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McLaren's MP4-28 is unveiled

ESPN Staff
January 31, 2013 « Horner renews Red Bull contract | Nurburgring to host German Grand Prix »
The new MP4-28 was unveiled at McLaren's headquarters in Woking © Sutton Images
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McLaren has launched the MP4-28 at its McLaren Technology Centre headquarters in Woking.

The new car is visually similar to last year's MP4-27 and retains the same high nose without a step, but Jenson Button commented that "under the skin this is so, so different." Also noticeable on the car was a pull-rod front suspension similar to the system employed by Ferrari last season.

The car will be driven by Button and Sergio Perez this season, with Button arriving in a development-model McLaren P1 supercar and Perez in one of the MP4-12C cars. Their arrival followed a procession of classic McLaren's including the championship-winning MP4/4, MP4/13 and MP4/24.

Ferrari launches its new car - the F138 - tomorrow while Red Bull unveils the RB9 on Sunday.

Technical director Paddy Lowe was conspicuous by his absence at the launch, but team principal Martin Whitmarsh said his absence was self-enforced amid rumours linking him with a move to Mercedes.

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