Dennis Confident 'Significant Changes' will Pay Off

The McLaren team will take on a new look in a bid to win the title with style this year after revealing a new approach to Formula One at their launch in Barcelona on Saturday.

"There will be a different look for the team that will be apparent in Australia," said team boss Ron Dennis on stage before the new car was revealed. "Technically and visually you will see the team improve. The new car is most definitely a McLaren. The paint job may make it look the same but there have been a lot of changes.

"The changes are significant to the car and there are also some in the team. There will be new hospitality units, a new way of moving the vehicles around later in the year and a new look for the team. Martin Whitmarsh has instigated a radical appraisal of the car and how we run the car. We're confident that it will reflect in a better car and our performance."

The car, indeed, remains with the distinguished look the team has developed over their time with backers West.

But team members have already sampled the new clothing, which is expected to be designed by Hugo Boss, and promises a fresh and 'trendy' look. The launch, like the party at which all team members and guests donned specially-designed t-shirts celebrating the event, was an informal affair.

Brief speeches from all key members of the team were followed by the unveiling of the new car, the MP4-17, which then moved straight to the pits and roared into life at 11:30 local time. A new swooped front chassis gives the car a sleek but aggressive look, and David Coulthard is confident that it will be an improvement on the MP4-16.

"The new car looks pretty good," said Coulthard. "There are lots of little details that have improved and it looks menacing. "It looks really racy and I would be surprised if it is not quick. Quite frankly it needs to be - my hopes are pinned on the new car."

Because it was finished early, the car was run in a secret test at Silverstone on Thursday, with test driver Alexander Wurz at the wheel. Coulthard will get his hands on his new Championship challenger later, and he is hoping to prove the early opinions of Wurz correct.

"Initial signs show an improvement and that is the feeling Alex had when he drove the car at Silverstone," he said.