McLaren MP4/4

The McLaren MP4/4 was the Formula One car raced by in the season. It was designed by Steve Nichols. The car was an evolution based the car on the MP4/3 from 1987. It was driven by Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. It had a turbo engine.
The MP4/4 was one of the most dominant cars in F1 history, winning fifteen out of the sixteen races, Senna with eight and Prost had seven. Senna won the title, scoring 90 points (94 gross), three more than Prost, whose 87 came from 105 gross points, the first time a driver had scored over 100 points in a season (back then, only the first six scored points, with the winner scoring nine). The constructors' championship shows a more telling story. McLaren, with 199 points, scored only two points less than the entire field, and second-placed , with 65, had less than a third of McLaren's total.
The team broke their points record by 55.5 points. The record was surpassed in just 11 races, with both championships being held over 16 races.
They set a record of ten one–two finishes, which is yet to be broken. Ferrari came closest in with nine.
The one race that got away from McLaren was the , where after Prost had earlier retired with an engine failure, Senna had a collision with Jean-Louis Schlesser and was unable to continue. Ferrari scored a one–two.
The MP4/4 is featured in various video games such as Forza Motorsport 6 and F1 2017. In F1 2017, the car is downloadable content. It is also featured in Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec but does not have the MP4/4 livery and appears under the name F688/S. The MP4/4 in its licensed version, and its livery later appeared in Gran Turismo 7 as part of Update 1.20.
==Design==
The Steve Nichols designed McLaren MP4/3 with its maximum power output of approximately 850 bhp (634 kW; 862 PS) from its Porsche built TAG V6 engine lost out nine times to the dominant Honda powered Williams of Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell, twice to the Lotus-Honda of Ayrton Senna, and twice in the latter stages to the Ferrari of Gerhard Berger. Reigning World Champion Prost could only manage three wins for the season (his lowest number since taking 2 wins for Renault in 1982), and finished 4th in the Drivers' Championship, though his win in Portugal was cause for celebration as it was the Frenchman's 28th career win, taking him past the previous record of 27 wins by triple World Champion Jackie Stewart.
For 1988 McLaren had secured use of the 1.5L V6 Honda turbo engines which since late in the 1985 season had been the best engine in Formula One. With the engines coming at the expense of Williams (who had won the previous two Constructors' Championships from McLaren), a strong 1988 was possible. Team boss Ron Dennis had previously tried to secure Honda engines for his Formula 2 team and welcomed the Japanese company after four successful years with the TAG engines. 1988 was due to be the last year for the turbo engines before they were banned, so most teams were making a concerted effort to establish themselves with naturally aspirated cars. Steve Nichols went ahead with the design of the car on a purely turbo engine basis, which put the team at a distinct advantage over their rivals. There was speculation that Honda would introduce their V10 engine during 1988, though Ron Dennis confirmed during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza that racing the V10 was never part of the plan for 1988.
The team tried active suspension in early testing, but abandoned the idea. The car only had a few aerodynamic upgrades all season.
