LEAD: McLaren unveil 2012 Formula One car

Feb 1, 2012, 12:35 GMT

London - McLaren on Wednesday became the first top team to unveil their car for the 2012 Formula One season.

The team's drivers, former world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, showed off the MP4-27 model at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking amid hopes they can mount a serious challenge on Red Bull and their world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Mercedes-powered as in the past, the latest McLaren has a curved nose owing to new F1 regulations which give all cars a somewhat strange look.

However, the curved nose eased fears that all cars would have 'platypus nose' designs as that unveiled by Caterham last week.

'This is a beautiful car. Many of those that you see will not be,' Button said.

The 2008 champion Hamilton said: 'It is a fantastic car, I am looking forward to driving next week in Jerez.'

Button, who lifted the trophy in 2009 for Brawn GP, came second behind the runaway winner Vettel last year, while Hamilton had to settle for fifth place.

Button expressed his hope that McLaren would be competitive right from the February 7 start of pre-season testing in Jerez, Spain, after the team had a terrible buildup 12 months ago. The 2012 season starts on March 18 in Australia.

'We don't think we are going to have a repeat of last winter,' said team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

McLaren last won the constructors' crown in 1998 and the last drivers' title came from Hamilton four years ago.

The other top teams Ferrari and Red Bull will unveil their cars on Friday and Monday, respectively.

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