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McLaren announces launch date

ESPNF1 Staff
January 14, 2010 « Alonso motivated by Schumacher's return | »
McLaren will unveil its car on January 29 © Sutton Images
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McLaren will launch its 2010 car on January 29 in time for the first test of the year at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit.

The car will be named the MP4-25 and will carry the title hopes of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in the coming season. Last year the team got off to a bad start but improved dramatically, meaning there are high expectations for its latest challenger.

Renault has also announced its launch date, two days later on January 31. It will unveil its car in the afternoon, before putting it through its paces the next morning during the first official day of testing. By the time of the launch it will also have announced the identity of Robert Kubica's team-mate.

Lotus revealed that its car will make its debut on February 12. The team will miss some early testing as a result, but will be bringing an update to the car by the Spanish Grand Prix when it expects to be competing with the established teams.

Ferrari will unveil its 2010 car on January 28, as it aims to return to the front of the grid with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. 2009 pace-setter Red Bull has admitted it won't have a finalised chassis until the second test in mid-February, while Williams is expected to present its car to the public for the first time on February 1. Sauber is the only other team to announce its launch plans and will take the covers off its car in Valencia on January 31.

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