McLaren MP4/10
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Neil Oatley | ||||||||
| Predecessor | MP4/9 | ||||||||
| Successor | MP4/11 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1][2][3] | |||||||||
| 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, 2,999 cc (183.0 cu in), 75° V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren transverse 6-Speed semi-automatic | ||||||||
| Fuel | Mobil | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Marlboro McLaren Mercedes | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |
7.  Mark Blundell7. Nigel Mansell8.  Mika Häkkinen8.  Jan Magnussen | ||||||||
| Debut | 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 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 annulled, 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 design, incorporating a "needle-nose" and a wing mounted atop the airbox, among other innovations.
However, it became apparent that Nigel 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 McLaren MP4/10C. 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 during qualifying for 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. Häkkinen 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.
Complete Formula One results
(key)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Marlboro McLaren | Mercedes-Benz FO110 V10 |
G | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC | JPN | AUS | 30 | 4th | ||
| Mark Blundell | 7 | 6 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 11 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 4 | 9 | Ret | 9 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||
| Nigel Mansell | 10 | Ret | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mika Häkkinen | 8 | 4 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 2 | Ret | 8 | 2 | DNS | |||||||
| Jan Magnussen | 10 |
References
- Henry, Alan (ed.) (1995). AUTOCOURSE 1995-96. Hazleton Publishing. pp. 54–57. ISBN 1-874557-36-5.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to McLaren MP4/10. |
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