The COAT - Round Two - McLaren MP4/5 vs Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid

[crmalcolm]

The fifth match in Round Two, and it is a McLaren vs Mercedes contest that sees the McLaren MP4/5 vs the Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid.
In the first round, the McLaren defeated the MP4/13 version 6-4, and the Mercedes took a 6-3 win over the Lotus 101.

McLaren MP4/5(B) (snaplap.net):
The McLaren MP4/5 was the car that won both Drivers’ and Teams’ Formula 1 World Championship titles in 1989.
Based on the legendary MP4/4 model, the McLaren MP4/5 was a worthy successor. Designed by American engineer Steve Nichols, who was supported by Steve Oatley and Gordon Murray, the new car had one major change and it was the engine. Turbocharged engines were banned and replaced with naturally aspirated. Honda did a great job as the power unit was reliable. It featured four valves per cylinder and twin overhead camshafts.
Compared to its predecessor, the McLaren MP4/5 featured a new monocoque design to improve aerodynamic performance while the biggest difference between the McLaren MP4/4 and its successor was the addition of an airbox to feed the intake trumpets of the new Honda engine which was developed in Japan for almost two years.
Even before the start of the season it was clear that McLaren is far ahead from other teams and that only a miracle can stop them from winning another double. Even after being superior to the rest of the grid, the McLaren MP4/5 was not devoid of problems. Both drivers complained about throttle responses, balance, and handling. There also were some lubrication issues and troubles with the gearbox in the first half of the season. However, technical problems were solved more or less successfully but the main problem for the team was a relationship between two superstars – Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

In the hands of two legendary Formula 1 driver, the McLaren MP4/5 was a mighty machine that dominated 1989 season. Reigning champion Senna won six races that year but wasn’t able to defend his crown. Prost won on four occasions but his form was more consistent and had only three retirements, comparing to Senna’s six. Another interesting fact is that Senna won 13 pole positions while his teammate jut twice was pole-sitter. Prost had five fastest laps over the season while Senna scored three.
Prost won his third Formula 1 title and McLaren easily won its 5th overall Constructors’ Championship title and 4th during the 1980s, equalling the result of the Williams team. However, that wasn’t the end for McLaren MP4/5. In 1990, the Woking-based team introduced the modified McLaren MP4/5B model and again was able to win the double.

Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid (goodwood.com):
Mercedes’s achievements over the last six seasons of hybrid-powered F1 are, quite frankly, extraordinary. They eclipse even the performance of Ferrari in that early-2000s blitz. While it might not have managed as high a win percentage in a single season as McLaren in 1988, the continued nature of this winning streak must put this at the very top of the table for F1 teams performances. And, even in that run, there is one season which stands up as Mercedes’ annus mirabalus, amazingly it’s the one season in the run where Lewis Hamilton did not win the title – because his team-mate did. In 2016 Hamilton took, a quite frankly bonkers, ten victories, including two separate runs of four in a row. His team-mate Nico Rosberg, won nine, but followed the Englishman home in second more times, retired only once (when the Mercedes pair collided in Spain) and won the title. The W07 that carried them to these feats therefore took 19 race wins in a single season – a record – and secured a win rate of 90.4 per cent.

It holds some serious records too. As well as the aforementioned most wins in a season, it also has the most points in a championship season (765), the most podiums (33), the most pole positions in a season (20) and the highest percentage of poles in a season (95.2). The heart of Mercedes success has been an incredible understanding of the 1.6-litre V6 regulations, and the PU106C engine that powered the W07 was the class of the field. That dominance in the engine department allowed Mercedes to experiment with its design, with the W07 looking distinct from many of its competitors, with a lower nose and none of the protrusions many were still carrying to meet the safety regulations.

Mercedes have won every championship since the W07, but they have never recaptured that incredible dominance. And yet, somehow, there also hasn’t been as competitive a season since, with Rosberg and Hamilton’s title fight going down to the very last round, and a battle at the very front of the race.

[crmalcolm]

And in a nod to the picture puzzles thread - who is driving the Mercedes in the image, and what feat are they in the process of accomplishing?

[S griffin]

The McLaren in 1990 wasn't quite as dominant as the team had been the two previous seasons. I'm going for the Merc

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

And in a nod to the picture puzzles thread - who is driving the Mercedes in the image, and what feat are they in the process of accomplishing?

So - no takers on the question?

The image is of Esteban Gutiérrez setting the [unofficial] lap record at the Sonoma Raceway.