2009 Launch Dates

We are at that time of year when teams are beginning to launch their new cars, and the credit crunch has seen to it that we will no longer see the lavish affairs we have witnessed in recent times. But with the new regulation changes, the cars themselves should be interesting enough, and McLaren have announced a secret twist in the launch of their car.

Here are the launch dates that have been announced and confirmed so far:

Ferrari F60 - January 12th - Mugello, Italy - Track Debut
Toyota TF109 - January 15th - Internet Launch - (Track Debut - January 20th, Valencia, Spain)
McLaren MP4-24 - January 16th - Woking, UK
Williams FW31 - January 19th - Algarve Circuit, Portugal - Track Debut
Renault R29 - January 19th - Algarve Motorsport Park, Portugal
BMW F1.09 - January 20th - Valencia Circuit, Spain - Track Debut
Red Bull RB5 - February 9th - Jerez Circuit, Spain - Track Debut
Force India VJM02
Toro Rosso STR4 - March 9th - Circuit de Catalunya, Spain - Track Debut

BE SURE TO CHECK THE NEWS SECTION FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON LAUNCHES

Notes:

• Matt Bishop, McLaren head of communications and public relations, told Autosport: "It won't be a lavish affair of the type we staged in Valencia two years ago, but it'll be slick and professional and there will be an interesting twist to the format." Edit: The 'twist' was the revelation that Ron Dennis has decided to step down as team principal. See 'News'.
  
  
• Toyota have revealed there will be a somewhat different style to their traditional launches: "To emphasise its commitment to overall cost reduction in Formula 1, the team will not proceed with its traditional pre-season event programme." As such studio images of the TF109 in its new 2009 livery will be made available to the media on January 15 through the internet.
  

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I wonder if McLaren's big surprise is that Heikki will still be there? Hmm.

Either that or a diamond encrusted '1' on Lewis's car. They're becoming predictable.

The surprise is they pull out

Update: Ferrari has decided to move Monday's roll out of its new 2009 car to its Mugello test circuit due to wintry weather that has hit Fiorano in recent days.

The constructors' champion team will become the first squad to unveil its package for the new season, with it initially releasing pictures and interviews with key personnel on its website at 8am UK time.

Felipe Massa had then been set to give the car its track debut at the team’s test facility near its Maranello base.

But Ferrari announced on Saturday that snow and plummeting temperatures had forced it to shift the event to its other test track at Mugello.

Mclarens twist is Lewis will stand up and say but Ron, we dont have enough road to get the car up to 88mph and Ron says 'Roads? where were going we dont need roads' and the car begins to fly.

Update: Toyota are set to release their 2009 car tomorrow (Thursday), so keep checking back to Turn Two for the latest pictures, specs and news!

It seems that the rules are working. Take a look at the trails left behind the cars. The 08 spec Toro Rosso throws up Alot of water and at a low height. Now look at the 09 shod cars. The water is less dense, and the trail is higher meaning the evidence of less turbulance.


Dam they look good.

Update: Red Bull will be revealing their 2009 challenger on Monday, for which Mark Webber hopes to be present. The driver, recovering from a broken leg, is said to be nearly ready for a testing return after just three months. He is set to join new team-mate Sebastian Vettel at the launch at Jerez, Spain.

Red Bull have released their RB5, see news, completing the list of scheduled releases, however Toro Rosso and Force India have yet to reveal a date for their release.

Force India have said that they are looking at a March release, and Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Buemi has been quoted as saying that he thinks his team will release their car 'shortly after' sister team Red Bull release theirs.

Update: Toro Rosso will publicly unveil its new STR4 car at the start of the final major test of pre-season at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya next week.

The Faenza-based squad is due to shake down its latest challenger behind closed doors at the Adria circuit this week, having carried out its winter running to date with its 2008 car while the team awaited its version of sister squad Red Bull's RB5.

However, fans and the media will get their first glimpse of the Ferrari-powered machine on Monday when STR starts its final track preparations for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at the end of the month.

Both Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastien Buemi will be present at the test, with the drivers no doubt hoping the rain that has disrupted part of this week’s group test at Jerez stays away from Barcelona.

The Catalunya test is set to be the only time before the first race when all the grid’s squads are on the same track in their 2009 cars.

Indeed it is understood that the test may mark the former Honda Racing team's return to competitive track action should the proposed management buyout be completed successfully before then.