McLaren MP4-20

McLaren MP4-20

Category	Formula One
Constructor	McLaren
Designer(s)	Adrian Newey
Technical specifications
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures
Suspension (front)	Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement
Suspension (rear)	As front
Engine	Mercedes-Benz FO110, 3.0 litre V10 normally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	McLaren 7 forward + 1 reverse semi-automatic
Fuel	Mobil 1 unleaded
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	Team McLaren Mercedes
Notable drivers	9. Kimi Räikkönen 10. Juan Pablo Montoya, Pedro de la Rosa & Alexander Wurz
Debut	2005 Australian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 18 10 8 12
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The McLaren MP4-20 is a Formula One racing car that was built by McLaren. It was designed by Adrian Newey and Mike Coughlan, and introduced at the beginning of the 2005 Formula One season.

New design

The car's chassis was an almost completely new design after the failure of the MP4-18 and MP4-19. The new car featured the revised aerodynamics and suspension set up that the 2005 regulations required, including a raised front wing, smaller diffuser and rear wing moved further forward. A shorter wheelbase was used to maximise the Michelin tyres' performance. The car featured distinctive 'horn' wings fitted to the bodywork behind the overhead air intake in an attempt to claw back as much downforce as possible lost through the FIA's rule changes.

Season

The car was fast but unreliable in testing and whilst Kimi Räikkönen used the car as best as he could in the early part of the season, Juan Pablo Montoya who had joined the team from Williams initially struggle to get to grips with the set-up and unusual driving technique the car required over the Williams chassis he was used to. He was not helped by an off-track injury that put him out for two races early in the year. He eventually settled with the car and scored three wins and several podiums.

The Mercedes engine was the most powerful in F1 that year but suffered reliability problems which cost Räikkönen the world championship to Fernando Alonso and McLaren the constructor's championship to Renault. Räikkönen won seven races and was in a position to win at least three others but the car's unreliability cost him the title.

Continual development throughout the year made the MP4/20 the fastest car in F1 from mid-season onwards, as was seen by the number of pole positions and fastest laps accumulated by both Räikkönen and Montoya.

Räikkönen and McLaren eventually finished second in their respective championships, whilst Montoya finished fourth in the drivers' standings.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Pts.‡	WCC
2005	MP4-20	Mercedes FO 110R 3.0 V10	M		AUS	MAL	BHR	SMR	ESP	MON	EUR	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	TUR	ITA	BEL	BRA	JPN	CHN	182	2nd
				Kimi Räikkönen	8	9	3	Ret	1	1	11	1	DNS	2	3	Ret	1	1	4	1	2	1	2
				Juan Pablo Montoya	6	4	INJ	INJ	7	5	7	DSQ	DNS	Ret	1	2	Ret	3	1	14	1	Ret	Ret
				Pedro de la Rosa			5
				Alexander Wurz				3

Awards
Preceded by Ferrari F2004	Autosport Racing Car Of The Year 2005	Succeeded by Renault R26