In the name of continuity and stability, the well-established partnership between the British team McLaren and the German engine manufacturer Mercedes-Benz continued in 1997. To develop the new MP4/12, the team led by Ron Dennis maintained the same group of technicians who had been tasked with designing the single-seaters for the historic Woking-based team in Surrey, England, for three seasons. The large team of engineers headed by Dennis, completely normal in modern Formula 1 but still uncommon in the 1990s, included Neil Oatley as executive engineer, Steve Nichols as technical director, Matthew Jeffreys as vehicle design chief, David North responsible for the transmission department, David Neilson as chief suspension engineer, and Paddy Lowe still in charge of research and development. The crucial role of aerodynamic engineer was held by Henri Durand. Mario Illien, owner of Ilmor, was the designer of the powerful but fragile German V10 engine and was integrated into the team during race weekends.
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| McLAREN MP4.12, David Coulthard Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1997 |
The engine, designed and built by Ilmor but fully branded as a Mercedes-Benz, started the season as the FO110E V10 with 720 hp at 15,700 rpm, carried over from 1996, but was soon replaced by the updated FO110F. This newer version, featuring a 72° V angle compared to the previous 75°, delivered 740 hp at 16,000 rpm, while maintaining its enviable weight of just 123 kg, about ten less than its competitors’ engines. Unfortunately, the fragility of the German power unit compromised the overall effectiveness of the new MP4/12 throughout the season, a car that was highly competitive but too often hampered by reliability issues. The new car didn’t differ significantly from its predecessor, the MP4/11B, from which it was derived; it was more of an update to a solid original design by Neil Oatley.
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| McLAREN MP4.12, David Coulthard Melbourne, Australian GP 1997 |
The most distinctive feature of the MP4/12 was found in its nose design, which, unlike all its competitors and its predecessor, returned to a nearly traditional configuration, rather than the raised nose that had become standard on most cars. With a sleeker, more squared-off and sloping nose, and thanks to the new silver and black livery from sponsor West, after McLaren ended its twenty-year relationship with Marlboro, the MP4/12 had a more elegant and harmonious profile, also aided by more flowing shapes in the engine cover and rear sidepods. Under the bodywork, there were few innovations: the chassis retained the classic carbon-fiber honeycomb structure with double-wishbone suspension in a push-rod configuration. The six-speed semi-automatic gearbox, built in-house by McLaren, was the same as the one used in the MP4/11B. However, an important innovation came in the braking system. During a private test session by the British team in the 1997 season, F1 Racing magazine photographer Darren Heath noticed that the MP4/12's rear brakes were glowing red-hot, typical during braking, even in parts of the track where cars would normally be accelerating. Thanks to some photographs taken in the garage of the car's cockpit, he discovered that a second brake pedal had been installed in the footwell area. This pedal could be selected by the driver to act on one of the rear wheels, minimizing understeer by reducing wheelspin when exiting slow corners. This system was dubbed "brake steer." It was tested in 1997 and installed on the cars the following season until, after official complaints from rival teams and a FIA investigation, it was declared illegal and banned after the 1998 Brazilian Grand Prix.
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| McLAREN MP4.12, David Coulthard Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1997 |
The MP4/12 was driven by the confirmed 1996 driver lineup: Finnish driver Mika Häkkinen and Scotsman David Coulthard. The car proved to be highly competitive and high-performing, although often held back by reliability issues with the Ilmor-Mercedes engine. After a surprising debut in Australia, the first race of the 1997 season, with Häkkinen finishing third and Coulthard securing victory (McLaren’s first win since Senna in 1993), only Häkkinen managed to score points in the following races. Coulthard, plagued by collisions and mechanical failures, suffered three consecutive retirements. In the middle part of the season, roles reversed: Häkkinen failed to score points in five races, while Coulthard managed a sixth and a fourth place. Only after the summer break did the MP4/12 showcase its full potential with two victories and two second places. For Dennis’s team, the future looked extremely promising with a car that, without misfortune and technical problems, could have won at least seven races in the 1997 season, Häkkinen having led several races before retiring due to engine failures.
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| McLAREN MP4/12, Mika Häkkinen Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1997 |
Despite the setbacks, the season ended positively with 63 points and fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship standings, thanks to 3 wins, 2 second places, 2 third places, and 1 pole position earned at Mercedes’ home Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Coulthard even achieved third place in the Drivers’ Championship with 36 points, while the unlucky Häkkinen scored 27 points, placing sixth.
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