New car brings revolution to Woking.

McLaren designer Adrian Newey claims that the new MP4-16, launched today in Spain, is a virtually new design from the ground up.

The respected aerodynamicist is perhaps the best man to speak about the changes required of all eleven Formula One teams, following the issue of revised regulations late last year, and insists that, although to the outsider, the new rules may not look much, they have caused a major rethink of car design at Woking. Where the past two cars from the McLaren stable had been evolutions of their predecessors, the MP4-16 has had to be completely rethought because of changes to the technical regulations.

The FIA has decreed that front wings need to be raised by 50mm over last year's ground clearance, and has also slashed the number of elements allowed in the rear wing in an attempt to curb the downforce generated by modern F1 cars. In addition, stricter crash test requirements have added weight to chassis and necessitated a rethink of design matters in the cockpit area. As a result, former Williams and March designer Newey and his team have had to come up with an almost all-new McLaren for 2001.

"The MP4-16 is not evolutionary," Newey points out," Instead, it is a totally new car for the new rules. The main one is the change to the front wing regulations, and this has had quite a knock-on effect on the configuration of the remainder of the car. The 50mm don't seem a great deal, but it has a big impact on the design of the car. In addition, we now have a much smaller rear wing, so there is a major reduction in downforce there too.

"Coupled to that are various primary safety structure changes, including higher roll hoops and new side penetration tests which are largely in response to some F3000 accidents where one car has T-boned another and the nose penetrated the monocoque. We have had to incorporate new side impact tests, further along the cockpit, which has promoted longer sidepods relative to the driver's position behind the wheel."

The most notable pointer to the new design philosophy at McLaren was the re-appearance of a high nose on the MP4-16. While arch rival Ferrari was opting to add a 'droop snoot' to its new F2001, McLaren has moved in the opposite direction, and incorporated the sort of design which the Scuderia used to snatch both titles in 2000.

MP4-16 - technical specification.

Transmission:
McLaren longitudinal gearbox with semi automatic operation. McLaren drive shafts and CV assemblies.

Chassis:
McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures. Contains integral safety fuel cell.

Front Suspension:
Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by push rod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement

Rear Suspension:
Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement.

Dampers:
Penske/McLaren

Tyres:
Bridgestone

Race Wheels:
Enkei

Bodywork:
Construction, one-piece sidepod and engine cover. Separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing.

Fuel:
Mobil unleaded

Lubricants:
Mobil One products

Adhesives:
Loctite

Electronics:
TAG Electronic systems control units incorporating electronics for chassis engine and data acquisition. TAG electronic systems also supplies the electronics dashboard, ignition coils, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems.

Radios:
Kenwood

Mercedes-Benz FO110K V10 - technical specification:

Cylinders:
V10

Cylinder angle:
72 degrees

Displacement:
2997 cc

Valves:
4 per cylinder, two camshafts per cylinder bank.

Cylinder block:
Cast aluminium alloy, wet liners

Cylinder head:
One-piece sand cast aluminium alloy

Crankshaft:
Steel

Oil System:
Dry sump lubrication

Ignition:
TAG Electronics systems