McLaren MP4-31

The McLaren MP4-31, driven by Jenson Button, during the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Constructor

Tim Goss (Technical Director)
Peter Prodromou (Chief Engineer)
Matt Morris (Director of Engineering)

Predecessor

McLaren MP4-30

Successor

McLaren MCL32

Technical specifications

Chassis

Carbon-fibre composite survival cell

Suspension (front)

Carbon-fibre wishbone, pushrod suspension elements with inboard torsion bars and damper system

Suspension (rear)

Same as front

Engine

Honda RA616H 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine, limited to 15,000 rpm in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout

Electric motor

Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems

Transmission

McLaren Racing gearbox with eight forward and one reverse gears

Battery

Honda lithium-ion batteries

Fuel

Esso High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
Mobil Synergy Fuel System
Mobil 1 lubrication

Brakes

Carbon discs with steel calipers

Tyres

Pirelli P Zero (dry) tyres
Pirelli Cinturato (wet) tyres

Competition history

Notable entrants

McLaren Honda

Notable drivers

14.

Fernando Alonso
22.

Jenson Button
47.

Stoffel Vandoorne

Debut

2016 Australian Grand Prix

Races	Wins	Podiums	Poles	F.Laps
21	0	0	0	1

The McLaren MP4-31 was a Formula One racing car designed by McLaren to compete in the 2016 Formula One season. The car was driven by 2005 and 2006 World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button, and reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who replaced Alonso at the Bahrain Grand Prix following the Spaniard's accident at the Australian Grand Prix which deemed him unfit for the next event. The car used the Honda RA616H power unit, the second engine developed by Honda since their return to the sport with McLaren in 2015.

The MP4-31 is the final McLaren to use the "MP4" prefix following CEO Ron Dennis's departure from the team.

After a generally much better pre-season in terms of reliability than the year before, the team headed to the 2016 Australian Grand Prix with progress made to the Honda power unit. McLaren showed progress with the car by qualifying 12th and 13th. However, the race was a disappointment as Alonso was involved in an accident with Haas's Esteban Gutiérrez which caused Alonso's car to barrel roll a few times before landing upside down. His car was totally wrecked and Alonso suffered from broken ribs and a collapsed lung, ruling him out of the next race in Bahrain. Ironically, Button's race was badly affected because of this, as the red flag was shown after he had made a pit stop. With a few cars in front of him making a free change of tyres as a result of the red flag, Button struggled through to finish 14th.

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Wikipedia