They did, but if that is say 200 million, they are still 20 million down. So its not great but its more than Honda has got next year!

Some random translated Q&A's with Haug:

Q: How does your deal with Force India fit in with you overall F1 project ?
Haug: ''We have the interest of having more engines in use, to gain more experience. And McLaren also has a commercial interest. It's a charitable company, it's a cooperation that has to be profitable. Ferrari would have certainly not supplied two customer teams in 2008 if it weren't profitable.''

Q: How do your logistics change with the arrival of a customer team ?
Haug: ''It's in line with the industry standard: there's a separate company for that. There are engine people that look after that and get paid for it. Force India won't be having Mercedes in their name either.''

Q: Do you first have to make initial investments to build up such customer team logistics ?
Haug: ''The project is calculated in such a way that we earn money with it.''

Q: In the first year already ?
Haug: ''Right from the first testlap actually. There's a benefit the first time we get paid.''

Q: How important is a customer team for your technical development ?
Haug: ''You get a lot more data. When you let four engines run freely for over 2000 km you have more data than with two engines.''

Q: There was speculation about McLaren Mercedes giving De la Rosa a seat at Force India. He also tested for them.
Haug: ''He's been asked to do a check because he's classified as one of the most experienced drivers. He was familiar with a very good car and was to do a comparison. It's part of the programme of the situation analysis at Force India. It was a wish of the team and McLaren complied with that.''

Q: How much easier was it working with Kovalainen compared to Alonso ?
Haug: ''There was never a problem with Alonso as far as the technical teamwork was concerned. Furthemore I won't be making comparisons between Kovalainen and Alonso.''

Q: Do you understand Kovalainen's remarks over different treatments of the drivers in terms of fuel tactics ?
Haug: ''No. Heikki had exactly the same equipment, Lewis simply got more out of it. Interpreting why things didn't work with hindsight doesn't help. All the decisions are always taken in agreement with the driver and his engineer. Heikki had the same preconditions. In 2007 Alonso often struggled to leapfrog Hamilton's parametres. The same goes for Heikki in 2008.''

Q: How far are you with KERS ?
Haug: ''We're very well underway with it. So far I haven't seen anyone do more running with it than we did. We've already used the system being fully engaged and have checked all its functions. I think that at the moment we're in the lead in this area.''

Q: In the lead, really ?
Haug: ''Yes, I really think that. We're on schedule. (Working on) KERS however is an extremely expensive excercise, and the biggest cost saving measure would be to completely do without the system, or at least to postpone it. In terms of costs we're talking about 25% of the engine budget. We've stood with the majority of the other teams in willing to postpone KERS. And I want to underline that clearly, eventhough we seem to have an advantage in terms of competitiveness. But we all have to save money. The time for playing is over ! Sensibly, part of that is abstaining from the costs of KERS. At the moment that would be the most rational and clearest measure that one can imagine.''

Q: KERS will be there in 2009 because BMW Sauber insisted on it. Do you think that can still change now Honda has withdrawn from F1 ?
Haug: ''Nothing else would be desirable. Eventhough we're well advanced with it, we would cease the project to help everyone in F1 clearly saving expenditures.''

Q: When will you start testing 2009 aerodynamics ?
Haug: ''Only next year. But we have a (test)model. You quickly get used to the new looks, our car will be a pretty one.''

Q: Is Mercedes still considering taking over McLaren completely ?
Haug: ''No, not at the moment.''

I will believe it when I see it!

i cant help but feel the comment on the 'prettyness' is said with huge amounts of sarcasm.

GPUpdate.net

That's nowhere near as ugly as the BM, and yes I know it's not got an 09 spec rear on it, but the front is like the Williams interpretation of the rules which is not a bad look overall, especially compared to the Beemer.

The paint job makes it a bit obscue so I cannot be too regorous with my statement, but the new Mclaren nose looks pretty much like the one of Rory's Ferrari nose to me. Mclaren does still have Ferrari datas.


Paddy being Happy about the developement!


Max need to react as soon as possible.

!




image from Wikimedia

You need glasses. Thick ones.

Nope, looks quite different, but thanks for the valuable contribution...

I actually think that the macca nose looks pretty good. Reminds me a tad of the MP4-20. However I'll reserve judgement on the looks until the rear wing is unveiled.

That's a nice looking 09 front end. Hopefully others have similar (not BMW-esque) and my worry for 09 visually will be far less.

I agree, RedBaron.

Nice looking? Compared to everything that rolled out of the Mac garage after 2002 that wing still looks like a shovel to me

not a bad day off testing, 64laps from the kers car, not bad, and finally an 09 spec frontwing

Compare everything to that BMW. You'll feel much better.

