New Colours ?

[davewilson]

New images reveal the extent of Vodafone's deal with McLaren Mercedes. One photo, depicting Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel of this year's MP4-21 car running behind closed doors at Jerez, shows the silver racer with red sidepods and white logos in deference to the new title sponsorship with former Ferrari backer Vodafone.

A band of red colour also runs down the spine of the single seater's engine cover, while - according to Bild newspaper - the rear wing, now a similarly deeper shade of red than this season, will boast the name 'Vodafone' in 2007 rather than that of Emirates.

McLaren's Vodafone backing is worth upwards of $57m, the German daily tabloid added.  


Mercedes-Benz's competition director Norbert Haug, however, denied that the new livery means that the familiar 'Silver Arrows' would fade in 2007.

"No," he insisted. "The Silver Arrows has never been more alive! The colour silver will be prominent also on the 2007 car."

The MP4-22 will be unveiled officially at Valencia in January.

The Stig