McLaren MP4-29
{{Short description|Formula One racing car for 2014 season}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Racing car
| Car_name = McLaren MP4-29
| Image = File:Mclaren MP4-29 Jenson Button 2014 F1 Chinese GP.jpg
|Caption=Jenson Button driving the MP4-29 at the {{F1 GP|2014|Chinese}}
|Image_size = 275px
| Category = Formula One
| Constructor = McLaren
| Designer = Tim Goss (Technical Director)
Matt Morris (Engineering Director)
Phil Prew (Chief Engineer)
Mark Williams (Head of Vehicle Engineering)
Mark Ingham (Head of Vehicle Design)
Marcin Budkowski (Head of Aerodynamics)
Doug McKiernan (Chief Aerodynamicist)
| Predecessor = McLaren MP4-28
| Successor = McLaren MP4-30
| Team = McLaren Mercedes{{cite news|title=McLaren to lose Vodafone title sponsorship|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/14/mclaren-lose-vodafone-title-sponsorship/|first=Keith|last=Collantine|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=14 March 2013|access-date=7 April 2013|archive-date=8 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908012037/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/14/mclaren-lose-vodafone-title-sponsorship/|url-status=live}}
| Drivers = 20. {{flagicon|DEN}} Kevin Magnussen{{cite news|title=Kevin Magnussen signs to race for McLaren in Formula 1 in 2014|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111297|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=14 November 2013|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404130705/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111297/|url-status=live}}
22. {{flagicon|GBR}} Jenson Button{{cite news|title=McLaren: Button's 2014 team-mate not signed yet|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/11/13/mclaren-buttons-2014-team-mate-not-signed-yet/|first=Keith|last=Collantine|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=13 November 2013|access-date=1 November 2013|archive-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826200059/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/11/13/mclaren-buttons-2014-team-mate-not-signed-yet/|url-status=live}}
| Chassis = Carbon-fibre composite incorporating driver cockpit controls and fuel cell
| Front suspension = Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
| Rear suspension = Carbon-fibre wishbone and pull-rod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
| Battery =
|Clutch = AP Racing electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
| Engine name = Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Turbo{{cite web|title=Mercedes names 2014 F1 V6 Engine 'PU106A Hybrid'|url=http://thisisf1.com/2014/01/22/mercedes-names-2014-f1-v6-engine-pu106a-hybrid/|publisher=This Is F1|access-date=23 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225203709/http://thisisf1.com/2014/01/22/mercedes-names-2014-f1-v6-engine-pu106a-hybrid/|archive-date=25 February 2014|url-status=dead}}
| Capacity = {{convert|1.6|L|cuin|0|abbr=on}}
| Configuration = V6 (90°),
| Turbo/NA = 15,000 RPM limited
| Engine position =, in a rear mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
| Electric motor = Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K)
Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H)
|Gearbox name = McLaren
|Gears = 8-speed + 1 reverse
|Type = sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift
|Differential = with epicyclic differential and multi-plate limited-slip clutch
| Weight = {{convert|691|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} (with driver)
| Fuel = Exxon and Mobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
| Lubricants = Mobil 1
| Tyres = Pirelli P Zero dry slick and Pirelli Cinturato treaded intermediate and wet tyres
| Length = {{convert|5100|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Width = {{convert|1800|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Height = {{convert|950|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Wheelbase = {{convert|3460|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} adjustable -/+{{convert|20|mm|in|4|abbr=on}}
| Debut = 2014 Australian Grand Prix
|Last_event=2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
| Races = 19
| Wins = 0
| Poles = 0
| Fastest_laps = 0
| Podiums = 2
}}
The McLaren MP4-29 was a Formula One racing car designed and built by McLaren to compete in the 2014 Formula One season.{{cite news|title=McLaren reveals new F1 car launch date|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112049|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=Autosport|publisher=Jonathan Noble|date=7 January 2014|access-date=7 January 2014|archive-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331183637/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112049|url-status=live}} The chassis was designed by Tim Goss, Neil Oatley, Matt Morris, Mark Ingham and Marcin Budkowski and was powered by a customer Mercedes-Benz powertrain. The car was unveiled on 24 January 2014, and was driven by {{F1|2009}} World Drivers' Champion Jenson Button and debutant Kevin Magnussen, who replaced Sergio Pérez, after he won the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title.
