|
 |
| Base: |
Woking, UK |
|
| Drivers: |
L Hamilton |
|
H Kovalainen |
|
| Test Drivers: |
P de la Rosa |
|
G Paffett |
| Chassis: |
MP4-23 |
| Engine: |
Mercedes-Benz FO 108V |
| Tyres: |
Bridgestone Potenza |
| First Season: |
1966 |
| World Championships: |
8 |
| Total Wins : |
156 |
| Pole Positions: |
133 |
| Fastest Laps: |
133 |
|
History
The 2007 season was an agonising experience for McLaren.
The shocking ‘spy' scandal cost it £50 million and all its constructors' points, not to mention exposing its inner flaws for public consumption.
Its relationship with Fernando Alonso – which seemed so promising when the reigning champion led a crushing McLaren one-two in only the second round – disintegrated acrimoniously.
And to add a final insult, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen pipped the McLaren drivers to the championship by just a single point, even though McLaren had looked unstoppable at mid-season.
But even heartache of this magnitude was tempered by the one shining light in McLaren's hellish season: the astonishing debut of its protégé Lewis Hamilton.
The British rookie's achievements in his first Formula 1 season were unprecedented, as he came within a couple of eleventh hour slips of taking the title at the first attempt.
With the spy affair finally resolved, and Hamilton now joined by the extremely promising – and genial – Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren can move on and attempt to erase those unhappy memories by taking the 2008 title.
However it remains to be seen whether last year's turmoil will have any impact on McLaren's 2008 form.
It would be a remarkable achievement if the team had managed to keep absolutely focused on preparations for the new season amid the triple pressure of the espionage case, the Alonso drama and the title fight.
But don't bet against McLaren channelling last year's frustrations and bouncing back stronger than ever in 2008.
F1 track record
McLaren has a fine F1 heritage.
It was founded by Kiwi racer Bruce McLaren, who took the first win for his eponymous squad at Spa in 1968, but was killed in a sportscar crash two years later.
The McLaren operation recovered to win the 1974 and 1976 world championships with Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt, under the management of American Teddy Mayer.
After a few lean years, Ron Dennis took over in 1980 and McLaren's ultra-successful modern era began.
The totally revamped squad would sweep to seven titles in 1984-86 and 1988-91.
With Honda turbo power and superstar driver pairing Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, McLaren won all but one race in 1988.
It was a glorious but fraught period for the team, overshadowed by the notorious in-fighting between its two legends.
McLaren was eventually usurped by Williams-Renault in 1992.
And after Honda and Senna departed it had to endure several years in the wilderness before joining forces with Mercedes and climbing back to competitiveness.
The arrival of aero genius Newey from Williams during 1997 was the last piece in the jigsaw.
His crushingly superior designs propelled Mika Hakkinen to back-to-back championships in 1998-99.
But then McLaren had to take a back seat as Ferrari blitzed F1 in the early 2000s.
Kimi Raikkonen nearly sneaked a championship in 2003, and might have beaten Alonso to the 2005 crown had his McLaren been more reliable.
The 2007 season was hailed as the start of a fresh era, as Alonso, Hamilton and major new backer Vodafone arrived.
Sure enough, McLaren mounted its strongest title challenge since 2000, but the year will be remembered more for the spy scandal and the rows with Alonso than the team's resurgence.
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