McLaren MP4-20

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 MP4-20 was the last McLaren car to be powered by Mercedes-Benz under the Ilmor partnership since the 1995 season.

McLaren MP4-20
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMcLaren
Designer(s)Adrian Newey (Technical Director)
Paddy Lowe (Engineering Director)
Pat Fry (Chief Engineer)
Mike Coughlan (Chief Designer)
Peter Prodromou (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorMP4-19B
SuccessorMP4-21
Technical specifications
ChassisMoulded 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)As front
EngineIlmor-built Mercedes-Benz FO110R, 3.0 litre V10 (90º) Naturally aspirated mid-mounted
TransmissionMcLaren 7 forward + 1 reverse sequential semi-automatic
FuelMobil Synergy Unleaded race fuels
LubricantsMobil 1
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsTeam McLaren Mercedes
Notable drivers9. Kimi Räikkönen
10. Juan Pablo Montoya
10. Pedro de la Rosa
10. Alexander Wurz
Debut2005 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
191018712
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Livery

McLaren-Mercedes went into 2005 with renewed major sponsorships such as West, Mobil 1, Mercedes-Benz, SAP, Siemens, Hugo Boss, Sun Microsystems, AT&T, Schüco and Henkel Corporation. The team also received new sponsorship with Johnnie Walker replacing West due to the tobacco advertising ban in the European Union on 31 July 2005. The livery was similar to the 2004 design with subtle changes.

New design

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 wide, flat nose design was initially trialled on the MP4-19 at the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, but not retained for the rest of that season.[1] It was fully utilised for 2005.

This would be McLaren's last car to feature the grey and black livery of primary sponsor West cigarettes, a partnership which began with the MP4/12 in 1997.[2]

Season

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 struggled to get to grips with the setup 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 two races early in the year. His stand-ins for those 2 races, Pedro de la Rosa for Bahrain and Alexander Wurz for San Marino finished fifth (including the fastest lap) and third respectively. Montoya eventually settled with the car and scored three wins and several podiums.[3]

The Mercedes engine was the most powerful in F1 that year but suffered reliability problems which cost Räikkönen the world championship to Fernando Alonso and McLaren the Constructors' Championship to Renault despite McLaren winning 10 races to Renault's 8 wins. Räikkönen won seven races and was in a position to win at least three others but the car's unreliability cost him the title. Montoya also suffered from reliability problems which cost him a potential win in Hungary and potential podium finishes in France and China.[4]

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.[5]

Räikkönen and McLaren eventually finished second in their respective championships, whilst Montoya finished fourth in the drivers' standings.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Pts.‡ WCC
2005 MP4-20 Mercedes FO 110R 3.0 V10 M AUS MAL BHR SMR ESP MON EUR CAN USA FRA GBR GER HUN TUR ITA BEL BRA JPN CHN 182 2nd
Kimi Räikkönen 8 9 3 Ret 1 1 11 1 DNS 2 3 Ret 1 1 4 1 2 1 2
Juan Pablo Montoya 6 4 7 5 7 DSQ DNS Ret 1 2 Ret 3 1 14† 1 Ret Ret
Pedro de la Rosa 5
Alexander Wurz 3

† – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Awards
Preceded by
Ferrari F2004		 Autosport
Racing Car Of The Year
2005		 Succeeded by
Renault R26
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References
  1. McMurray, Bob (2004-10-22). "Ask Bob: Edition 18 2004". Television New Zealand. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  2. "McLaren MP4-20 - F1technical.net". www.f1technical.net. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  3. "McLaren MP4-20 – Car with Most Wins in 2005 Left Without a Trophy". www.snaplap.net. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  4. Dodds, Alex (27 March 2016). "F1 History: McLaren MP4-20". Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  5. "2005 McLaren MP4-20 Mercedes - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
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