The MP4-29 was the most mechanically reliable car of the season with 36 classified finishes out of a possible 38. This was the last McLaren car to lead the World Constructors' Championship until the MCL38 in 2024.
Background
File:Kevin Magnussen 2014 Jerez test (28-31 Jan) Day 3.jpg driving the MP4-29 during the pre-season testing, showing the MP4-29 in its original livery]]
The MP4-29 was designed to use Mercedes' new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine,{{cite news|title=McLaren believes switch to Honda engines will not compromise 2014|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107447|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=16 May 2013|access-date=17 May 2013|quote=McLaren believes its world championship challenge with Mercedes next year will not be compromised by its planned switch to Honda engines for 2015.|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808034418/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/107447/honda-switch-wont-hurt-2014--mclaren|url-status=live}} the PU106A Hybrid.
The MP4-29 was McLaren's first turbo-powered Formula One car since the Honda engined MP4/4 which powered Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost to 15 wins and 15 pole positions from 16 races in {{f1|1988}}. This was the last McLaren model that was powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine until the MCL35M in 2021, due to the team switching to Honda in 2015. It was also the last Mercedes-powered F1 car to use ExxonMobil fuel to foster Mercedes' partnership with Petronas.
It is the first Formula One car to use the Esso brand since 2009, which applied in some places for the 2014 season and applied fully from 2015 along with Exxon and Mobil in selected locations before switched to Red Bull Racing in 2017.{{cite news|url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-running-esso-branding-at-sepang/2762522/|date=28 March 2014|access-date=9 June 2023|work=Motorsport.com|title=McLaren running 'Esso' branding at Sepang|last=GMM|archive-date=19 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919141601/https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-running-esso-branding-at-sepang/2762522/|url-status=live}}
Season summary
File:Magnussen 2014 Monaco Grand Prix.jpg
At the {{F1 GP|2014|Australian}}, Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button finished third and fourth on the road, respectively, but were elevated to second and third after Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/26601418|title=Daniel Ricciardo disqualified from Australian Grand Prix|date=16 March 2014|access-date=1 October 2024|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608020818/https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/26601418|archive-date=8 June 2023|url-status=live}} This was McLaren's last podium until the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix. The cars sported a Mobil 1 livery to honour the team's 20-year association with the brand.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a1890246/mclaren-formula-one-team-unveils-black-and-silver-mobil-1-livery-melbourne/|title=McLaren Formula One team unveils black and silver, Mobil 1 livery for Melbourne|date=11 March 2014|access-date=1 October 2024|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813034657/https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a1890246/mclaren-formula-one-team-unveils-black-and-silver-mobil-1-livery-melbourne/|url-status=live|work=Autoweek}}
The promising result from Australia was followed by disappointing performances. In the {{F1 GP|2014|Malaysian}}, Button could only manage sixth and Magnussen in ninth.{{Cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2014/3/30/hamilton-wins-malaysia-gp|title=Hamilton wins Malaysia GP|date=30 March 2014|access-date=1 October 2024|work=Al Jazeera|agency=Reuters}} Both cars were unable to complete the {{F1 GP|2014|Bahrain}} due to issues with the clutch during the race. This marks the first time McLaren suffered a double DNF since the 2006 United States Grand Prix.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12514/9252984/2014-bahrain-gp-lewis-hamilton-beats-nico-rosberg-to-victory-as-f1-2014-comes-alive|title=2014 Bahrain GP: Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg to victory as F1 2014 comes alive|date=7 April 2014|access-date=1 October 2024|work=Sky Sports|last=Galloway|first=James}}
File:McLaren, No.22 Jenson Button (15104855073).jpg
The team failed to record another podium finish all season, and although statistically, the MP4-29 was the most mechanically reliable car of the season with 36 classified finishes out of a possible 38, they ultimately finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship.
