F1: 1993 McLaren MP4/8 Papercraft Model (Senna Included)

McLaren MP4/8 Papercraft

McLaren did not announce its new engine supplier until November 1992, after Honda had left F1, and when it did, it was Ford. The return to Cosworth power, for the first time since 1983, would be accomplished through a team-funded development of Ford's HB powerplant.

This was a light and economical 3.5 liter V8, which was by no means a bad engine, but there was no getting around the fact that, whereas McLaren had previously relied on bespoke power units from the likes of TAG Porsche and Honda, its new hi-tech MP4/8 would have to rely on a proprietary unit. Furthermore, because Ford already had a supply contract with Benetton, it would be one specification behind that used in its B193.

Ron Dennis had worked hard to secure a deal with Renault, even considering purchasing Ligier to obtain its Renault engines. McLaren would have naturally preferred to use Shell fuel and lubricants, but this proved to be a stumbling block with Renault's sponsor, Elf. As a result, there was no choice but to invest an estimated £6 million in developing the HB.

The new MP4/8's design work thus began without a clear idea of which engine would be used, though McLaren's computer-aided design capabilities would allow the design team to make up for the lost time.

The car featured a slew of advanced new technologies, including new electronic engine management software, chassis control, data acquisition, and telemetry systems, making it the company's most sophisticated design yet. TAG Electronic, a McLaren Group subsidiary, designed and manufactured the vehicle.

These McLaren-exclusive systems were accompanied by a new, lightweight electronic control panel in the cockpit. The fuel-efficient Ford HB engine, fitted into a new, improved chassis, gave McLaren reason to be optimistic. TAG hoped that whatever the car lacked in raw horsepower, it would make up for with better preparation and engineering, as well as clever race strategies, chassis, and electronics. The new vehicle would also have a more advanced active suspension setup and traction control.

And it would be driven by Ayrton Senna. Or does he? That seemed uncertain at times. He appeared to be running race by race for a while as he and Dennis negotiated his financial demands with sponsors. Nonetheless, the season produced five victories at a time when Williams Renault was the dominant force, compared to Benetton's single victory with the latest-spec engine. While Senna returned after a winter spent relaxing at home in Brazil, various rule changes meant that when Michael Andretti joined the team from the US, he was effectively denied adequate time to familiarise himself with the circuits.

As a result, despite showing good speed when previously testing in the MP4/7, he failed to make an impression with the MP4/8 due to a lack of seat time' and was eventually replaced by one of the sport's rising stars, Mika Hakkinen, fresh from Lotus.

Senna was a big fan of the MP4/8, especially after testing at Silverstone, where he set his fastest laps almost immediately. Despite suffering from an active suspension problem, he came in second to Prost's Williams in the team's first race at Kyalami.

He quickly followed that up with victories at home in Interlagos and in one of the greatest wet Grand Prix drives of all time at Donington Park. Meanwhile, Andretti crashed in all three races.

Despite a strong drive in France and a podium finish in Monza, the American, the son of 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti, was unable to recapture the magic he displayed in Indycar racing, and Hakkinen was promoted from test driver to team driver following the Italian race.

Meanwhile, Senna continued to impress, winning a record sixth Monaco Grand Prix despite a massive shunt at Ste Devote corner during practice. Nobody who saw him in action questioned his dedication, even though the MP4/8 let him down in Imola, Montreal, Estoril, and the Hungaroring. Worst of all, at Silverstone, the team used Ford's new Series Vll engine for the first time, only to have yet another fuel-reading glitch leave him stranded on the final lap for the third year in a row. Nonetheless, his season ended on a high note.

Senna was able to pull off spectacular victories at Suzuka and Adelaide. The victory in Australia turned out to be his final, and it allowed McLaren to claim the title of the most successful Grand Prix team of all time.

Senna was 23 points behind that year's champion, Alain Prost, but had humiliated him on several occasions, most notably at Donington in what was perceived to be a less powerful car. Long before Adelaide, where emotions ran high in the team, he announced his departure from McLaren after six seasons and three World Championships to join Williams. Meanwhile, the team tested a Lamborghini V12-powered MP4/8B before agreeing to a supply deal with Peugeot for the upcoming season.

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McLaren MP4/8 Papercraft