McLaren MP4-20 Mercedes

McLaren MP4-20 image

Active: 2005
Team: McLaren International Ltd

Designer: Adrian Newey, Mike Coughlan, Neil Oatley
Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen (9), Juan Pablo Montoya / Pedro De La Rosa / Alex Wurz (10)

The Team McLaren Mercedes MP4-20 Formula One car took to the track for the first time on the 24th of January at the Circuit de Catalunya, outside Barcelona, Spain, where regular driver Kimi Raikkonen took to the wheel.

The debut of the team's 2005 challenger showed a design that had been heavily influenced by significant revisions to both the sporting and technical regulations that govern Formula One in four key areas: engine lifespan, limitations on tyre use, aerodynamics and race weekend format particularly for qualifying.

The aerodynamic modifications led to the most visible differences on the car, to the design of the chassis, which was exclusively developed in the design office and wind tunnel facilities at the McLaren Technology Centre. These include the raising of the front wing by 50mm, restricting the height of the diffuser to 125mm and bringing the rear wing package forward by 150mm.

“Since MP4-20 was fired up for the first time at 02:30am on the morning of Thursday 20th January at the McLaren Technology Centre, the anticipatory atmosphere of the car’s initial run within the team has been building and we are pleased to have completed its shakedown this morning,” said Ron Dennis, Team Principal, West McLaren Mercedes. “Today’s unveiling is the first tangible demonstration of the team’s preparations for the 2005 season, a year that has the potential to be exciting and positive for all the teams, our Partners and the fans alike. There is feverish work taking place across the team to achieve the best possible result for the this year”

The design of the MP4-20 has been heavily influenced by significant revisions to both the sporting and technical regulations that govern Formula One in four key areas: engine lifespan, limitations on tyre use, aerodynamics and race weekend format particularly for qualifying.

“A Formula One car is a fully integrated machine,” commented Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula One, West McLaren Mercedes. “As a consequence, regulation changes to the extent we have seen ahead of the 2005 season, have had a major impact on the configuration of the entire package.

The revisions created an interesting challenge for our design team under Adrian Newey, Mike Coughlan and Neil Oatley, and the result is a car that looks quite different from last year. Mercedes-Ilmor on the engine side has to cope with similar technical and timescale challenges.”

"With the regulations, particularly on the aerodynamic side, being set comparatively late resulting in even harder and more dedicated work from all members of the team to get MP4-20 on track today. This has seen positive collaboration with all our Technology Partners, particularly Michelin in adapting to the extended use requirements of tyres for the coming season, when they have to last the entire race distance,” McLaren Racing's Technical Director Adrian Newey said. “The spec for MP4-20 was set in May 2004 and this saw the start of wind tunnel work at the McLaren Technology Centre. The timescales have been challenging but that is all part of the excitement of Formula One."

The McLaren MP4-20 proved through 2005 to be the fastest car on most of the circuits after the team made some suspension adjustments to handle the Michelin tyres better. While Juan Pablo Montoya kept struggling a bit with the transition from Williams, Kimi Raikkonen was the main competitor champion Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard's Renault R25 was more consistent and especially far more reliable.

Specifications

Chassis: McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures. Contains integral safety fuel cell
Front Suspension: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Rear Suspension: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Suspension Dampers: McLaren
Electronics: McLaren Electronic Systems control units incorporating electronics for chassis, engine and data acquisition. McLaren Electronic Systems also supplies the electronic dash board, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems
Bodywork Construction: Two -piece sidepod and engine cover. Separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing.
Tyres: Michelin
Race Wheels: Enkei
Steering: McLaren power-assisted
Adhesives: Henkel Technologies
Radios: Kenwood
Batteries: GS Yuasa Corporation
Instruments: McLaren Electronic Systems
Weight: 600kg
Gearbox: Semi-automatic (hand operated clutch) with 7 forward gears and one reverse

Engine

Designation: Mercedes-Benz FO 110R
Configuration: Naturally aspirated, 90° V10
Fuel: Mobil 1 Unleaded
Lubricants: Mobil 1 products