McLaren MP4-22
Lewis Hamilton in the MP4 -22, the GP of Canada 2007
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The McLaren MP4 -22 was the 35th Formula 1 racing car of McLaren. He played in all 17 World Cup races in the Formula 1 2007 season. Monoposto was presented on January 15 in the city of Valencia in Spain. It was also the first season with Vodafone as the new main sponsor.
Technology and Development
The MP4 -22 was developed by Pat Fry and was the successor of the MP4- 21st The race car was powered by a Mercedes V8 engine (Mercedes- Benz FO 108T ) with 2.4 liter displacement. The tires are made , the Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone, which had become the 2007 season unit supplier for Formula 1.
Paint and sponsorship
The MP4 -22 was painted chrome for the most part. Moreover, had the single-seater Red color accents, which were attributable to the new main sponsor Vodafone. Other sponsors were SAP, Mobil 1 and aigo.
Driver
McLaren started with two new drivers in the 2007 season. Using the two-time and current Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain, the starting number changed one of Renault F1 McLaren - Mercedes. Second pilot was the Formula 1 newcomer and reigning GP2 Series champion Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain.
Course of the season
The season start was good for McLaren. In the first race in Australia both drivers drove to the positions two and three. Only the Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen was faster. Already in the second race of the season succeeded Alonso with the MP4- 22 retract a victory. Hamilton made with a second place it into a double victory. In the following three race Lewis Hamilton drove a three second places and was after the fifth race of the season tied with his teammate, who had already scored a second victory.
At the Canadian Grand Prix Hamilton drove to his first victory in Formula 1 Already in the subsequent race in the U.S., he repeated this success. Alonso was second in this race, but had made during the race with gestures attention to himself, as he could have gone faster.
In the next two races won neither of the two pilots. Hamilton was third two times and once Alonso finished seventh and second.
At the European Grand Prix Alonso won for the third time this season. Since Hamilton only finished ninth, and for the first time in the season did not go to the podium, Alonso taking ten points in the championship standings.
The tenth race of the season in Hungary already made in qualifying for headlines. In the final phase of qualifying Alonso kept his teammates despite sharing in the pit lane while on that this was not able to drive another fast lap. Alonso was subsequently punished a few hours after qualifying with a transfer back to 5 starting positions. Hamilton thus started from the pole position. He used this as well and drove a his third victory.
In the following three races Alonso went faster on the podium, which he won again. Hamilton had to settle for a second place, and settle for a fourth and fifth place. Raikkonen taking however into the championship.
In the 15th race of the season for the first time fell from a McLaren driver. Alonso lost on a wet road control of his vehicle and hit the road boundary a - Hamilton won the race.
At the next race in China, it was Hamilton who did not see the checkered flag. At the entrance to the pit lane he was driving too fast and slid into the gravel. Team-mate Alonso was in this race second behind Raikkonen. These three drivers were also the last race in Brazil a mathematical chance at the championship had (Hamilton 107 points, Alonso 103 points, Räikkönen 100 points).
The season finale won Raikkonen ahead of his teammate Massa. Alonso was third and Hamilton only seventh. Thus Raikkonen Won the championship by a single point on the tied McLaren pilots.
Fernando Alonso moved to the season back to Renault.
Spy affair
The season was overshadowed in 2007 by a spying affair. McLaren was illegally gets to technical information about the Ferrari team cars and had to pay a fine in the amount of 100 million U.S. dollars. In addition, the team were deprived of all points in the constructors' championship.