McLaren MP4/10

The McLaren MP4/10 was the Formula One car with which the McLaren team competed in the 1995 Formula One World Championship. 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.

McLaren MP4/10
McLaren MP4/10B
McLaren MP4/10C
Mark Blundell driving the MP4/10B at the 1995 British Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMcLaren
Designer(s)Steve Nichols (Engineering Director)
Neil Oatley (Design Director)
Henri Durand (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorMP4/9
SuccessorMP4/11
Technical specifications[1][2][3]
ChassisCarbon fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)Unequal length wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring/damper
Suspension (rear)Unequal length wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring/damper
EngineIlmor-built Mercedes-Benz FO110, 2,999 cc (183.0 cu in), 75° V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionMcLaren transverse 6-Speed semi-automatic sequential.
FuelMobil
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsMarlboro McLaren Mercedes
Notable drivers7. Mark Blundell
7. Nigel Mansell
8. Mika Häkkinen
8. Jan Magnussen
Debut1995 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
16000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Early season

1995 was a season of great expectation for McLaren. The disappointing 1994 alliance with Peugeot had been annulled, and Mercedes-Benz switched to the team from Sauber including third-party engine builder partnership with Ilmor Engineering Ltd. and thus earned full-factory works support from Mercedes-Benz. In addition, Mansell had been tempted out of retirement from his two prior years spent in the Indy Car series to partner the youthful Häkkinen. The MP4/10 was a radical design, incorporating a high "needle"-nose design and a wing mounted atop the airbox, among other innovations.

However, it became apparent that 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. His racing return lasted just two further Grands Prix, in San Marino and Spain, before leaving the team 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.

Upgrades
McLaren MP4/10B, driven only twice by Nigel Mansell, with widened cockpit on display at The Donington Collection

The McLaren MP4/10B update made its debut at San Marino 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 Grand Prix with a case of appendicitis and was replaced by the rookie Jan Magnussen, but returned to finish a fine second in Japan. 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 in Australia. A sudden left-rear 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 1996, which was also in Australia.

The team eventually finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship, with 30 points. The McLaren MP4/10 was the first McLaren car to run Mobil fuel before rebranding to Esso in 2015, beginning with the McLaren MP4-30.

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
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References
  • Henry, Alan (ed.) (1995). AUTOCOURSE 1995-96. Hazleton Publishing. pp. 54–57. ISBN 1-874557-36-5.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  1. http://www.statsf1.com/en/mclaren-mp4-10.aspx
  2. http://www.statsf1.com/en/mclaren-mp4-10b.aspx
  3. http://www.statsf1.com/en/mclaren-mp4-10c.aspx
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