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After losing the previous two Constructors titles to Williams in 1986 and 1987, McLaren was able to convince [[Honda]] to switch it's backing to Williams starting in 1988. The McLaren-Honda won an amazing 15 of 16 races that year, achieving the greatest winning percentage of a season in Formula One's modern history. [[Ayrton Senna]] took the driver's title that season, his first with the Woking marque. The next year, using a new 3.5L atmospheric engine designed by Honda, McLaren again won both titles, Alain Prost clinching it in [[Japan]] after a highly-controversial collision with his teammate Senna. The was the culmination of a violent feud between the two men, and saw Prost leave for [[Ferrari]] in 1990. Nevertheless, McLaren continued to dominate Formula One for the next two seasons, Senna winning the WDC in 1990 and 1991, and McLaren taking the constructors title in both of those years, new teammate [[Gerhard Berger]] helping to ensure this double success. |
After losing the previous two Constructors titles to Williams in 1986 and 1987, McLaren was able to convince [[Honda]] to switch it's backing to Williams starting in 1988. The McLaren-Honda won an amazing 15 of 16 races that year, achieving the greatest winning percentage of a season in Formula One's modern history. [[Ayrton Senna]] took the driver's title that season, his first with the Woking marque. The next year, using a new 3.5L atmospheric engine designed by Honda, McLaren again won both titles, Alain Prost clinching it in [[Japan]] after a highly-controversial collision with his teammate Senna. The was the culmination of a violent feud between the two men, and saw Prost leave for [[Ferrari]] in 1990. Nevertheless, McLaren continued to dominate Formula One for the next two seasons, Senna winning the WDC in 1990 and 1991, and McLaren taking the constructors title in both of those years, new teammate [[Gerhard Berger]] helping to ensure this double success. |
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From 1992 onwards, McLaren fell into a bit of a decline. After the thorough dominance of the [[Renault]]-powered [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] in 1992, Honda left Formula One. While the [[Ford]] engines proved suitable in the hands of Senna, American [[Michael Andretti]] was a disaster, scoring only a handful of points and was replaced before the end of the year by Finnish youngster [[Mika |
From 1992 onwards, McLaren fell into a bit of a decline. After the thorough dominance of the [[Renault]]-powered [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] in 1992, Honda left Formula One. While the [[Ford]] engines proved suitable in the hands of Senna, American [[Michael Andretti]] was a disaster, scoring only a handful of points and was replaced before the end of the year by Finnish youngster [[Mika Häkkinen]]. In 1994, Senna departed for Williams, and perpetual journeyman [[Mark Blundell]] joined Hakkinen in new [[Peugeot]]-powered cars. The results were unimpressive, and Peugeot was dropped after a single year to bring on promising returner's [[Mercedez-Benz]]. But 1995 was even worse than 1994, the radical M/P4-10 proving to be too heavy and slow, and former champion [[Nigel Mansell]] proving to be too wide to fit into the car! |
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While Williams dominated F1 in 1996 and 1997, McLaren made slow, careful strides with it's Mercedes engine and drivers |
While Williams dominated F1 in 1996 and 1997, McLaren made slow, careful strides with it's Mercedes engine and drivers Häkkinen and [[David Coulthard]]. With the temporary withdrawal of Renault at the end of 1997, McLaren was perfectly positioned to strike, Häkkinen taking the driver's title in 1998 and 1999, and McLaren the Constructors cup in 1998. 2000 was another closely-fought season, but ultimately [[Ferrari]]'s [[Michael Schumacher]] prevailed...a position the German champion has yet to relinquish. |
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Since 2000, McLaren has struggled somewhat to regain it's place at the top of Formula One. Mika Hakkinen's surprise 'sabbatical' (which turned into retirement) in 2002 opened the way for countryman [[Kimi |
Since 2000, McLaren has struggled somewhat to regain it's place at the top of Formula One. Mika Hakkinen's surprise 'sabbatical' (which turned into retirement) in 2002 opened the way for countryman [[Kimi Räikkönen]] to take his place. McLaren has only captured 3 wins since that date...a single win at Monaco in 2002 to Coulthard, and two wins in 2003, one for Coulthard at Australia, and one for Räikkönen at Malaysia. The team was severely hampered in 2003 by development of the M/P4-18, a radical new design which never raced in anger, forcing the team to use the year-old M/P4-17D, a very severe handicap in modern Formula One racing. |
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Its drivers for the [[2004]] season are [[David Coulthard]] and [[Kimi |
Its drivers for the [[2004]] season are [[David Coulthard]] and [[Kimi Räikkönen]], driving M/P4-19's. [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] will join McLaren in [[2005]] driving alongside Räikkönen. |
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==The Car Manufacturer== |
==The Car Manufacturer== |
Revision as of 20:59, 24 May 2004
The Racing Team
McLaren, founded by Bruce McLaren (1937-1970) and currently managed by Ron Dennis, is a Formula One racing team based in Woking, England. It has been one of the most successful teams in Formula One, winning more Grands Prix than any constructor save Ferrari, and numerous World Driver's and World Constructor's Championships.
