McLaren MP4-22

McLaren MP4-22
Lewis Hamilton driving the MP4-22 at the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMcLaren
Designer(s)Neil Oatley (Executive Engineer)
Paddy Lowe (Engineering Director)
Pat Fry (Chief Engineer)
Mark Williams (Head of Vehicle Engineering)
Mike Coughlan (Chief Designer)
Rob Taylor (Principal Design Engineer)
Simon Lacey (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorMP4-21
SuccessorMP4-23
Technical specifications
ChassisMoulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side-impact structures
Suspension (front)Adjustable double wish-bone arrangement
Suspension (rear)As front
Length4,670 mm (184 in)
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height950 mm (37 in)
Wheelbase3,100 mm (122 in)
EngineMercedes-Benz FO 108T 2.4 litres (146 cubic inches) V8 naturally-aspirated mid-engined and longitudinally-mounted
TransmissionMcLaren 7-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited-slip clutch
BatteryGS Yuasa
Power810 hp @ 19,000 rpm[1]
Weight605 kg (1,334 lb)
FuelExxon/Mobil High Performance unleaded
TyresBridgestone Potenza 4-line grooved slicks and treaded intermediate and wet tyres
Enkei 13" magnesium racing wheels
Competition history
Notable entrantsVodafone McLaren Mercedes
Notable drivers1. Spain Fernando Alonso
2. United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton
Debut2007 Australian Grand Prix
First win2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
Last win2007 Japanese Grand Prix
Last event2007 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
17885
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The McLaren MP4-22 is a Formula One racing car that was constructed by the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team to compete in the 2007 Formula One World Championship. The chassis was designed by Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley, Pat Fry, Mike Coughlan and Simon Lacey, with Andy Cowell and Mario Illien designing the bespoke Mercedes-Benz engine. The car was revealed in testing at Circuit de Valencia in Spain on 15 January 2007,[2][3] and was driven by double World Champion Fernando Alonso and debutant Lewis Hamilton.

The MP4-22 proved to be one of the most competitive cars of the season, with Alonso and Hamilton achieving four victories each. However, a fierce rivalry between the two drivers, combined with the 2007 Formula One espionage controversy, resulted in McLaren losing both championships to Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.

  1. ^ "Engine Mercedes". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ^ ITV-F1 article on testing - Alonso pleased with MP4-22 debut article Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ ITV-F1 article on testing - McLaren launches MP4-22 article Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine