McLaren MP4/6

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The McLaren MP4/6 on display.

The MP4/6 being driven by Ayrton Senna at the 1991 Monaco Grand Prix.

The McLaren MP4/6 is a Formula One racecar that was designed by Neil Oatley for the 1991 F1 season. It was the first McLaren to be powered by a Honda V12 engine. The car was tested by Gerhard Berger in the off season, but he was unimpressed with the new engine, feeling it was underpowered for what it was, especially compared to Honda's V10 engine in the previous year's car. When Ayrton Senna returned for pre season testing, he knuckled down to try and solve the engine's problems. McLaren's domination in the early part of the year was mainly due to the lack of reliability of the Williams FW14.

The MP4/6 had a manual "H" pattern gearbox, only Ferrari and Williams used semi-automatic gearboxes during 1991.

Senna won the first four races of the season, in the USA, an emotional victory in Brazil, San Marino and Monaco before Williams and Nigel Mansell found their feet with their remarkable FW14 car, which dominated in the mid season. Consistent podium finishes throughout the year helped McLaren, but Senna insisted that Honda step up their engine development programme and demanded further improvements to the car before it was too late. Honda responded with an updated version of the V12 engine, while Oatley redesigned various features of the car, especially the sidepods and wings. Failed electronics and a bodged pitstop scuppered Williams' chances in Belgium and Portugal when in the lead allowing McLaren to take their fourth straight constructors' championship and Senna his third and last drivers' championship.

Honda RA121E V12 engine

The MP4/6 was the best car in the field until Williams sorted the FW14, which was aerodynamically and technically more advanced. The Honda V12 engine was however not up to par with the Renault V10 but Senna's skills had won the day for the team.

For the early races of 1992, McLaren used the MP4/6 (upgraded to MP4/6B spec) and Senna was able to take it to two third places before it was replaced by the MP4/7A.

The MP4/6 took 8 Grand Prix wins, 10 pole positions and scored 148 points in its career. The car brought a close to McLaren's domination of the sport, leaving the door open for Williams.

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McLaren MP4/6

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