McLaren MP4/11

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**McLaren MP4/11**

Category	Formula One
Constructor	McLaren
Team/s	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes
Designer	Neil Oatley
Drivers	7. Mika Häkkinen 8. David Coulthard
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	inboard spring/damper operated by pushrod bellcrank/unequal-length wishbones
Suspension (rear)	inboard spring/damper operated by pushrod bellcrank/unequal-length wishbones
Engine	Mercedes-Benz FO110 75-degree V10
Gearbox	McLaren six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic
Fuel	Mobil 1
Tyres	Goodyear
Debut	1996 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	16
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0

The McLaren MP4/11 was the car with which the McLaren team competed in the 1996 Formula One season. It was driven by Mika Häkkinen, who was in his third full season with the team, and David Coulthard, who moved from Williams.

McLaren had endured a disappointing year with the cars beset by handling and reliabilty problems in the team's first year in partnership with Mercedes-Benz. The second year of the arrangement was far more productive with both performance and reliability improved, but the team had yet to make the serious breakthrough necessary to challenge the "Big Three" of Williams, Ferrari and Benetton.

The car's best result came at the Monaco GP, with Coulthard finishing a close second to Olivier Panis' Ligier at the end of a chaotic race. However, the Scotsman was outscored and generally outpaced by his Finnish team-mate.

The car was developed throughout the season, with improvements initiated to eradicated an initial handling imbalance in time for Coulthard to lead the first 19 laps of the San Marino GP. A "B" version of the chassis was developed for Silverstone, and Häkkinen responded with four podium finishes from then until the end of the season.

1996 was also notable for McLaren losing its long-term Marlboro sponsorship to Ferrari, but the team responded by recruiting rival brand West.

The team eventually finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship, with 49 points.

[edit] Complete Formula One Results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1996	McLaren	Mercedes V10	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	EUR	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN	49	4th
				Mika Häkkinen	5	4	Ret	8	8	6	5	5	5	3	Ret	4	3	3	Ret	3
				David Coulthard	Ret	Ret	7	3	Ret	2	Ret	4	6	5	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	8

[edit] References

Henry, Alan (ed) (1996). AUTOCOURSE 1996-97. Hazleton Publishing, pp. 64-67. ISBN 1-874557-91-8.

McLaren Formula One cars

1960s: M2B (1966) | M4B (1967) | M5A (1967-68) | M7A (1967-69) | M7C (1969-71) | M9A (1969)

1970s: M14A (1970-71) | M7D (1970) | M14D (1970) | M19A (1971-73) | M19C (1972-73) | M23 (1974-78) | M26 (1977-79) | M28 (1979) | M29 (1979-81)

1980s: M30 (1980) | M29F (1981) | MP4 (MP4/1) (1981) | MP4/1B (1982) | MP4/1C (E, 1983) | MP4/2 (1984) | MP4/2B (1985) | MP4/2C (1986) | MP4/3 (1987) | MP4/4 (1988) | MP4/5 (1989)

1990s: MP4/5B (1990) | MP4/6 (1991) | MP4/6B (1992) | MP4/7A (1992) | MP4/8 (1993) | MP4/9 (1994) | MP4/10 (B, C, 1995) | MP4/11 (B, 1996) | MP4-12 (1997) | MP4-13 (1998) | MP4-14 (1999) |

2000s: MP4-15 (2000) | MP4-16 (2001) | MP4-17 (2002) | MP4-17D (2003) | MP4-18 (2003) | MP4-19 (B, 2004) | MP4-20 (2005) | MP4-21 (2006)

Cars which competed in the 1996 Formula One season
Williams FW18 \| Ferrari F310 \| Benetton B196 \| McLaren MP4/11 \| MP4/11B \| Jordan 196 \| Ligier JS43 \| Sauber C15 \| Tyrrell 024 \| Footwork FA17 \| Minardi M195B \| Forti FG01B \| FG03