ATM_Andy, how much of a car development from 2009 can teams carry into 2010?

And, also roughly, how much development time teams have spend at closing stages of 2009 world championship to test 2010 developments and ideas compared to 2009-only developments?

Yeah, but what you don't know is that the new chassis and gearbox is also made out of Bamboo. What do you think about that?

Whats next? Sherbert based fuel? The skys the limit I say, Johnny Walker for brake fluid!

Too bad 99% of Bamboo fabrics take so much energy to create a wearable fabric that it is not environmentally friendly at all. It's basically Rayon, but derived from Bamboo.

http://imabeautygeek.com/2009/09/01/bamboo...g-bamboo-rayon/

Just a little heads up!

thats going tobe fun, as i figure the easiest way todo that would be shims, often used in nascar., adds a few seconds to a pitstop... i think there would be some big issues to get it to work well in the 5second or less window we should have with tyre stops next year. or airbags or fluid bags that you could pop. its a extremely difficult thing to work how how todo it extremely quickly, and safely. plus u really need to remove all 4 (or however many) at the stop otherwise the car would be evil

Most of the 09 work can be carried over, and all development work is useful.

For 10 there is a lot more development 'scope' than there was in 07-08 for example despite the tighter regs.

ATM_Andy can you give us an insight in to the general mood/morale at MTC post Merc split? Are there still many Merc specific employees drifting around inside those hallowed halls?

http://msp254.photobucket.com/albums/hh113...n/jimcarrey.gif

So Button is on holiday in Hawaii at the moment, according to the Autosport article that noted the photo and video message on the McLaren site. Am I the only one the expected him to be at the factory (and in the simulator) today? I'm sure it's not necessary (and perhaps the team doesn't want the drivers there for some reason) but I would think he'd be itching to get to it.

He's back later in the month for the Autosport International. I suspect from then on he will be all he needs to. Dont forget he's an experienced guy. The simulator will simply be there so drivers could an idea of what changes do what the corner, both for setup and development.

Button will find the first two days testing more useful than 100 on the simulator ;-)! I understand that he will be itching to get to know people but he needs to know people in their enviroment, ie at the track! He would have already gone and spoke to many people involved in his car, but right now the best thing for him to do is relax ;-)!

He's on holiday, and rightly so. I suppose the same for Lewis. January 2 is too early to get back to work for a driver. Maybe on the next weeks they get back to work. The article says: Button is currently on holiday in Hawaii and is scheduled to make his first public appearance of 2010 at the AUTOSPORT International Show later this month. This doesn't mean he won't be at the MTC soon. To be at there and e.g. to work in the simulator is not a public appearance.

I'm sure the mclaren mechanics and engineers have christmas off also ;-)

Bamboo is an long term investment.

Wow, along with JB, I've moved into the MClaren thread.

You'll be fully accepted when you change your avatar.

Ha beat me to it

Welcome

Guys, keep the thread on topic, which is 'McLaren Winter Thread - MP4-25' leave the discussion of other posters out of it.

McLaren music video

thats the second time ive seen that ill never get sick of it thankyou

Jenson and Lewis share their thoughts on 2010

http://www.mclaren.com/latestnews/mclaren-...php?article=398

The new year invariably brings with it thoughts of a new season.

And with preparations for 2010 already well underway at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, we catch up with our two drivers as the number of days until the opening race in Bahrain continues to narrow:

Jenson Button
2009 Formula 1 World Champion
You're now officially a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver – how does it feel?
"Obviously, it's fantastic to be part of one of the most famous names in Formula 1. But it's also exhilarating: I'd been at the same team for seven years so this is a big cultural change for me, and something that I'm really looking forward to.
"There are a lot of new faces to remember and lots of names to learn – and that's all got to be done alongside the engineering and limited testing we have ahead of the 2010 season. But I'm loving every minute of it – the atmosphere within the team feels fantastic, and I've already started to feel at home here. I can't wait to get out in the fantastic new car the team has built for me!"

Where do your priorities lie over the next four weeks?
"Having no testing until the first week of February is something of a mixed blessing – it gives me the time to really get to know the guys at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and to properly integrate myself into the team – which I am absolutely committed to doing – but, equally, it's another month without any running in the car – and getting miles under my belt will be crucial ahead of the first race.
"So, it's only natural that there will be a lot of factory-based work for the next few weeks. I'll be starting to work with my engineers, who are a fantastic bunch of guys. But, honestly, I really cannot wait to get out to Valencia and get my first run in the MP4-25 – I think that's when it will finally sink in that I'm a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver."

2010: a new year – how are you planning the successful defence of your world title?
"Obviously, my aim is to keep the number one on my car for as long as possible! But, at the moment, it's a little bit too early to start talking about the world championship. The backbone of any title challenge is built on good preparation, hard word, focus and dedication.
"And the hard work starts here – the next 10 weeks could well largely dictate the destiny of the 2010 world championship, so it's crucial that we start testing very strongly and that we never let up.
"I'm more motivated than ever to work with the team and my engineers, and I've extremely positive for the year ahead."

Lewis Hamilton
2008 Formula 1 World Champion
How have you been preparing for the 2010 season?
"I've been mainly training and trying to keep fit. At the end of the 2009 season, I promised myself that I would aim to be 100 per cent fit and focused on the new year, so I've been working hard. When I'm not training, I've just been at home in Geneva, preparing for Christmas and the new year."

Are you looking forward to trying the new car for the first time?
"Yes, I'm excited and can't wait to see it and test it. Hopefully, it's going to be great for our team next year. I'll be working closely with my engineers and the team to make sure we all hit the ground running with the new car.
"You can never take competitiveness for granted in Formula 1 – we saw that last year – so our common goal has to be to make MP4-25 a winning proposition as quickly as possible. Only once we've achieved that can we start looking at winning races and then, eventually, the world championship."

Have you had much of a chance to speak to Jenson yet?
"Not yet, unfortunately. Our paths haven't really crossed since he was announced at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes back in November. We've both been to MTC for our seat fittings – but they were on different days. The first time we'll start working together is later this month, when we'll both be at Woking together, then we'll have the launch and the first test. We'll be sharing the pre-season testing equally, and it will be important to keep a crossover of information between us to make sure we are both pulling in the right direction."

Great words by Jenson. He seems genuinely happy in his position. A rare sight.

Stylish.

http://www.mclaren.com/images/homepage-sto...ck-logo-195.png

Nice logo


http://twitpic.com/wmj2x

Jenson doing some checking

That's McLaren for ya, stylish through and through!

One small point though based on something I noticed, I LOVE the McLaren gear and have spent quite a bit on my collection however in that 1st pic of Button wearing the shirt, he makes it look quite scruffy

Hopefully he'll have been "McLarenised" (if that's a word) come March as i'm very much like the Team I love, obsessive about appearance/cleanliness to the point of being anal; I don't want him looking like a hobo in our team-wear as he does in that pic!

Wonder what watch he's got on in that pic?

I think every McLaren driver has to wear a Tag so must be a Carrera

Agreed, the logo is really cool. If only we had that in hi-res!

Perhaps, ATM_Andy can help?

correct, i was at McLaran at the time and the design was for a McLaren livery, with 'some' influence from West and Mercedes, As McLaren's logo was Red and Black, Mercedes was Silver and Black and West was Red and White (initally) with some Gold, then thats how it came about. It was not a Mercedes, not a West livery.

Around the same time (I have to admit, I thought this was later in the season) West lights appeared. People keep saying its a Mercedes livery it isn't.

You won't see a Orange McLaren for a while, not while vodaphone are a sponsor and Orange are a competitor....

Still in the F1 world now Andy? You needn't get into specifics.

Does anyone know where the "upside down nike" slash comes from and what its supposed to symbolise?

It's a fairly common logo symbol. My guess is that's it's an abstract symbol to suggest advancement / innovation / striving for success.
Can you tell I work in the graphics world and have to sell this stuff?

TBH I don't have a clue but I suspect whoever designed the new logo was given the brief of trying to modernise McLaren's image, kind of similar to the way the Tories decided to have a Tree drawn by a 3 Year Old. Luckily McLaren employ people who know what they're doing which is more than can be said about the Tory Cabinet.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c..._(original).png
Mind you if you squint and chop the feet off of the Kiwi and put it on a diet and send it to the gym to put a bit of muscle on round the shoulder area, the original looks similar to the modern incarnation...Kind of

LOL, typical mesmorise the clients and hope they don't notice you are sprouting nonsense.
I gave up the publishing/graphics and decided to get technical

ah symbolism simplification taken to the extreme

A two minute bezier curve that probably was charged at around a million.

All: I've shifted the spygate discussion to the most recent thread on the topic so that this thread can remain on the subject of the MP4-25 over the winter.

Good stuff. Thanks.

Anyone got any vague idea when the new car launch is? End of January just before the Valencia test maybe?

X2

Yeah they admitted as much in the Q&A.

"The first time we’ll start working together is later this month, when we’ll both be at Woking together, then we’ll have the launch and the first test."

Cheers. I thought it looks like it will be at MTC again though.

Usually testing times and speed between drivers mean little but I'm feeling that both Jenson and Lewis will be wanting to put a marker out.

Yeah it does look like it will be at the Technology Center.

Doubt it they'll do what the Team has planned for them to do and they are both experienced enough to know the risk of ending up in the barriers just isn't worth it. They are both wise enough to know working together to improve the Car in the short testing time they have will benefit them and the team

My source tells me -

25th January!!!

Cool. Cheers Raincoat. Hope it's legit.

back when Marlboro and Project 4 (ron) bought into McLaren a new logo design was made, known to some as the rooftops. Infulenced by Marlboro of course. Don't forget MP4 originally stood for Marlboro Project 4 hee hee....



I seem to remember someone famous designed it, but cant remember who.

This was modified at some point, prior to 1995 with the word and one of the arrows, moved to the rop right of the 'n' of McLaren. A horrible example is here



Then for 97 season and West sponsorship, the logo was modifed into a swoosh, ( i assume to distance itself away from its Marlboro connection) The edges of the swoosh were airbrushed and had a highlight as per the racecar livery and appeared on the top of the sidepods. The swoosh was also the team logo (West McLaren Mercedes) for a while, positioned centrally above the WMM wording.

The McLaren wording was modified at some point in the 00's, cant remember when, I'd left by then, with a new font....

On searching for logos, some cheeky bugger in Canada has created a similar logo for his company. LOL

http://www.mclarenconsulting.ca/about.html

Hehe

Thanks for the heads up!

Yes thats really interesting, its amazing the process some logo designs go through, I can remember a PDF that I had a while back that went through the Pepsi/Coca Cola design processes.

Wonder if in time the connection between the slash and the roof tops will be lost.