(For the history of the team until 1970, please see the Bruce McLaren article)
The McLaren F1 team we know today resulted from a merger of the McLaren team and Ron Dennis' personal F1 team Project 4 in 1981. This had caused some confusion among fans of the sport, as all McLaren cars since 1981 have carried the designation M/P4-xx. In this case the 4 comes from Project 4, and has no relation to the generation of chassis.
The most successful period in McLaren's history came under the early leadership of Ron Dennis. Adrian Newey designed the revolutionary M/P4-1 chassis, the first F1 car made entirely of carbon-fiber composites, which when mated to the TAG/Porsche turbo engine proved very strong. A succession of strong drivers helped, with Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, and Stephan Johanssen driving for the team in this period. McLaren-Porsche won the Constructors title in 1984 (with Lauda taking the Driver's crown), and 1985 (with Prost winning his first World Title), and Prost took the driver's title again in 1986.
After losing the previous two Constructors titles to Williams in 1986 and 1987, McLaren was able to convince Honda to switch it's backing to Williams starting in 1988. The McLaren-Honda won an amazing 15 of 16 races that year, achieving the greatest winning percentage of a season in Formula One's modern history. Ayrton Senna took the driver's title that season, his first with the Woking marque. The next year, using a new 3.5L atmospheric engine designed by Honda, McLaren again won both titles, Alain Prost clinching it in Japan after a highly-controversial collision with his teammate Senna. The was the culmination of a violent feud between the two men, and saw Prost leave for Ferrari in 1990. Nevertheless, McLaren continued to dominate Formula One for the next two seasons, Senna winning the WDC in 1990 and 1991, and McLaren taking the constructors title in both of those years, new teammate Gerhard Berger helping to ensure this double success.
From 1992 onwards, McLaren fell into a bit of a decline. After the thorough dominance of the Renault-powered Williams in 1992, Honda left Formula One. While the Ford engines proved suitable in the hands of Senna, American Michael Andretti was a disaster, scoring only a handful of points and was replaced before the end of the year by Finnish youngster Mika Häkkinen. In 1994, Senna departed for Williams, and perpetual journeyman Mark Blundell joined Hakkinen in new Peugeot-powered cars. The results were unimpressive, and Peugeot was dropped after a single year to bring on promising returner's Mercedez-Benz. But 1995 was even worse than 1994, the radical M/P4-10 proving to be too heavy and slow, and former champion Nigel Mansell proving to be too wide to fit into the car!
While Williams dominated F1 in 1996 and 1997, McLaren made slow, careful strides with it's Mercedes engine and drivers Häkkinen and David Coulthard. With the temporary withdrawal of Renault at the end of 1997, McLaren was perfectly positioned to strike, Häkkinen taking the driver's title in 1998 and 1999, and McLaren the Constructors cup in 1998. 2000 was another closely-fought season, but ultimately Ferrari's Michael Schumacher prevailed...a position the German champion has yet to relinquish.
Since 2000, McLaren has struggled somewhat to regain it's place at the top of Formula One. Mika Hakkinen's surprise 'sabbatical' (which turned into retirement) in 2002 opened the way for countryman Kimi Räikkönen to take his place. McLaren has only captured 3 wins since that date...a single win at Monaco in 2002 to Coulthard, and two wins in 2003, one for Coulthard at Australia, and one for Räikkönen at Malaysia. The team was severely hampered in 2003 by development of the M/P4-18, a radical new design which never raced in anger, forcing the team to use the year-old M/P4-17D, a very severe handicap in modern Formula One racing.
Its drivers for the 2004 season are David Coulthard and Kimi Räikkönen, driving M/P4-19's. Juan Pablo Montoya will join McLaren in 2005 driving alongside Räikkönen.
The Car Manufacturer
The team also produced tiny volumes of an extremely expensive road car known as the "McLaren F1", priced at $1million. The 6.1-litre V12 engine, which produces 627 bhp (468 kW), was designed and built by BMW. A three-seater with an unusual central driving position, the F1 is currently the fastest production car ever made, with an independently measured top speed of over 380 km/h (240.14 mph). The only other comparable vehicles are the Ferrari Enzo and the Bugatti EB110, though plans are in the works for a faster Bugatti, the EB 16/4 Veyron, and both Cadillac and Chrysler have produced concept cars which would outpace the F1.
Recently the team has affiliated itself with Mercedes-Benz and will soon start production on another limited edition supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
In 1995, a McLaren F1 GTR won the 24 hours of Le Mans race.
- See also: List of automobiles.