McLaren MP4-21
The McLaren MP4-21 is a Formula One car designed by Adrian Newey for the 2006 Formula One season. The car continues the MP4-X naming system and is notable for its striking chrome livery with red stripes designed to maximize the visibility of the team's new primary sponsor Emirates. The distinctive needle-nose design was previously used on the MP4-19 in 2004. The MP4-21 was the first McLaren car to be powered by purely Mercedes-Benz engines after 11 years partnership with Ilmor as an engine builder.
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Adrian Newey (Technical Director) Paddy Lowe (Engineering Director) Tim Goss (Chief Engineer) Mike Coughlan (Chief Designer) Peter Prodromou (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | MP4-20 | ||||||||
| Successor | MP4-22 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre monocoque 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 | ||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO108S, 2.4 litre V8 normally aspirated mid-mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren Applied Technologies 7-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited slip clutch | ||||||||
| Fuel | Mobil 1 unleaded | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Team McLaren Mercedes | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 3.  4.  4.  | ||||||||
| Debut | 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Teams' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The car started the season in the hands of Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya, but after a few races it soon became clear that it was not as competitive as its predecessor, the MP4-20, with an apparent improvement in reliability countered by an underpowered Mercedes engine. McLaren did not win a race all season, for the first time since 1996. Their best results were second-place finishes for Kimi Räikkönen in Australia and Italy, for Juan Pablo Montoya in Monaco, and for Pedro de la Rosa in Hungary.
A birdseye view of the rear.
The MP4-21 at Donington Park.
The MP4-21 being driven by Kimi Räikkönen.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | McLaren | Mercedes-Benz V8 | M | BHR | MAL | AUS | SMR | EUR | ESP | MON | GBR | CAN | USA | FRA | GER | HUN | TUR | ITA | CHN | JPN | BRA | 110 | 3rd | |
| Kimi Räikkönen | 3 | Ret | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 3 | Ret | 5 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | Ret | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 5 | 4 | Ret | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 6 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||||||||
| Pedro de la Rosa | 7 | Ret | 2 | 5 | Ret | 5 | 11 | 8 |
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to McLaren MP4-21. |
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