.PNG) Juan Pablo Montoya driving the MP4-21 at the2006 Canadian Grand Prix | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||
| Designers | Neil Oatley(Executive Engineer) Adrian Newey(Technical Director) Paddy Lowe(Engineering Director) Tim Goss(Chief Engineer) Nikolas Tombazis(Chief Engineer, Vehicle Projects) Mark Williams(Chief Engineer, Vehicle Performance) Mike Coughlan(Chief Designer) Peter Prodromou(Head of Aerodynamics) Markus Duesmann(Engineering Director - Mercedes) Andy Cowell(Chief Engineer, Engine - Mercedes) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | MP4-20 | ||||||||
| Successor | MP4-22 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[citation needed] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre monocoque incorporating front and side impact structures | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | As front | ||||||||
| Length | 4,600 mm (181 in) | ||||||||
| Width | 1,800 mm (71 in) | ||||||||
| Height | 950 mm (37 in) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 3,100 mm (122 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO108S, 2.4-litreV8 naturally-aspirated mid-engined | ||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren 7-speed + 1 reversesequential seamless-shiftsemi-automatic paddle-shift with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited slip clutch | ||||||||
| Battery | GS Yuasa | ||||||||
| Power | 750 hp @ 19,000 rpm[1] | ||||||||
| Weight | 605 kg (1,334 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Mobil Synergy unleaded | ||||||||
| Lubricants | Mobil 1 | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Team McLaren Mercedes | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 3. Kimi Räikkönen4.  Juan Pablo Montoya4.  Pedro de la Rosa | ||||||||
| Debut | 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix | ||||||||
| Last event | 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Teams' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
TheMcLaren MP4-21 was the car with which theMcLaren team competed in the2006 Formula One World Championship. It was driven initially byKimi Räikkönen andJuan Pablo Montoya. After ten races, reserve driverPedro de la Rosa took over Montoya's race seat.Gary Paffett was also a test driver for the MP4-21.[2] The MP4-21 was the first V8-enginedMcLaren Formula One car sinceMcLaren MP4/8 in 1993.
Future World ChampionLewis Hamilton drove the MP4-21 in his first officialFormula One test in September, 2006 prior to joining McLaren for 2007.[3]
The MP4-21 was designed byAdrian Newey,Paddy Lowe,Tim Goss,Mike Coughlan andPeter Prodromou. The MP4-21 was the successor to the competitiveMP4-20 ofthe prior season, although significantly different with 90% of the 11,500 components changed from the season prior. In addition, the utilisation of the new V8 specification engines meant that the side air intakes were reduced in size, therefore making aerodynamic benefits.[4] The distinctive needle-nose design was previously used on theMP4-19 in2004. The MP4-21 was the firstMcLaren car to be powered by purelyMercedes-Benz engines after 11 years partnership withIlmor as an engine builder.[5][6]
The MP4-21 was seen on track for the first time in late January 2006 atBarcelona. It was finished in a historic papaya orange livery.[7][8] In February, the official livery of the MP4-21 was launched in a chrome finish.
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The first race atBahrain delivered a podium finish for Räikkönen.[9] Montoya would score podiums atSan Marino for third andMonaco for second, however there were six retirements in the first seven races for the MP4-21.[10][11] The MP4-21 was regularly outpaced by the Ferrari 248 and the Renault R26.
Montoya left the team in order to move toChip Ganassi Racing in NASCAR after retiring from the2006 United States Grand Prix.[12] Pedro de La Rosa took his race seat.[13] de La Rosa would score a career best second place at the2006 Hungarian Grand Prix driving the MP4-21.[14]
Despite a number of podiums for all three drivers, McLaren did not win a single Grand Prix with the MP4-21. This was the first season since1996 the team failed to win a race. Räikkönen finished in fifth place in the World Drivers' Championship. McLaren finished third in the World Constructors' Championship with 110 points.[15][16]
Following the conclusion of the season, former driver and two-time world championMika Häkkinen tested the MP4-21 with a view to an F1 return. However, this did not materialise.[17][18]
An MP4-21 showcar is displayed at theNational Motor Museum inBeaulieu, although now painted inJenson Button's 2010 livery.[19] Before its closure, MP4-21 chassis 6 was on display at theDonington Grand Prix Collection.[20] An MP4-21 show car is currently for sale via F1 Authentics.[21] Chassis 3, driven by Montoya in the first three Grands Prix of the season and later tested by Hamilton, sold for £2 million in early 2025.[22] It had been fully restored by McLaren in 2019.[22]
The team's sponsorship agreement withWest had come to an end in 2005.Emirates andJohnnie Walker are the primary sponsors of the team.
In Bahrain, to overcome alcohol regulations, the Johnnie Walker text was replaced with "Keep Walking". In France, the logo was removed. In Turkey, it was replaced withDiageo, owner of the brand.
(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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | McLaren | Mercedes-BenzV8 | M | BHR | MAL | AUS | SMR | EUR | ESP | MON | GBR | CAN | USA | FRA | GER | HUN | TUR | ITA | CHN | JPN | BRA | 110 | 3rd | |
| Kimi Räikkönen | 3 | Ret | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 3 | Ret | 5 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | Ret | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 5 | 4 | Ret | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 6 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||||||||
| Pedro de la Rosa | 7 | Ret | 2 | 5 | Ret | 5 | 11 | 8 |