Aftermath
=McLaren MP4-29H/1X1=
File:McLaren MP4-29H 1x1 front-left 2015 Motorsport Japan.jpg
A variation of the MP4-29, known as the McLaren MP4-29H/1X1 was introduced as a development car ahead of the team's engine partnership with Honda in {{F1|2015}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/11/25/first-mclaren-honda-test-went-well-boullier/|title=First McLaren-Honda test "went well", says Boullier|first=Keith|last=Collantine|work=F1 Fanatic|publisher=Keith Collantine|date=25 November 2014|access-date=25 November 2014|archive-date=27 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127200042/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/11/25/first-mclaren-honda-test-went-well-boullier/|url-status=live}} After completing a shakedown at Silverstone, the McLaren ran the MP4-29H at the post-season tests at the Yas Marina Circuit in the week after the {{F1 GP|2014|Abu Dhabi}}, where it was driven by McLaren's development driver Stoffel Vandoorne.{{cite news|title=McLaren to use B-spec car in Abu Dhabi|url=http://www1.skysports.com/f1/report/12479/9559195/mclaren-to-run-b-car-in-abu-dhabi|publisher=Sky Sports|date=10 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110211813/http://www1.skysports.com/f1/report/12479/9559195/mclaren-to-run-b-car-in-abu-dhabi|url-status=live}} The car suffered problems throughout, completing a total of six untimed laps over the two-day test.{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/11/16696.html|title=Bottas puts Williams on top in Abu Dhabi test|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Administration|date=25 November 2014|access-date=15 December 2014|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216020241/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/11/16696.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/11/16698.html|title=Wehrlein fastest for Mercedes as Abu Dhabi test ends|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Administration|date=26 November 2014|access-date=15 December 2014|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216014721/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/11/16698.html|url-status=live}}
{{clear}}
Sponsorship and livery
After losing the Vodafone sponsorship, the car ran with a full chrome livery and black accents. During pre-season testing and in the video game F1 2014, and F1 2015 (via its 2014 season mode) the car's sidepods and rear wing featured the name of the car. Certain sponsors were retained from the previous season.
Complete Formula One results
(key)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |
| Year
! Entrant ! Engine ! Tyres ! Drivers ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! Pts ! {{Tooltip|WCC|World Constructors' Championship position}} |
|---|
| rowspan=3 | {{F1|2014}}
| rowspan=3 | McLaren Mercedes | rowspan=3 | Mercedes PU106A Hybrid | rowspan=3 | {{Pirelli}} | | AUS | MAL | BHR | CHN | ESP | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA | BRA | ABU‡ |rowspan="3"| 181 |rowspan="3"| 5th |
| align="center" | {{nowrap|Kevin Magnussen}}
|style="background-color:#dfdfdf"| 2 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 9 |style="background-color:#efcfff"| Ret |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 13 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 12 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 10 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 9 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 7 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 7 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 9 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 12 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 12 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 10 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 10 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 14 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 5 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 8 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 9 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 11 |
| align="center" | Jenson Button
|style="background-color:#ffdf9f"| 3 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 6 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 17{{sup|†}} |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 11 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 11 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 6 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 4 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 11 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 4 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 8 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 10 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 6 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 8 |style="background-color:#efcfff"| Ret |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 5 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 4 |style="background-color:#cfcfff"| 12 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 4 |style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 5 |
Notes:
- † — Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.
- ‡ — Teams and drivers scored double points at the {{F1 GP|2014|Abu Dhabi}}.
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|McLaren MP4-29}}
{{F1 cars 2014}}
{{McLaren}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLaren MP4-29}}