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The McLaren MP4-22 was Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes' Formula One car for the 2007 Formula One season. It was revealed in testing at Circuit de Valencia in Spain on 15 January 2007.[1][2] In its first race, the 2007 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne, the car achieved second and fourth in qualifying and second and third places in the race, in the hands of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton respectively.
2007 Season
In its design philosophy behind the new car, the team says the MP4-22 features "some advanced engineering concepts" and "novel aerodynamic solutions".[3]
On 17 January 2007, Fernando Alonso completed a shakedown test in the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, setting the fastest lap time of 1:12.050.[4]
The MP4-22 has proved to be far more competitive than its similar looking predecessor and McLaren scored 8 victories, unlike in 2006. The car proved to be the most reliable car of the season, with no mechanical retirements in the first 15 races, and one of the two fastest cars on the field (along with the Ferraris). The low downforce package of the MP4-22 was extremely competitive. McLaren, with the aid of their improved car, scored as many team points in the first half of 2007 as they had done during the entire year in 2006.
At testing in Catalunya on 1 May 2007, Pedro de la Rosa tested the car with a new unique front wing design that would see extensive use throughout the remainder of the season. It featured a thin carbon fibre wing that spanned from the top of each end plate, bypassing the nosecone by arching over it.[5] This new wing subsequently made its racing debut at the Spanish Grand Prix. The wing was deemed surplus to requirements during the 2007 Italian Grand Prix due to the high speed/low drag characteristics required.
The McLaren race drivers completed 5,340 racing kilometres in the 2007 season, 45% of which were whilst leading a race.[6] The MP4-22 also completed 27,150 kilometres in testing; Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Pedro de la Rosa, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green completed 8,277km, 7,714km, 8,277km, 2,842km and 28km respectively.[6]
The MP4-22 was succeeded by the McLaren MP4-23.
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Hamilton driving the MP4-22 at the British Grand Prix.
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Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)
* McLaren stripped of all WCC points due to the 2007 espionage controversy.
Notes and references
External links
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