With McLaren’s MP2-24 unveiled yesterday we can now see how the first three 2009 F1 cars to be launched compare.

Here’s some close-up comparisons of the new McLaren alongside the Ferrari F60 and Toyota TF109.

Front wing

McLaren only provided two studio photographs of the MP4-24 making comparisons with the other cars launched so far a little tricky. We will hopefully get a better impression of their 2009 F1 challenger when it begins testing at Portimao in Portugal today.

In the meantime, a side-by-side comparison of its front wing with the Toyota TF109’s is possible (above, click to enlarge). F1 Technical notes the advanced development of the MP4-24’s front wing:

While Ferrari attempted a modest double decker wing and Toyota displayed a basic version, the new McLaren wing looks ready to be raced. The main panel features sweeping curves starting from a minimum-height horizontal leading edge. The red coloured moveable flaps are similarly curved in an attempt to improve the airflow in the inside of the front wheels, while maximising downforce ahead of it.

View from above

Without a proper top-down shot of the MP4-24, comparisons here area little tricky. We can, however, see that McLaren has not emulated the small constructions Ferrari and Toyota have in front of their sidepods. The sidepod apertures are also interesting, with an oval shape distinctly different to that seen on the TF109 and F60.

The MP4-24 doesn’t seem to be anything like as narrowly waisted at the rear as the F60 does.

The difference in the MP4-24’s suspension is striking. This picture gives a closer view of McLaren’s suspension configuration:

Side-by-side

The McLaren’s front nose is shorter than the Ferrari’s but longer than the Toyota’s. It looks taller, though that impression is slightly distorted in the above photograph by the endplate behind it.

The MP4/24 has a longer engine cover fin that its rivals and a much larger section cut from the rear endplate (which I think does a lot for its aesthetic appeal). They’ve also carried over the roll hoop cutaway section from the MP4/23 not seen on either of the other cars.

On Monday we’ll get the see the Renault R29 and Williams FW31 for the first time, giving us half a grid of 2009-spec cars to examine.

2009 F1 car launches

Images copyright: www.mclaren.com, Toyota F1 World and Ferrari spa