McLaren confirm 2009 launch date

McLaren have confirmed that they will launch their 2009 car, the MP4-24, on January 16 at their base, the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.

The team will test a version of this year's car upgraded with 2009 parts at Jerez and the new Algarve circuit in Portugal later this month, before unveiling the new car two weeks into the new year with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.

McLaren's group head of communications and public relations, Matt Bishop, said: "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."

Kovalainen hopeful of step forward