles after a mixed campaign in 2009.

The McLaren Mercedes team launched its new car for the 2010 season on Friday morning, with the target of clinching both titles after a mixed campaign in 2009.

The Mercedes-powered MP4-25 was unveiled at Vodafone UK's headquarters in Newbury.

McLaren's new car retains the silver colour of recent years, despite engine partner Mercedes-Benz's switch of focus to its own 'Silver Arrows' outfit.

The car features a high shark-fin engine cover running up to the rear wing, not used by the team in 2009.

The MP4-25 will be driven by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button this year, the reigning world champion having joined the British squad from Brawn GP, with which he won the title last year.

"It was Alexander Graham Bell who said preparation is key to success and we have prepared for this season more comprehensively than ever before," said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

"As team principal I am honoured to represent this great team, but I am one small part of a group of dedicated and fantastic people.

"A great team and a competitive car can only succeed with the best drivers. Neither of our drivers need much of an introduction because between them they have won the past two world championships. We are thrilled this year to have Lewis and Jenson represent the team on track. Both drivers are winners and they want to win this year.

"Every year of F1 racing throws up a unique set of regulation challenges, and 2010 is no exception. We have designed a car that exploits the double diffuser concept.

"We look forward to an exciting championship with many new and notable faces and at least one older one. We remain proud partners of Mercedes-Benz, but we must be at our best to beat the works team.

"Our goal is clear and we aim to win."

Engineering director Paddy Lowe added: "Firstly we as a technical team faced a great challenge when you have not one but two world champions in the car. We felt some pressure to provide the right equipment to get the job done - we took that seriously.

"It is a very sophisticated car but very elegant. That comes from unprecedented collaboration between aero team and mechanical design team."

Test driver Gary Paffett will be the man in charge of taking the new car for its first laps on Monday, when pre-season testing kicks off at Valencia.

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