Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal, Martin Whitmarsh, has shared his thoughts on the launch of the new MP4-25 that took place earlier today.

How confident are you that the team can sustain the momentum it gathered at the end of 2009 into the new season?

By the end of last season, we had one of the fastest cars in the field - and that's a testament to the ceaseless belief, motivation and skill of the people within our team. And I hope we've maintained that momentum over the winter. Indeed, we've pushed the limits with the design of the new car, and I'm tremendously proud of everyone's achievements. We feel that the relatively stable regulatory changes will play to our strengths, and it's our aim to field a fully competitive car from the start of the season.

What prompted the decision to sign Jenson to partner Lewis?

At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, we've demonstrated that strength in depth is the best approach to take in Formula 1. The group of engineers, designers and strategists we've assembled demonstrates how much can be achieved by a very focused team operating at the very limit of their abilities.

In Jenson, we saw a champion driver hungry for more; somebody who wants to achieve greater successes, and bring with him a blend of experience, speed and strength of character that will further strengthen this organisation. We've already seen those qualities in Lewis, too. And he's proved beyond question that he's not only a great Formula 1 driver, but also a great team player and a motivator.

I'm convinced that we have one of the very strongest driver line-ups in Formula 1, and that both Jenson and Lewis are committed to working together to enhance the team's prospects in what promises to be a fiercely competitive season.

What is it about McLaren that has made it such an enduring force within Formula 1?

There's a passion and commitment within this organisation that is hard to define. We saw it last year, but, in fact, we see it every year: it's an ability to pull together in order to overcome great obstacles. And the same goes for the team's many commercial partnerships. We have fantastic, long-standing relationships with our partners, and we're extremely proud of the strength and depth of those partnerships. They speak volumes about the levels of trust and the reputation that this team has established over many, many years. We're big believers in people - that belief got us where we are today, and it's our shared commitment that will take us forward in 2010."