==Specifications==
===Chassis===
Chassis construction 	moulded carbon fibre/honeycomb composite
Bodywork construction 	One piece cockpit top, side panels and engine cover Separate carbon fibre nose section
Front suspension 	Upper and lower wishbones, with pullrod-operated, remotely adjustable Showa spring/damper units
Rear suspension 	Upper and lower wishbones, with pushrod-operated, remotely adjustable Showa spring/damper units, plus lower track-control arm
Wheel diameter 	Front and rear: 13 in (330 mm)
Wheel rim widths 	Front: 11.5 in (292 mm) Rear: 16.5 in (419 mm)
Tyres 	Goodyear
Tyre dimensions (inches) 	
Brakes 	Calipers: Discs and pads: Carbon Industrie
Steering 	rack-and-pinion
Radiators, intercoolers and oil coolers	with Secan cores
Fuel tank 	ATL
Battery 	GS Yuasa
Instruments 	and
Oil tank 	Integral within gearbox casing
Carbon composite materials 	Hercules Aerospace
Carbon release agents/bonding materials	Hysol Frekote
=== Transmission===
Clutch 	Tilton 5.5 in (140.0 mm) multiplate carbon
Gearbox 	six-speed, three-shaft longitudinal Dry sump lubrication system
Differential	Torsen (Gleason internals)
Driveshafts 	Metalor steel
===Engine ===
Type 	RA168E
Cylinder layout 	V6 (80°)
Maximum downshift rev limit	14,000 rpm
Fuel and oil 	Shell
Spark plugs 	NGK
Fuel injection and ignition	PGM-FI
Power 	504 (676 ) at 12,500 rpm
Torque 	424 (313 lb/ft) at 10,000 rpm
Displacement 	1,494 cc (91.2 in³)
Compression ratio 	9.4:1
Bore 	79.0 mm (3.1 in)
Stroke 	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
Weight 	146 kg (322 lb) fully dressed
Cylinder block 	Cast iron with wet cylinder lines
Cylinder heads 	Aluminium alloy
Camshafts 	Two per bank (inlet and exhaust), gear-driven
Turbochargers 	Two, IHI
===Dimensions and weights===
Wheelbase 	2,875 mm (113.2 in)
Track 	Front: 1,824 mm (71.8 in) Rear: 1,670 mm (65.7 in)
Length 	4,394 mm (173.0 in)
Width 	2,134 mm (84.0 in)
Height 	940.0 mm (37.0 in)
Weight (without driver)	540 kg (1,196 lb)
Fuel tank capacity 	150 litres (39.6 gallons)
==Chassis Log==
===MP4/4-01===
Race 	Circuit 	Driver	Grid	Race	Notes
Brazil 	Jacarepaguá 	Senna 	 	 	Raced MP4/4-03
San Marino 	Imola 	Senna 	 	 	
Monaco 	Monte-Carlo 	Senna 	 	 	FL
Mexcio 	Mexico City 	Senna 	 	 	
Canada 	Montréal 	Senna 	— 	— 	Was race car, qualified and raced MP4/4-02
Detroit 	Detroit 	Senna 	— 	— 	Spare car
France 	Paul Ricard 	Prost 	— 	— 	Spare car
Great Britain	Silverstone 	Prost 	— 	— 	Spare car
Germany 	Hockenheimring 	Prost 	— 	 	Was Senna's spare car, grid time set by MP4/4-04
Hungary 	Budapest 	Prost 	7th 	 	FL
Belgium 	Spa-Francorchamps	Prost 	 	 	
Italy 	Monza 	Prost 	 	 	
Was not used for testing.
Currently owned by .
===MP4/4-02 ===
Race 	Circuit 	Driver	Grid	Race	Notes
Brazil 	Jacarepaguá 	Prost 	 	 	Was spare car, used for Saturday and Sunday
San Marino	Imola 	Senna 	— 	— 	Spare car
Monaco 	Monte-Carlo 	Prost 	— 	— 	Spare car, used by Senna in Q1 and P1
Mexcio 	Mexico City 	Prost 	 	— 	Spare car, used to set grid time
Canada 	Montréal 	Senna 	 	 	FL, was spare car
Detroit 	Detroit 	Senna 	 	 	
France 	Paul Ricard 	Senna 	 	 	
Hungary 	Budapest 	Prost 	— 	— 	Spare car
Belgium 	Spa-Francorchamps 	Senna 	— 	— 	Spare car
Italy 	Monza 	Senna 	— 	— 	Spare car
Portugal 	Estoril 	Prost 	— 	— 	Spare car
Spain 	Circuito de Jerez 	Prost 	— 	— 	Spare car
Japan 	Suzuka Circuit 	Senna 	 	 	FL, was spare car (replaced MP4/4-05)Senna won the Championship
Australia 	Adelaide Street Circuit	Senna 	— 	 	Used MP4/4-05 for grid time
Was used in the first 1988 Imola Pre-Season Test (Prost and Senna).
