Vodafone McLaren Mercedes reveals 2013 car MP4–28 and kicked off 50th anniversary

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launched its 2013 Formula 1 challenger and kicked off a year of 50th anniversary celebrations with a spectacular parade of classic racing cars at the McLaren Technology Centre.

JENSON BUTTON
Driver, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“I’m going into my fourth season as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver and, more than ever, I
know and understand the strengths and abilities of this team. This year is really about continuity
and consolidation.

“Obviously, the biggest change for 2013 is my new team–mate, Checo. It’s always interesting and
inspiring to begin working with a new face, and it already feels like a very positive working
relationship.

“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.

“We’ll be working extremely hard during the pre–season to ensure we go to the first race with
bulletproof reliability. Operationally, too, I think we’ve learned and developed from last year, and
that will help us run a much smoother and stronger campaign.

“This year’s car is the best we’ve ever made – I know the engineers have left absolutely no stone
unturned in wringing every ounce of performance from every available area. I cannot wait to get
behind the wheel and attempt to carry forward the incredible legacy that lives beneath the skin of
every single man and woman who works at McLaren.”

SERGIO PEREZ
Driver, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“For me, this is a great day. In fact, every day this year has been great: I’ve been working hard
with my new team to get everything ready for the start of the 2013 season – and it’s been an
incredible journey to get to know this incredible organisation.

“Of course, 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.

“But it’s definitely going to be an exciting few weeks: although I’ve been racing in Formula 1 for
the past two seasons, every racing car is different and it always takes a little time to adjust.
Firstly, I’ll need to understand the different characteristics of the car; secondly, I’ll learn how to
best work with my engineers to make the car suit my personal driving style. It’s going to be an
interesting and exciting journey.

“But I’m more prepared than I’ve ever been for the start of a new season. I feel extremely fit,
focused and refreshed – there’s still a lot to do, but my aims are to feel confident, comfortable and
ready to race by the time I land in Australia in just a few weeks’ time.”

MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“The launch of a new Formula 1 car is always an exciting and slightly nerve–wracking occasion.
Today’s parade of some of our greatest and most significant cars was a thrilling way to kick off
our 50th anniversary celebrations and also our 2013 campaign – but it’s a reminder of the
tremendous responsibility everyone within the McLaren Technology Centre shares to uphold the
legacy began by Bruce McLaren and taken on by Teddy Mayer and Ron Dennis.

“It’s fully appropriate that the echoes of the past should be made to reverberate around the glass
walls of a thoroughly modern building like the McLaren Technology Centre. Equally, however,
we’ve never lost sight of the fact that we’ll always be linked to that fearless band of enterprising
pioneers who came together to form Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd in the autumn of 1963.
Like Bruce and his closest friends, we still have the belief that we can go out into the world, risk
everything and emerge victorious. That, ultimately, is the spirit that drives this organisation.

“For 2013, of course, we go racing to win. With Jenson and Checo, and this fantastic–looking new car, I believe we’re extremely well prepared for another competitive season. Jenson is driving better than ever – he’s the most experienced driver in Formula 1, but he makes every ounce of that experience count: he’s peerless in his ability to read a race and one of the very fastest drivers out there. He’s a consummate professional, too, and will revel in working hard to drive this team through the year.

“Checo joins us after a sensational 2012 season and he’s immediately proved that he’s intelligent,
modest, hard–working and, make no mistake; very, very quick. Of course, there’ll be a learning
curve to overcome as he gets used to our organisation, particularly during the hustle and bustle of
the early–season race weekends, but he understands that we are placing no pressure on him.

“This is an exciting time for the whole team. In our 50th anniversary season, I want Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes to underline why we are the finest grand prix team in the world.”