The effect is controlled by the driver covering up a small hole in the cockpit with his left leg - this is not considered by the FIA to be a moveable aerodynamic device, which would be banned under the technical regulations. Changes in the pressure in the duct, in combination with small slots on the rear wing, causes the wing to enter a stalled state at high speed, reducing aerodynamic drag and allowing the car as much as an extra 6 mph (9.7 km/h) on straights. The design uses a small "snorkel" air scoop mounted in front of the driver that channels air through a duct in the cockpit and towards the rear of the car.
The subsequent ban on turbo engines curtailed any chance of the MP4/4 reprising its dominant role in the 1989 season but you can still take a rare ride into Formula One folklore by opening it up on the Simraceway tracks today.The Red Bull Racing team complained to the FIA about the legality of the MP4-25's rear wing. The car's consistency was underlined by the fact that it led the field in an unbelievable 1003 of the 1031 laps contested that year. In fact its superiority was such that, during the 1988 season's 16 Grands Prix, Senna and his teammate, Alain Prost, grabbed 15 pole positions and the same number of race victories, including ten top-two finishes.
Sporting the instantly-recognizable red-and-white Marlboro livery now banned from F1 racing, the Gordon Murray-designed MP4/4 conjures memories of a golden era for McLaren.įeaturing an innovative low-line chassis based on the Brabham BT55 and a 900-bhp twin-turbo Honda V6 engine, the all-conquering MP4/4 secured the Constructors' Championship for McLaren and the Drivers' Championship for Ayrton Senna, who was competing in his debut season for the team. The most successful car in Formula One history, the iconic McLaren MP4/4 dominated the 1988 season.
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