McLaren Launch 2009 MP4-24 F1 Car as Ron Dennis Announces Plans to Step Down

McLaren MP4-24 for 2009 F1 Season

Dennis

By Clinton Deacon
January 16, 2009 5:03 PM
Filed Under: F1, McLaren

McLaren-Mercedes have unveiled their new MP4-24 car for the 2009 F1 season just a few days after arch rivals Ferrari and Toyota unveiled their own versions. Ron Dennis also used the occasion to announce he will step down as team principal as of March 1st with the reigns set to be handed over to his long time deputy Martin Whitmarsh.

Dennis has insisted the decision is 100% his own. He is stopping short of full retirement to remain as executive chairman, focusing his attention on the production models the company has under development.

Moving back to the main subject, the 2009 MP4-24 launch.

Due to the new rules and regulations that will come into force when the new season kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix, the MP4-24 is a far cry from last year's championship winning challenger.

The front wing is much wider whilst the rear wing is more compact. It gives the MP4-24 a weight distribution that is more biased towards the front enhancing the possibilities of overtaking when following another car. Other aerodynamic modifications include the banning of ancillary appendages, the addition of driver-adjustable front-wing flaps and a heavily revised diffuser.

In a collaboration with engine partner Mercedes, the new McLaren also features the new KERS (Kinetic Enrgy Recovery System) device which harnesses the energy generated from the braking system and stores it in super-capacitor batteries. This generates an additional 80bhp (60kW) of power and will help reduce lap times by up to 0.6 seconds.

Press Release (Click to expand)

With an unprecedented series of rule changes introduced ahead of the 2009 season, the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 represents a significant departure from its world championship-winning predecessor.

Incorporating new bodywork regulations and the much-heralded return of slick tyres, the team’s new challenger not only looks radical but also incorporates a host of new innovative features under the skin, such as a sophisticated kinetic energy recovery system (KERS).

Introducing the MP4-24

While still retaining the distinctive family look established with both the MP4-22 and MP4-23, this year’s car is visually very different from its predecessors as a result of two main factors:

Aerodynamics

This year’s aerodynamic regulations were framed by the FIA and the Overtaking Working Group (helmed by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes engineering director Paddy Lowe, Ferrari’s Rory Byrne and Renault’s Pat Symonds) which met throughout 2007 in order to address the issues affecting passing in Formula 1.

The OWG’s influence can be most clearly seen around the front wing, which has been widened to increase front-end load when following another car, and the rear wing – which is now more compact to offer less interference to chasing vehicles. Other factors affecting aerodynamics include the banning of ancillary appendages, the addition of driver-adjustable front-wing flaps and a heavily revised diffuser.

KERS

The MP4-24’s KERS device has been developed in collaboration with McLaren and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, which has been developing and refining the system for almost two years. With a fully optimised KERS device’s output capped at 60kW/400kJ (discharging an additional 80bhp for 6.66s per lap), the development team’s primary focus has already shifted to further improving the unit’s integration within the chassis in order to minimise performance loss elsewhere within the package.

An optimised KERS package can be expected to deliver a 0.4-0.6s gain per lap.

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