McLaren MP4-25
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
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| Constructor | McLaren Racing | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) |
Paddy Lowe (Engineering Director) Neil Oatley (Design & Development Director) Tim Goss (Chief Engineer) Doug McKiernan (Chief Aerodynamicist) |
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| Predecessor | McLaren MP4-24 | ||||||||||
| Successor | McLaren MP4-26 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures and integral safety fuel cell | ||||||||||
| 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 FO 108X 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 (90°). Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited, mid-mounted. | ||||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren 7 forward speeds + 1 reverse semi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Weight | 620 kg (1,367 lb) (including driver) | ||||||||||
| Fuel |
ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel) Mobil Synergy Fuel System Mobil 1 lubrication |
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| Tyres |
Bridgestone Potenza Enkei Wheels (front and rear): 13" |
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| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 1.  Jenson Button2. Lewis Hamilton
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| Debut | 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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The McLaren MP4-25 was a Formula One motor racing car designed and raced by McLaren in the 2010 season. The car, which was driven by 2009 World Champion Jenson Button and 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, was officially unveiled at title sponsor Vodafone's headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom on 29 January 2010.
The Red Bull Racing team complained to the FIA about the legality of the MP4-25's rear wing. 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. 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 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. Known internally as the RW80 it is widely called the "F-Duct" system either due to the shape of the air intake or the fact that it is beside the F of the Vodafone logo. Another term for the system is switchable rear wing (SRW). The car was inspected on the Thursday prior to the Bahrain Grand Prix and cleared to take part in the race.
The MP4-25 proved to be a stark improvement over the McLaren MP4-24 with both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton reaching the third stage of qualifying at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton got the better of the car in Q3 placing the car fourth on the grid with Button managing eighth. During the race the car proved lacking in downforce causing it to struggle to keep up with the pace of the Ferraris and Sebastian Vettel who opened up an impressive lead. During an uneventful race Hamilton finished third thanks to a problem with Vettel's car, Button also picked up a place during the race and finished seventh.
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