Formula 1
Early days for new McLaren
The long awaited track debut of the McLaren MP4-18 was a low-key affair with test driver Alex Wurz completing a total of seventeen laps at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The first shakedown of the new chassis went according to plan, with team ...
Published: May 22, 2003, 9:01 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The long awaited track debut of the McLaren MP4-18 was a low-key affair with test driver Alex Wurz completing a total of seventeen laps at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The first shakedown of the new chassis went according to plan, with team members present to watch the car on its initial outing.
Detail of the new McLaren Mercedes MP4-18.
Photo by DaimlerChrysler.
"Today is an exciting day for the team with the debut of the MP4-18," said McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh. "It's a revolutionary new car and therefore we are delighted to now be running it."
"It's early days to be making any claims about the car's performance but we are very confident from the analysis and simulation we have already done that the car will definitely be quick," he added.
"Inevitably there will be a number of challenges and issues that have to be resolved as there are with any new car but that is what we are going to do in the next two-to-three weeks and I'm sure that we will have a successful testing programme and we look forward to MP4-18's race introduction."
Wurz was happy with his day's work: "Everything feels great, we have had no real problems but of course we have to take it slow as always when you do the first shakedown, which is what this is, not a test," was the Austrian's opinion. "Therefore, so far so good."
Race driver Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time of the day's testing in the MP4-17D and David Coulthard was third quickest.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Trulli's account of Austria
Next article Interview with Zsolt Baumgartner
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Kimi Raikkonen
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
More from
Mercedes
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
Portimão
15 h
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
Latest news
Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
43 min
Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
46 min
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
Bubba Wallace laments mistake after heartbreaking Phoenix loss
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
Bubba Wallace laments mistake after heartbreaking Phoenix loss
NASCAR is getting the championship finish it has pursued since 1992
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
NASCAR is getting the championship finish it has pursued since 1992
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe