McLaren MP4-20
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| Category | Formula One |
|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren |
| Team | Team McLaren Mercedes |
| Designer | Adrian Newey |
| Drivers | 9. Kimi Räikkönen 10. Juan Pablo Montoya, Alexander Wurz & Pedro de la Rosa |
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures |
| Suspension (front) | Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement |
| Suspension (rear) | Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO110, Mid-mounted 3.0 litre V10 |
| Gearbox | McLaren, 7 forward + 1 reverse |
| Fuel | Mobil 1 unleaded |
| Tyres | Michelin |
| Debut | 2005 Australian Grand Prix |
| Races competed | 18 |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 |
| Race victories | 10 |
| Pole positions | 8 |
| Fastest laps | 12 |
The McLaren MP4-20 is a Formula One racing car that was built by McLaren. It was designed by Adrian Newey and Mike Coughlan, and introduced at the beginning of the 2005 Formula One season. The car's chassis was an almost completely new design after the failure of the MP4-18 and MP4-19. The new car featured the revised aerodynamics and suspension set up that the 2005 regulations required, including a raised front wing, smaller diffuser and rear wing moved further forward. A shorter wheelbase was used to maximise the Michelin tyres' performance. The car featured distinctive 'horn' wings fitted to the bodywork behind the overhead air intake in an attempt to claw back as much downforce as possible lost through the FIA's rule changes.
The car was fast but unreliable in testing and whilst Kimi Räikkönen used the car as best as he could in the early part of the season, Juan-Pablo Montoya who had joined the team from Williams initially struggle to get to grips with the set-up and unusual driving technique the car required over the Williams chassis he was used to. He was not helped by an off-track injury that put him out for three races early in the year. He eventually settled with the car and scored three wins and several podiums.
The Mercedes engine was the most powerful in F1 that year but suffered hydraulics problems which cost Räikkönen the world championship to Fernando Alonso and McLaren the constructor's championship to Renault. Räikkönen won seven races and was in a position to win at least three others but the car's reliability cost him the title.
Continual development throughout the year made the MP4/20 the fastest car in F1 from mid-season onwards, as was seen by the number of pole positions and fastest laps accumulated by both Räikkönen and Montoya.
Räikkönen and McLaren eventually finished second in their respective championships, whilst Montoya finished fourth in the drivers' standings.
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