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MP4-16 Development

The West McLaren Mercedes engineering team acknowledges that coming to terms with the revised 2001 Formula 1 technical regulations has certainly been a stimulating challenge that has required a "clean sheet of paper" approach in many areas for the new MP4-16.

Adrian Newey, West McLaren Mercedes’ Technical Director says that the 2001 rule changes are small, but they are still extremely significant. "The MP4-16 is not evolutionary, but a totally new car for the new rules, the main one of which is the change to the front wing regulations (raising them by 50mm) and this has had quite a knock-on effect on the configuration of the remainder of the car."

"That 50mm doesn't seem a great deal, but it has a big impact on the design of the car. In addition, we have a much smaller rear wing; the upper wing now limited in depth and to a total of three elements, whereas at places like Monaco and Hungary teams have run seven or even eight elements in the past. So there is a major reduction of downforce here."

"The lower element of the rear wing is limited to a single element, where previously some teams had run three elements. This also has to be mounted very low on the car, so those two changes drastically reduce the amount of wing downforce available."

"This doesn’t translate into a big change at circuits like Hockenheim and Monza, but at circuits like Hungary and Monaco there will be a pretty dramatic reduction in the level of downforce available."

"Coupled to that are various primary safety structure changes, including much higher roll-hoop loads. There are also new side penetration tests which are in response largely to some Formula 3000 accidents where one car has T-boned the other and the nose has penetrated the monocoque."

"We have also had to accommodate a new side-impact test, which is required further forward along the cockpit, the knock-on effect of which has prompted longer side-pods relative to the driver's position behind the wheel."

Newey makes it clear that the MP4-16 represents the start of what is likely to be a fresh design cycle, although the latest Mercedes-Benz FO110K V10 engine is evolutionary and the car will start the season using last year's gearbox.

"The MP4-14 and 15 were both evolution's of the MP4-13," he said. "The MP4-16 is a product of these changes in regulation and as such we have worked hard to hopefully provided a good base from which we can develop to the new regulations which are combined with the re-introduction of a tyre war."

Formula One Racing: With Marlboro McLaren Mercedes by Norman Howell, Crispin Thruston (Photographer) Paperback (1996)

McLaren Race Cars 1965-1996 Photo Album by Norman Hayes Paperback (1997)

MP4-16 Tech Spec

MP4-16 Technical Specification

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