McLaren MCL32

McLaren MCL32
McLaren MCL32
McLaren MCL32
The MCL32, driven by Fernando Alonso, during the Malaysian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
Designer(s)Tim Goss (Technical Director)
Matt Morris (Engineering Director)
Peter Prodromou (Chief Engineer)
Christian Schramm (Head of Racing Technology)
Stefano Sordo (Head of Vehicle Performance)
Mark Ingham (Head of Chassis Design)
Guillaume Cattelani (Head of Aerodynamics)
Simone Nulli Rinalducci (Head of CFD)
PredecessorMcLaren MP4-31
SuccessorMcLaren MCL33
Technical specifications[1][2][3]
ChassisCarbon fibre composite survival cell
Suspension (front)Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and dampers (KONI dampers, springs and shock absorbers)
Suspension (rear)Carbon fibre wishbone and pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and dampers (KONI dampers, springs and shock absorbers)
Length5,200 mm (205 in)
Width2,000 mm (79 in)
Height950 mm (37 in)
Wheelbase3,520 mm (139 in) with -/+25 mm (0.9843 in) adjustable by adjusting the toe depending on circuit layout
EngineHonda RA617H 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine, limited to 15,000 rpm in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motorKinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
TransmissionMcLaren Applied Technologies 8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited slip clutch
BatteryHonda lithium-ion batteries
Power850–900 hp (634–671 kW)
Weight728 kg (1,605 lb) (including driver)
FuelBP Ultimate
LubricantsCastrol EDGE
BrakesAkebono brake-by-wire system featuring steel calipers and carbon discs and pads
TyresPirelli P Zero dry slick and Pirelli Cinturato treaded intermediate and wet tyres
Enkei 13" magnesium racing wheels
ClutchAP Racing electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
Competition history
Notable entrantsMcLaren Honda Formula 1 Team
Notable drivers
Debut2017 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
200001

The McLaren MCL32 (originally known as the McLaren MP4-32)[4] is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by McLaren to compete in the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship.[5] The car was driven by two-time World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso, who stayed with the team for a third season; and Stoffel Vandoorne,[6] who joined the team after Jenson Button retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2016 season.[7][8]

The MCL32 made its competitive début at the Australian Grand Prix and is the first car built by McLaren since the McLaren M30—which contested part of the 1980 season—that does not contain the "MP4" prefix as part of its chassis name. The change was introduced following CEO Ron Dennis's departure from the team's parent company, the McLaren Technology Group, in November 2016.[9][10][11][N 1] This was the last McLaren car to be fitted with a Honda engine as it was replaced by Renault engines from the 2018 season onwards.

After an improvement in the previous year, 2017 was a rough season for McLaren more akin to the kind of season the MP4-30 had endured in 2015. The cars were slow and the team's Honda engines proved to be very unreliable for much of the beginning of the season. Alonso retired from the opening two races and the team suffered double retirements in China, Monaco, and Italy. The team failed to score a point until Baku, when Alonso finished 9th, with Vandoorne picking up his first point of the season with 10th in Hungary. McLaren finished 9th in the Constructors' Championship, with 30 points, three more than their first season back with Honda power in 2015.

The MCL32 was the first McLaren F1 car not to field the British drivers regularly in the McLaren driver's line-up since the MP4-21 in 2006 when McLaren paired the Finnish Kimi Räikkönen and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya as their 2006 season drivers. Montoya was replaced mid-season by Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa and the first McLaren F1 car featured with a shark fin since the MP4-25 in 2010.

  1. ^ "McLaren-Honda MCL32 technical specifications". mclaren.com. McLaren. 23 February 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Pirelli confirms new three-year F1 deal to 2019". f1fanatic.co.uk. Keith Collantine. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  3. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (10 February 2017). "McLaren F1 team locks in BP/Castrol supply deal for 2017". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Zak Brown – The Man To Get McLaren Back On Track?". www.badgergp.com. 15 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. ^ Howard, Tom (24 February 2017). "McLaren reveals bold new MCL32 challenger". speedcafe.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  6. ^ "F1 – 2017 Provisional Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Button to take Formula 1 sabbatical in 2017". speedcafe.com. 4 September 2016. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Fernando Alonso to race at Indy 500 with McLaren, Honda and Andretti Autosport". mclaren.com. McLaren. 12 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  9. ^ "McLaren announce new car name". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  10. ^ a b Noble, Jonathan (3 February 2017). "McLaren drops famous MP4 tag from its 2017 Formula 1 chassis name". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  11. ^ a b Edmondson, Laurence (3 February 2017). "McLaren drops 'MP4' from 2017 car name". ESPN. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.


Cite error: There are <ref group=N> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=N}} template (see the help page).