New McLaren breaks cover

The new car - dubbed the MP4-19B - has a re-shaped monocoque and revised bodywork and is ready for the track having passed all the mandatory FIA crash tests. Following the disaster of the MP4-18, which failed to pass the crucial tests, ticks in the boxes this time round has been a welcome relief to the struggling team.

The car features a revised nose, despite keeping its low sharply-pointed characteristics from the MP4-19. The most significant revisions appear at the rear of the car with aero adaptations similar to Ferrari's F2004 while the engine cover is more in line with the mould of the Renault R24.

It is hoped the car will make its race debut at the German GP on July 24 and technical director Adrian Newey has revealed it shows all the signs of being a vast improvement on its predecessor.

"In terms of lap times the simulation says the benefits should be significant, but I would rather not go further than that at the moment," he said. "It's an updated car so virtually all the mechanical parts are the same, but the bodywork is heavily updated."