What happened to McLaren in the mid-1990s?

[Malbec]

Perhaps they realise that current technology is only a stopgap and hybrids and fuel cells is the long term future.

But converting the engine range to smaller capacity turbocharged engines in the same way as VW, BMW and Mercedes are doing now costs relatively little compared to developing an entirely new technology like fuel cell. Also, the vast majority of cars sold today are bread and butter petrol and Diesel engined vehicles so it doesn't make sense to keep them relatively uncompetitive in a market where taxation based on engine capacity and CO2 emissions is rapidly becoming the norm.

But this is wandering a long way away from McLaren's dip in performance. But they have bounced back into contention, which Lotus, Brabham etc didn't and Williams don't seem to be able to do

Credit has to go to Ron Dennis himself who seems to understand very well what corporations want from a sponsorship tie-up with an F1 team. IMO only McLaren, Ferrari and to some extent Sauber have shown really professional attitudes towards their corporate sponsors which is why all three teams have had longstanding partnerships (BMW's purchase and sale of Sauber notwithstanding). The fact that companies like Santander carried on sponsoring them even after choosing to follow Alonso to Ferrari speaks volumes, and its well known that the McLaren drivers have a more rigorous sponsor promotion schedule than any other team.

Ron has proven to be ruthless when he needs to be. He supposedly asked Honda execs in 1986 whether they knew of anyone who had won championships while paralysed (referring to SFW's recent accident where he had spinal injuries) and replying "me neither" when they answered in the negative. He's also been very very lucky in that he's had good partners too. Philip Morris came to McLaren as part of the deal that got Ron Dennis in charge and stayed with him for more than a decade, and his partnerships with West, Honda and Mercedes since have all been very positive and benign in stark contrast to, say, BMW who IMO were poisonous to both Williams and Sauber despite their money and engine expertise.

Ultimately I think it says a lot that McLaren not only came back from the brink in the mid-'90s but has gone on to expand into many other industry sectors including sportscar manufacturing. Not many teams have managed anything similar in recent years. The fact that that was possible has to be down to a significant extent to Ron's management.

[Lemmy-Boy]

Here is a summary:

1. 1994 - Senna left for Williams. And McLaren mistakenly used explosive dynamite in the form of a Peugeot engine.

McLaren finishes the year with 0 wins.

2. 1995 - Nigel Mansell is now a driver for Mclaren, alongside Hakkinen. Mercdedes-Ilmor gives factory support as the engine supplier. But McLaren produces a whale of a chassis. Furthermore, Mansell misses 2 races due to his fat ass unable to fit in the Chassis. He only lasts 2 races with the team, only to be replaced by Mark Blundell.

Hakkinen almost dies at the Australian GP. He was saved by an emergency tracheotomy.

McLaren finishes the year with 0 wins.

3. 1996 - Coulthard becomes the 2nd driver alongside Hakkinen, while giving the team driver stability for many years. The Mercedes engine continues to Explode, while the Chasis is still behind the competition.

McLaren finishes the year with 0 wins.

4. 1997 - McLaren finally wins a race. The Mercedes continues to explode but was known to be the most powerful engine, and the car was known to have the fastest straight line speed on a consistent basis.

AND LATER IN THE YEAR, ADRIAN NEWEY FINALLY JOINS THE TEAM.

5. 1998 - Adrian Newey's first car produces a World Drivers and Constructors Championship for Mclaren.

[zako85]

Manufacturers come as go as they please. Renault went out while they were at their peak. Honda left at the right time compared to 2008/09

I suspect Renault never quite needed to run a manufacturer team to begin with. What Renault always cared about was having their engine used in one of top cars. With Williams and McLaren already in tight relationship with car manufacturers in the early 2000s, Renault had no choice but buy its own team. Toyota, Honda, etc. were in the same situation. The only difference is that Renault GPs effort was quite successful. However, as soon as Renault saw than RedBull-Renault is being estabished as one of top teams, they pulled out. It's much easier to build a great engine and have RedBull and other sponsors pick up the team operations tab instead of trying to do both on their own.

[wedge]

Thats the odd thing about both Honda and Toyota. They've invested so much in hybrids and fuel cell technology but they haven't really bothered to get the most out of current petrol technology with small turbocharged engines or Diesels.

Too busy perfecting variable valve timing, got bored with 'sportscars' and went for another challenge.

[wedge]

I don't think Toyota's aims with NASCAR are as direct as promoting individual models, more at establishing their brand as being as much American as Japanese in much the same way as Ford has come to be viewed by many Brits as being defacto British.

Very true indeed. Just remembered Toyota tested NASCAR's waters with the Tundra in the Truck Series.

[codalunga]

Four engine suppliers in four years.

Holding out for Renault power until December 1992, then being forced to take customer Cosworths, then deciding to use TAG electronics. Being the fully active era, the already compromised and hurried car struggled to run in early testing. Senna described the MP4/8 as "diabolical" and said it had a fundamental flaw, although it did come together at the end of the season.

Someone said the Lambo test was disappointing (and they had been previously), but the press at the time said it was quit impressive.