The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team today launched the car it will campaign in the 2009 FIA Formula 1 World Championship at its headquarters in Woking, England.

Unveiled by world champion Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, the new MP4-24 bears little resemblance to its world championship-winning predecessor due to the introduction of a raft of new rules that have radically reshaped Formula 1 ahead of the 2009 season.

Now featuring heavily revised bodywork, re-sculpted front and rear wings, slick tires and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), the MP4-24 has been in development since September 2007 in order to successfully accommodate the huge changes to the technical regulations.

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The Isle of Man, known around the world for its love of motorsport, is celebrating Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 F1 World Championship by issuing a set of six exciting stamps featuring images of his championship year.

Isle of man, for those that don’t know, is a semi-autonomous British island, whish has no speed limits, and is home to a handful of motorbike champions; Even Jeremy Clarkson has a house there. Now we have a better idea why they have issued the Lewis Hamilton stamps.

Lewis Hamilton is the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion. In a dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix with rain before the start and rain short before the finish, Lewis decided the title battle at the last corner of the 71-lap race, when he overtook Timo Glock to secure fifth place which was enough to win the title.

At the age of 23 years, nine months and 26 days, Lewis is the youngest champion in Formula 1 history. It is the third drivers’ title for the McLaren Mercedes partnership after Mika Hà¤kkinen winning the championship in 1998 and 1999. Lewis won the title with 98 points ahead of Felipe Massa (97 points) who won his home race. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes finished the Constructors’ Championship runner-up on 151 points behind Ferrari on 172 points.

Race details after the break.