 Lewis Hamilton driving the MP4-23 at the2008 Chinese Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Neil Oatley (Executive Engineer) Paddy Lowe (Engineering Director) Tim Goss (Chief Engineer) Mark Williams (Head of Vehicle Engineering) Andrew Bailey (Chief Designer) Rob Taylor (Principal Design Engineer) Simon Lacey (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | MP4-22 | ||||||||||
| Successor | MP4-24 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Adjustable double wish-bone arrangement | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Adjustable double wish-bone arrangement | ||||||||||
| Length | 4,670 mm (184 in) | ||||||||||
| Width | 1,800 mm (71 in) | ||||||||||
| Height | 950 mm (37 in) | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | 3,100 mm (122 in) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO 108V 2.4 litreV8Naturally aspirated,mid-engined | ||||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren 7-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamlesssemi-automatic paddle shift with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited slip clutch | ||||||||||
| Battery | GS Yuasa | ||||||||||
| Power | 810 hp @ 19,000 RPM (Limited) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 605 kg (1,334 lb) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Mobil Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel) Mobil 1 Lubricants, newly developed 2008 formula for lower friction and better wear resistance | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza Enkei Wheels Front & Rear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 22. Lewis Hamilton23.  Heikki Kovalainen | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2008 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 2008 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 2008 Chinese Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (2008,Lewis Hamilton) | ||||||||||
TheMcLaren MP4-23 was aFormula One racing car that was constructed by theVodafone McLaren Mercedes team to compete in the2008 Formula One World Championship. The chassis was designed byPaddy Lowe,Neil Oatley,Tim Goss, Andrew Bailey andSimon Lacey, withMario Illien andAndy Cowell designing theMercedes-Benz engine. It was revealed atMercedes-Benz's motor sport museum inStuttgart on 7 January 2008,[1] and it had its first on-track appearance atCircuito Permanente de Jerez in Spain on 9 January.[2] The car won the 2008 World Drivers' Championship in the hands ofLewis Hamilton, but finished second in the Constructors' Championship, which was won byScuderia Ferrari Marlboro. The car, along with its rivals during the season, marked the end of an era of complex aerodynamic appendages on the bodywork, which would be banned for2009.
As of 2024[update], the MP4-23 is the last McLaren Formula One car to win the drivers' championship.
Following the2007 Formula One espionage controversy the MP4-23 was subject toFIA inspection before the start of the 2008 season, to determine if anyFerrariintellectual property was on the car.[3][4] After an admission that the Ferrari information was disseminated more widely throughout the team than was originally thought an apology by McLaren on 13 December 2007, and a pledge that measures would be taken to rectify the situation, caused the FIA to decide that there was no need for a formal hearing and the matter was considered closed.[5][6]
As part of updated FIA regulations for the 2008 season, the MP4-23 as well as the other cars of 2008, used raised headrests in an effort to improve driver safety. The FIA had also banned traction control via the introduction of a standard ECU for 2008, making the MP4-23 the first McLaren to not use traction control since the2001MP4-16.
Revisions from theMP4-22 included a longerwheelbase, the removal of the "bullhorn" winglets from the airbox and a new rear wing which differed both in main profile and its endplates.[7][8] In the pre-German Grand Prix testing, the car was run with a "shark fin" engine cover, as sported by cars such as theRenault R28 and theRed Bull RB4, but the team did not permanently run it.[9]
At the2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, some new aerodynamic parts were added, including "dumbo wings" on the nose, similar to those used byHonda on theRA108, which were temporarily removed at theItalian Grand Prix but reinstated for the rest of the season.
The MP4-23 was succeeded by theMP4-24.
The livery did not differ much from that of the MP4-22: grey remained the primary colour, while red, together with the main sponsor Vodafone, appeared on both wings, on the sidepods, above the body and on the side vents. The team logo was also placed on top of the sidepods, on both sides. The other sponsors were:Johnnie Walker,SAP,Aigo, andSantander.
During the 2008-2009 off-season tests, McLaren tested a K version of its MP4-23, including a KERS and an enlarged front wing, modifications which would be used on the 2009 MP4-24.
In 2011, 2009 World Drivers' ChampionJenson Button drove the MP4-23 at theMount Panorama Circuit. The car sportedMP4-26 livery and ran onPirelli slicks instead of Bridgestone grooved tyres. Also in the same year, 2-timeNASCAR Cup Series championTony Stewart drove the MP4-23 at theWatkins Glen International circuit.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position; results initalics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes | Mercedes FO 108V 2.4V8 | B | AUS | MAL | BHR | ESP | TUR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | CHN | BRA | 151 | 2nd | |
| Lewis Hamilton | 1 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Ret | 10 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 5 | ||||||
| Heikki Kovalainen | 5 | 3 | 5 | Ret | 12 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 10† | 2 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 7 |
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)[dead link]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Autosport Racing Car of the Year 2008 | Succeeded by |