Currently privately owned.
===MP4/4-03===
Race 	Circuit 	Driver 	Grid	Race	Notes
Brazil	Jacarepaguá	Senna / Prost	— 	 	Prost's race car, used in P1, Q1 and P2; Prost raced MP4/4-01, Senna used this car during race
Was declared the primary test car, and thus ended up as the only MP4/4 chassis to not win a race.
Currently privately owned.
===MP4/4-04 ===
Race 	Circuit 	Driver	Grid	Race	Notes
San Marino 	Imola 	Prost 	 	 	FL
Monaco 	Monte-Carlo 	Prost 	 	 	
Mexcio 	Mexico City 	Prost 	— 	 	FL, spare car MP4/4-02 used for qualifying
Canada 	Montréal 	Prost 	 	 	
Detroit 	Detroit 	Prost 	 	 	FL
France 	Paul Ricard 	Prost 	 	 	FL
Great Britain	Silverstone 	Prost 	 	 	
Germany 	Hockenheimring	Prost 	 	— 	Used Senna's spare car, MP4/4-01, for the race
This car was not used for testing.
Currently privately owned.
===MP4/4-05===
Race 	Circuit 	Driver	Grid	Race 	Notes
Great Britain	Silverstone 	Senna 	 	 	
Germany 	Hockenheimring 	Senna 	 	 	
Hungary 	Budapest 	Senna 	 	 	
Belgium 	Spa-Francorchamps 	Senna 	 	 	
Italy 	Monza 	Senna 	 	10thRET	
Portugal 	Estoril 	Senna 	 	 	
Spain 	Circuito de Jerez 	Senna 	 	 	
Japan 	Suzuka Circuit 	Senna 	— 	— 	Was race car, replaced by MP4/4-02
Australia 	Adelaide Street Circuit	Senna 	 	— 	Used MP4/4-02 for the race
Used in one test.
Currently owned by .
===MP4/4-06===
Race 	Circuit 	Driver	Grid	Race	Notes
Portugal 	Estoril 	Prost 	 	 	
Spain 	Circuito de Jerez 	Prost 	 	 	FL
Japan 	Suzuka Circuit 	Prost 	 	 	
Australia	Adelaide Street Circuit	Prost 	 	 	FL
Not used in any tests.
Currently privately owned.
==Statistical overview==
===Race Victories===
Year	No.	Event	Driver 	Notes
 	1 	 	Alain Prost 	Prost's 20th win for McLaren.
 	2 	 	Ayrton Senna	Senna's first win for McLaren.
 	3 	 	Alain Prost 	Prost's 30th career victory.
 	4 	 	Alain Prost 	
 	5 	 	Ayrton Senna	
 	6 	 	Ayrton Senna	
 	7 	 	Alain Prost 	Fifth one-two of the season for McLaren.
 	8 	 	Ayrton Senna	Senna's tenth win of his career.
 	9 	 	Ayrton Senna	
 	10 	 	Ayrton Senna	Tenth victory of the season, at the tenth race.
 	11 	 	Ayrton Senna	Title secured at this race.
 	12 	 	Alain Prost 	
 	13 	 	Alain Prost 	Prost's 25th win for McLaren. Broke their own record for wins in a season (13th win).
 	14 	 	Ayrton Senna	
 	15 	 	Alain Prost 	Tenth one–two of the season for McLaren.
===Complete Formula One Results===
Year	Driver	Tyre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12 	13	14	15	16
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Prost 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Senna 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10th	 	 	 	
==Notes==
==Further Reading==
*
 
Category:Cars
Category:McLaren Cars
Category:1988 Cars
Category:World Drivers' Championship winning cars
Category:World Constructors' Championship winning cars
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