He asks about tactics and Haug responds by referring to equipment....

True that Hammy got most of it, but quali fuel tactics was one way street

Why did they paint the car with some greenish grey ?

it's green oil paint, they use it to see how the airflow is being directed around the car and whether it correlates with their CFD/windtunnel data.

where do you see thoose pic with green paint, they have used this method before, too see the flows

I haven't seen this before.

usually mounted in board of the wheel

I think ATM Andy said its a device that measure sidewall movement in the tyre

They've used similar coverings before, extending over the side of the tyre. Another little bit's been added on the bottom though by the looks of it. Tyre sidewall movement sensor or something, so I've read.

ok i found the pic off the paint i can see they used it in the morning

ARe we sure front wings have to be composed of two flaps ? Cause Macca is the third team to try a 3 flap frontwing.

You bunch of Mclaren lover...

BMW too... Dont think there is a restriction..

That front is MP4/20-esque

LOVE IT!

Yeah I actually really like the way that looks ...

Its the end plates, makes the wing look ugly.

goodlooking front end

2008 - 2009 Front wing comparison

A The new frontwing is 180 centimetres wide.

B The part in the middle is 50 centimetres wide.

C The angle of the, in McLaren's case curved flaps, are allowed to be changed two times a lap by a maximum of six degrees.

D The nose is much wider and more voluminous.

I agree the car looks good. It's probably because of the paint scheme and the rounder nose IMO.

And it will look a lot worse when they fit in the 2009 rear wing.

I honestly find the whole front hideous.

There's a clearer picture here:-

[img]http://gallery.autosport.com/picture.php/dir/2008dectest1/image/XPB_283874_HiRes.jpg-3[/img]

It looks pretty cool.

We can't see that, because you can't image-quote a php-generated page, and that picture is for subscribed people only.

Well the image does actually work fine, but I'm also subscribed so ...

I can't see it either... if that helps

I actually really like it...the nose itself is 20-like, which is praise enough. And I'm quickly beginning to get used to these wider front wings, to the extent that I saw the normal version of the Williams yesterday and thought that old width looked really strange.

The rear wing may be a different matter entirely, but I'll reserve judgement till I see the definitive packages.

We subscribers can see it.

Actually, I thought the pics were now viewable by non-subscribers? Perhaps it's only the 1x versions?

Yeah only 1x

New pic of the McLaren P11

Audi R8 copy...

Again without your glasses...

The car could have had a more radical design, but I still think it is beautiful. It will probbaly be blindingly fast to boot!

looks a bit too boring/tame to me ...

Cover the front end (lights grill bonnet) and yes, it's body line looks a lot like that of the R8.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_new...es_art_id=36756

Lenovo joins up with McLaren
17/12/2008

Global PC manufacturer Lenovo has today officially announced a partnership with McLaren.

The computer giant, which previously sponsored Williams, will provide the Woking team's computing solutions, both at the race track and at its headquarters.

Lenovo engineers and technology specialists have already begun to specify the mobile wireless computing technology required by the team as well as the computing needs of the pit garage and pit wall. Lenovo technology is being integrated into the heart of the team as it travels the world on the Formula 1 calendar.

Martin Whitmarsh, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes CEO Formula 1, said: "Both Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Lenovo are committed to the competitive advantages from exceptional engineering. We are looking forward to the significant technology contribution that Lenovo will provide through its notebooks and desktop computer solutions."

The partnership with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes provides a highly visible demonstration of Lenovo's exceptional engineering as the corporation strengthens its position in the global marketplace. Lenovo is a leader in the technology race for fast, reliable and wireless computing power.

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes performs at the highest level in Formula 1 and integrates PC technology into every aspect of its car design, development and racing -- as well as its business operations," said Deepak Advani, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Lenovo. "Lenovo has an excellent heritage of computing performance and reliability in complex, high-profile, global events - such as the Olympic Games - and we look forward to making a significant contribution to the team."

Nice, not a lot of sponsorship deals going on at the moment.

When browsing through the Atlas gallery I came across this picture.
[img]http://www.autosport.com/gallery/picture_free.php/dir/2008dectest2/image/XPB_284379_HiRes.jpg-2[/img]

It actually looks like a nice car with the fat nose and wide wing. I might even get used to it

Great stuff landing that Lenovo deal.
McLaren will have a sound economic base to build upon, whereas other teams might find it hard to stick around. Hopefully we will see some years with total McLaren domination. Oh wait, FIA will never let that happen...