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The McLaren MP4-18 was destined to be McLaren's racing car during the 2003 Formula One season. Since the team had trouble keeping up with the record-breaking Ferrari F2002, team principal Ron Dennis decided a giant leap was needed to get back in front. However, due to several problems during tests, the car was never actually raced, in favour of the McLaren MP4-17D, a far developed version of the 2001 contender. The new car crashed several times with very obscure reasons, failed the FIA side impact crash tests twice, and last but not least, there was a severe problem cooling the engine down, since the sidepods were made very narrow.
During 2002, it became clear that the new car would have to be a big step forward, and not a simple evolution. Therefore, Arrows' chief designer Mike Coughlan was attracted to develop a brand new car, while another project was started to update the MP4-17 to race during the first races in 2003. Since the car never actually drove in a race in 2003, McLaren decided to develop the MP4-18 to the MP4-19.
The MP4-18 David Coulthard once drove now serves as the chassis for McLaren's racesimulator located in the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.
The McLaren MP4-19, which came out of developing the troublesome and never-raced MP4-18
