McLaren MP4/10

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McLaren MP4/10/B/C

Category	Formula One
Constructor	McLaren
Team/s	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes
Designers	Neil Oatley Henri Durand Matthew Jeffreys Dave Neilson Dave North Tim Goss
Drivers	7. Mark Blundell & Nigel Mansell 8. Mika Häkkinen & Jan Magnussen
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	unequal length wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring/damper
Suspension (rear)	unequal length wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring/damper
Engine	Mercedes-Benz FO110 75-degree V10
Gearbox	McLaren six-speed transverse
Fuel	Mobil
Tyres	Goodyear
Debut	1995 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races competed	17
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0

The McLaren MP4/10 was the car with which the McLaren team competed in the 1995 Formula One season. It was driven mainly by Mark Blundell, who started the year without a drive, and Mika Häkkinen, who was in his second full season with the team. The car was also driven by 1992 champion Nigel Mansell and Jan Magnussen.

1995 was a season of great expectation for the team. The disappointing 1994 alliance with Peugeot had been anulled, and Mercedes-Benz switched to the team from Sauber. In addition, Mansell had been tempted out of "retirement" to partner the young Finn Häkkinen. The MP4/10 was a radical car, incorporating a "needle-nose" and a wing mounted atop the airbox, among other innovations.

However, it became apparent that Mansell was unable to fit properly in the narrow cockpit, and he was forced to miss the first two races of the season whilst a wider monocoque was built. His racing return lasted just two further Grands Prix before he left altogether, disgusted with the car's poor performance. Blundell, who had deputised in Brazil and Argentina, became a permanent race driver.

The car's main handling problem was a lack of front-end grip, allied to the often unreliable engine. However, the package proved competitive enough for the team to usually be "best of the rest", behind Benetton, Williams and Ferrari, and Häkkinen was able to score two podium finishes. Team-mate Blundell also took several points finishes.

The McLaren MP4/10B update made its début at Imola and was retained for most of the season. A further modification, the MP4/10C, appeared at the Portuguese and European Grands Prix, but was not used further.

McLaren endured a mixed end to the season. Häkkinen missed the Pacific GP with a case of appendicitis and was replaced by the rookie Magnussen, but then returned to finish a fine second at Suzuka. This was tempered by the fact that Blundell wrote off a chassis in practice, but this setback paled in comparison to Häkkinen's accident at the final race of the season, at Adelaide. A sudden puncture saw his car fly out of control and hit a concrete wall at high speed. Mika was pulled out of his car unconscious with blood pouring from his mouth and nose. However, he made a full recovery for the first grand prix of the next year, which was also in Australia.

The team eventually finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship, with 30 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	17	Points	WCC
1995	McLaren	Mercedes V10	G		BRA	ARG	SMR	ESP	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	EUR	PAC	JPN	AUS	30	4th
				Mark Blundell	6	Ret			5	Ret	11	5	Ret	Ret	5	4	9	Ret	9	7	4
				Nigel Mansell			10	Ret
				Mika Häkkinen	4	Ret	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	8	Inj	2	DNS
				Jan Magnussen															10

[edit] References

• Henry, Alan (ed.) (1995). AUTOCOURSE 1995-96. Hazleton Publishing, pp. 54-57. ISBN 1-874557-36-5. 

McLaren

Founder: Bruce McLaren

Personnel: Ron Dennis | Martin Whitmarsh | Norbert Haug | Mike Coughlan

Current drivers: Fernando Alonso | Lewis Hamilton | Pedro de la Rosa | Gary Paffett

Formula One cars:

1960s: M2B (1966) | M4B (1967) | M5A (1967–1968) | M7A (1967–1969) | M7C (1969–1971) | M9A (1969) 1970s: M14A (1970–1971) | M7D (1970) | M14D (1970) | M19A (1971–1973) | M19C (1972–1973) | M23 (1974–1978) | M26 (1977–1979) | M28 (1979) | M29 (1979–1981) 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 (test car) | MP4-19 (B, 2004) | MP4-20 (2005) | MP4-21 (2006) | MP4-22 (2007)