McLaren MP4-20 - debuts (inc images)

Led ZeppF1 · 23 Jan 2005, 04:42 (Ref:1207571)

Team McLaren Mercedes will run its 2005 challenger, the MP4-20 for the first time on Monday, January 24th at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

The team has planned an exclusive test week at the Circuit de Catalunya, but will be open to the media on Monday. Photographs and further details on MP4-20 will be available on Monday on www.mclaren.com.

I can't wait to see the car, I have high hopes!

Gt_R · 23 Jan 2005, 07:07 (Ref:1207604)

Honestly, i anticipate Mclaren's latest car. The previous two years produced lemons, and if the 2nd half of 2004 is by any standard..Mclaren should be on the way back up.

I'd like to see what innovations Mclaren have in store for us.

Raglanparade · 23 Jan 2005, 09:11 (Ref:1207705)

4wd ?

Knowlesy · 23 Jan 2005, 10:08 (Ref:1207717)

I'm with you Gt_R, I expect special things of MP4/20.

It is my feeling that McLaren will challenge Ferrari closer than anybody this year.

**Adam43** · 23 Jan 2005, 10:32 (Ref:1207726)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonhill9884

4wd ?

Not serious I aussme, but it has been done before and is banned!

I expct the back end to be one of the best packaged.

joe rossi · 23 Jan 2005, 11:45 (Ref:1207785)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonhill9884

4wd ?

Nah, I reckon a folding hardtop like an SLK and big "bling" chrome wheels!

(still be faster than the 19a)

Raglanparade · 23 Jan 2005, 12:12 (Ref:1207794)

I think it will have spikes coming out the wheels... ala. Grease

Marbot · 23 Jan 2005, 12:14 (Ref:1207796)

Yes, i reckon Mercedes and BMW will be going all out to try and "out-bling" each other.

Kicking-back · 23 Jan 2005, 12:25 (Ref:1207802)

In all seriousness - I expect this to be a very good looking car, plenty of attention to detail.

P.Cummins · 23 Jan 2005, 13:40 (Ref:1207856)

Hopefully McLaren will be on the up again with this one. I was kind of dissapointed after their last good jolt at Ferrari in 2003.
2004 I thought spelt the end for every other F1 team and Ferrari dominance was unstoppable but I still have hope for McLaren and I hope they get back on track and put on a good show in Melbourne.

Rich R · 23 Jan 2005, 13:44 (Ref:1207857)

i'm with knowlesy expecting mclaren to be the main challengers this season, they probably have the best 2 driver line up of anyone. can't wait to see the car.

P.Cummins · 23 Jan 2005, 13:56 (Ref:1207867)

Well Kimi went very well in the latter part of 04 and Montoya still has that win in Brazil to back him up.
I'm thinking very positivley about them for definite

pole2pole · 23 Jan 2005, 14:03 (Ref:1207872)

For McLaren to win the championship they must first beat Ferrari and to do that I think car design has to go into a completely new level. McLaren have achived this before and they will do it again Bring on the MP4-20. We will know if its a world beater if other teams question its legality

P.Cummins · 23 Jan 2005, 14:12 (Ref:1207882)

Well, if they take the improvements that Ferrari have put on their cars between 2000-present, and then see what they have missed out on, they should get the answer.
Of course, they can't just copy Ferrari but I'm sure there is some secret ingredient that they've used to get the results in 98 and 99 and then maybe they got lazy. I think they've woken up over the last year or so and I have a good feeling about this new car.

Sodemo · 23 Jan 2005, 14:16 (Ref:1207884)

That all may change come July as there are rumours gathering pace that Adrian Newey is going to return to Williams.

Kicking-back · 23 Jan 2005, 14:20 (Ref:1207888)

The Monster - those rumours have been going on for nearly a year now - I really do not think that will happen.

P.Cummins · 23 Jan 2005, 14:21 (Ref:1207890)

That would be bad news for McLaren indeed. Adrian is probably the most experienced man out of the McLaren crew and I certainly wouldn't like to see him part with McLaren having been with them for the past few years.

Kicking-back · 23 Jan 2005, 14:25 (Ref:1207895)

Adrian is not the most experienced man at McLaren.

But with Neil Oatley, Mike Coughlan and the ex-Ferrari man Tombazis, the team would be able to cope with his departure, I believe.

If Newey is to leave, it's more likely he'll be leaving F1 than going to another team.

pirenzo · 23 Jan 2005, 14:31 (Ref:1207901)

Arggh!
I've not being paying attention to team launch dates so I don't get frustrated waiting for them, and then this thread appears and its a day early

I guess I'll just have to sit and wait....

Anyway, I think this will be a good looking car too. But then the MP4/19 was, and it wasn't any good, but we'll see.
If anything, I'd be confident about the chassis being excellent (Ron won't have allowed another rubbish car out of his workshops) but I don't know if I can say I have the same confidence about the engine...

Kicking-back · 23 Jan 2005, 14:33 (Ref:1207902)

The Mercedes engine will be strong I believe.

Since Martin Whitmarsh went up and took control of management at Ilmor things have improved dramatically.

Knowlesy · 23 Jan 2005, 15:08 (Ref:1207922)

Yeah, it'll be reliable at the very least. Maybe just a little down on power compared to the Ferraris and Hondas of this world.

P.Cummins · 23 Jan 2005, 15:14 (Ref:1207926)

Well, not the most experienced man at McLaren, is Newey, but losing his aid as designer doesn't help and if he does go to Williams, it will probably be 1 up for them.
Although, I do agree that if he is to leave, its for good and not for another team.

SetikX · 23 Jan 2005, 15:32 (Ref:1207932)

Mclaren will not be good this year. Mclaren will not be good this year. Mclaren will not be good this year... This whole 'no expectation, no disappointment' thing better work. Last two years ive had my heart crashed. Mclaren will not be good this year. Not anymore I say!

Seriously, alot of things are in Mclarens favor this year compared to other years, they have two awesome drivers, have had a few offseasons to get their drive back, but I seriously am not investing too much faith into them, I dont want to be disappointed... again.

pole2pole · 23 Jan 2005, 15:52 (Ref:1207943)

I know where you are coming from. Its that moment in the first qualifying session of the season when we discover that they are about 1-1.5 seconds of the pace and then you hear the old story of "are aim is mid season we have some new parts coming". However I think things will be different this season for McLaren, we must remember that they have been working on a long term program getting all the right people in the right places. Testing will be interesting as I am sure you all can recall from this time last year during testing when is was found out that the merc engine was down in power big time. By the way if there car is anything like there new amazing headquarters....they will blow everbody away

Knowlesy · 23 Jan 2005, 15:55 (Ref:1207946)

Well the fruits of the new headquarters were beginning to show with MP4/19B, hence the general good feeling about MP4/20's prospects.

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