The Woking-based team launched the McLaren MP4-28 at its headquarters on January 31, 2013, which was unveiled by its drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez. The glittering launch ceremony witnessed Button arriving in a development model McLaren P1 hypercar and Sergio Perez in a MP4-12C car. Their arrival was followed by a parade of classic McLaren’s to mark the commencement of the 50th anniversary celebrations. 

The McLaren classic car procession included the 1970’s M8D CanAm sportscar, Emerson Fittipaldi’s iconic 1974 M23, Ayrton Senna’s dominant 1988 MP4/4, 1995 Le Mans-winning F1 GTR, Mika Hakkinen’s MP4-13 car from 1998 and Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 MP4-23.

As expected due to very few rule changes, the new car, which also doesn’t have a stepped nose, closely resembles its predecessor the MP4-27. However, McLaren has adapted Ferrari’s pullrod front suspension for the 2013 season.  

Jenson Button begins his fourth season with the team and is the more experienced driver having secured eight victories for McLaren. “We were extremely strong throughout the whole of the 2012 season, but, for one reason or another, we couldn’t quite pull it all together to challenge for the championships. That’s something we want to address for 2013. I’ve seen just how closely everybody has been working together on this car, and I think we’ve got the basis for a very strong season,”  said the Brit driver at the launch.

Sergio Perez, on the other hand, has been recently signed by the Woking-based team and will debut for them in the pre-season tests from February 5-8.  “I am fully aware of the steep slope ahead of me: it has already been an intense couple of weeks, getting to grips with a new team, meeting my engineers and mechanics, learning new ways of working and, of course, learning all about a brand new car - something I’ll need to do with just six days of on-track testing. It’s a big challenge,” said the Mexican.

It is an all-new team and car for the Mexican. No doubt, he has proved his mettle in the Sauber last year, but with a superior car like the McLaren can he better his performance to move up into the front-running pack?