McLaren MP4/13

McLaren MP4/13
Category Formula One
Constructor McLaren
Designer(s) Adrian Newey, Neil Oatley
Predecessor MP4/12
Successor MP4/14
Technical specifications
Chassis Moulded carbon fibre composite structure
Suspension (front) Double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear) Double wishbones, pushrod
Engine Mercedes-Benz FO110G, 72-degree V10
Transmission McLaren six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic
Fuel Mobil 1
Tyres Bridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrants West McLaren Mercedes
Notable drivers 7. United Kingdom David Coulthard
8. Finland Mika Häkkinen
Debut 1998 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
169129
Constructors' Championships 1 (1998)
Drivers' Championships 1 (1998, Mika Häkkinen)

The McLaren MP4/13 was a racing car that the McLaren Formula One team used during the 1998 Formula 1 season. Driven by Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard, who were retained from the previous season, the car proved to be the dominant car of the season, taking Häkkinen to his first Drivers' Championship and securing McLaren's first constructor's title since 1991.

History

Mika Häkkinen's MP4/13 in test livery in the McLaren Hall at Donington Grand Prix Exhibition

Designer Adrian Newey had joined McLaren from Williams F1 in 1997, but was unable to influence the design of the McLaren MP4/12 other than adjustment during the season. The work was rewarded when the MP4/12 took a 1-2 win at the 1997 European Grand Prix.

When the 1998 season got under way four months later it became clear that Newey had adapted to the rule changes for 1998 best. With the cars now narrower and running on grooved tyres, the MP4/13 was the car to beat.

The dominance of the MP4/13 was displayed in the opening race of the season, the 1998 Australian Grand Prix. Drivers Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard outclassed the competition by leaving every competitor at least a lap behind. Adrian Newey's aerodynamic design was by far the most efficient one and Mercedes produced the most powerful engine of the season. McLaren's dominance continued on the second race of the season in Brazil, but from the next GP in Argentina, Ferrari started closing the huge gap. However, the MP4/13 retained its superiority on high-speed tracks like Hockenheim and Silverstone, while Ferrari's F300 was closer to the McLaren on more technical circuits. Coulthard spoke of the MP4/13 later on, saying the car was fast but it understeered through slow corners; this was due to Newey's design that maximized the car's aerodynamic grip over its mechanical grip.

During the 1998 season, Coulthard's MP4/13 speed trapped the highest of all 1998 cars when he was clocked at 353 km/h (219 mph) at the old Hockenheim circuit.

While Ferrari's Michael Schumacher put up a good fight when the season progressed, Häkkinen became world champion that year, despite McLaren's reliability problems. Also, McLaren won the Constructors' Championship, with Häkkinen winning eight Grands Prix and Coulthard one. This was McLaren's first championship victory since 1991 with McLaren great Ayrton Senna, and their most successful year since the peak of the Prost-Senna feud of the 1989 season.

The record time for the Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb was set in 1999 when Nick Heidfeld drove an MP4/13 up the hill in 41.6 seconds.[1]

Technical specifications

Car: McLaren MP4/13

Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO 110G

Supplies

Rear view of the MP4-13

.

[2]

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 Points WCC
1998 McLaren Mercedes V10 B AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN 156 1st
David Coulthard 2 2 6 1 2 Ret Ret 6 Ret 2 2 2 7 Ret 3 3
Mika Häkkinen 1 1 2 Ret 1 1 Ret 3 2 1 1 6 Ret 4 1 1

References

  1. "The Speed Fest Whose Terrible Race Track Scares Away F1 Stars". Wired. June 27, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. van Vliet, Arjen. "Formule 1 teams '98"
Wikimedia Commons has media related to McLaren MP4/13.
Awards
Preceded by
Williams FW19
Autosport
Racing Car Of The Year

1998
Succeeded by
McLaren MP4/14
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