Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton unveils his McLaren car for a
radically different 2009 season.

WOKING, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 16 2009) REUTERS -
Lewis Hamilton took the covers off his new McLaren on Friday
(January 16) with a warning to his rivals that he felt better than ever with
the number one on his car and a Formula One championship under his belt.
"I think it looks beautiful," the 23-year-old Briton said
after he and team mate Heikki Kovalainen unveiled the shining
silver-and-orange MP4-24 racer at the team's Woking factory.
"I think the team always puts together a stunning car. It's good
to see the final outcome of all the hard work that's gone on."

This season all the teams have faced a daunting task as they built cars
to comply with new regulations, devised a new energy device and coped with
global financial problems.

Hamilton's car this season sports a number one on its side.
"It feels great. I've been waiting to see the number one on the
car," added the sport's youngest champion, the snuffles of a winter cold
failing to stifle his enthusiasm.
"I've had number two, I've had number 22 and now I've got number
one it is a very proud moment. And it will be really cool having number one on
the car all season," he said.

Hamilton, in only his second season in Formula One, took the title by a
single point after a cliff-hanging final race in Brazil last November.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa won that race in front of his home fans but
Hamilton pulled himself up from sixth to fifth on the final lap to secure the
title despite having won fewer grands prix than the Brazilian.

Formula One's rules have changed considerably this season, with the
return of slick tyres and major alterations to the aerodynamics.

The new car has a very different look to its predecessors, with a low
and wide front wing in contrast to a striking but far narrower rear.

There will also be more buttons to master on the steering wheel with
the introduction of the new kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), although
Hamilton was happy with that as a lover of gadgets.

The changes mean all teams and drivers will be entering new territory
when the season starts at Melbourne's familiar Albert Park circuit on March
29.
"Clearly the slick tyres, I haven't driven on the slick tyres yet.
So to see how they behave and you can treat them and look after them
throughout the race. It's going to be interesting. I think the KERS is going
to make a sign, having a kind of a boost button is going to be interesting and
then with the front wing, you know it is all going to be new and exciting and
I've got a completely new car. I have to get out there and put it on the limit
and see where it is good and where it is not," he said.