Despite the good performance of the 1993 MP4/8 powered by the Ford V8, Ron Dennis was constantly searching for an engine supplier capable of providing his team with an exclusive, high-performance engine able to compete with the Renault V10 and Ferrari V12. In September 1993, Dennis organized a test session at the Estoril circuit in Portugal, where the Chrysler V12 LE3512 engine was installed on the MP4/8. This engine, designed by Mauro Forghieri, had already been used since 1989 on various single-seaters under the name Lamborghini 3512. The results were positive, but Dennis had other ambitions and was already in contact with Peugeot to obtain the 3498 cc V10 A4 engine, which had been used by the French manufacturer for two years in the Group C World Sportscar Championship.
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| McLAREN MP4.9, Martin Brundle Montréal, Canadian GP 1994 |
The agreement reached provided for the exclusive supply of the French V10 to the Woking-based team, with Dennis convinced that the rivalry between the two French manufacturers, Peugeot and Renault, would push Peugeot to further develop its V10, which at the beginning of the season lagged by about 70 hp compared to Renault’s RS6 V10. The technical team led by Ron Dennis remained unchanged from the previous season (Neil Oatley as executive engineer, Matthew Jeffreys as chief designer, David North as head of transmission engineering, David Neilson as head of suspension engineering, and Henri Durand as aerodynamicist), with the addition of Paddy Lowe, who came from Williams to lead McLaren’s Research and Development department. Peugeot’s engine engineer, Jean-Pierre Buody, also joined Dennis's staff to oversee the development of the French V10. The new MP4/9 closely resembled the previous season’s car, although new regulations banned most electronic driver aids in an effort to bring driver skill back to the forefront.
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| McLAREN MP4.9, Martin Brundle Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1994 |
As a result, electronic suspensions, ABS, bidirectional telemetry, traction control, and other electronic aids that McLaren heavily relied on in 1993 were no longer allowed. Consequently, as had happened with Williams, a car initially designed to integrate electronic aids could no longer deliver the same performance once stripped of them. McLaren engineers had to act quickly to address a situation that left the MP4/9 unable to compete with the top teams. The installation of the new Peugeot engine was another source of trouble, mainly due to its low power output and, more critically, poor reliability, stemming from a design originally intended for Group C cars, where engines were under significantly less stress than in Formula 1.
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| McLAREN MP4.9, Mika Häkkinen Montréal, Canadian GP 1994 |
Until well into the season, the MP4/9’s performance was very disappointing, with the two main drivers, Finn Mika Häkkinen and Briton Martin Brundle, managing to score just 14 points over the first nine races, with only three points finishes. Things changed dramatically after updates were made to the car and the new A6 engine was introduced, delivering around 70 additional horsepower and, more importantly, greater reliability. From the Hungarian Grand Prix onward, the MP4/9 regained some consistency, achieving four consecutive podium finishes thanks to Häkkinen, plus another podium by Brundle in the season finale in Australia. French driver Philippe Alliot, Peugeot’s choice for the role of third driver but not favored by Dennis, had a chance to race the MP4/9 in the Hungarian Grand Prix after Häkkinen was disqualified following a crash at the start of the German Grand Prix.
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| McLAREN MP4.9, Mika Häkkinen Interlagos, Brazilian GP 1994 |
In conclusion, the MP4/9, which mechanically and aesthetically closely resembled its predecessor, can be considered a reasonably good car, limited mainly by the French engine, which suffered from a difficult debut in the top category. McLaren ended the season with 42 points and fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, a disappointing result compared to recent seasons, with two second-place finishes, seven third-place finishes, and a few other points finishes, but no victories, something that hadn't happened since 1980. As a result, Ron Dennis ended the partnership with Peugeot after just one year, reaching an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply engines starting in 1995, thus beginning a new era that would shape the history of Formula 1.
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