Led by Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team enjoyed a relatively good season; but the Mercedes-powered MP4-27 car proved to be quite unreliable as the season progressed.
Drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (two former World Champions), scored seven wins and a total of 378 points to give McLaren third place in the Constructor's championship.
The British team based in Woking had a rollercoaster form during the first half of the season, despite winning the opening round in Australia. Jenson Button, in particular, appreared to be struggling to get the best from the Pirelli tires.
Mid-season updates put MP4-27 back on pace; however, despite victories for Hamilton and Button, reliability problems derailed a title bid. Hamilton retired five times this season, and Button had two DNFs.
Lewis Hamilton
4th in the Driver's Championship with 190 points
Best place in qualifications: 1st (7 poles)
Best race result: 1st (4 wins)
Retired 5 times
Jenson Button
5th in the Driver's Championship with 188 points
Best place in qualifications: 1st (one pole, in Belgium)
Best race result: 1st (3 wins)
Retired twice
The overall performance of the McLaren was pretty inconsistent in the first part of the season, while the drivers and engineers struggled to understand the curious degradation of the tires. Contrary to many other F1 cars, such as the Lotus E20, the McLaren was quick in qualifying trim, but suffered a bit under race conditions.
The McLaren may have been competitive, but poor luck meant that Hamilton had to wait until Canada to score his maiden win of the season. He followed it up with victories in Hungary, Italy and the USA.
Then, Hamilton retired at the start of the race in Belgium, retired while leading in Singapore, retired again while leading in Abu Dhabi, and was eliminated from the race in Brazil after a collision with Nico Hulkenberg. Hamilton has decided to move on to Mercedes AMG for the 2013 season.
Jenson Button's campaign started brilliantly with a win in Melbourne, then headed downhill as tire and set-up woes made serious points a rarity before a mid-season recovery began to stop the disaster.
Button captured second place in Germany, and followed that up with a brilliant win in Belgium and another victory at the season finale in Brazil. Despite the reliability problems, Button was able to score points in 14 of 20 races.
Drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (two former World Champions), scored seven wins and a total of 378 points to give McLaren third place in the Constructor's championship.
The British team based in Woking had a rollercoaster form during the first half of the season, despite winning the opening round in Australia. Jenson Button, in particular, appreared to be struggling to get the best from the Pirelli tires.
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| Photo: McLaren F1 |
Mid-season updates put MP4-27 back on pace; however, despite victories for Hamilton and Button, reliability problems derailed a title bid. Hamilton retired five times this season, and Button had two DNFs.
Lewis Hamilton
4th in the Driver's Championship with 190 points
Best place in qualifications: 1st (7 poles)
Best race result: 1st (4 wins)
Retired 5 times
Jenson Button
5th in the Driver's Championship with 188 points
Best place in qualifications: 1st (one pole, in Belgium)
Best race result: 1st (3 wins)
Retired twice
The overall performance of the McLaren was pretty inconsistent in the first part of the season, while the drivers and engineers struggled to understand the curious degradation of the tires. Contrary to many other F1 cars, such as the Lotus E20, the McLaren was quick in qualifying trim, but suffered a bit under race conditions.
 |
| Photo: McLaren F1 |
The McLaren may have been competitive, but poor luck meant that Hamilton had to wait until Canada to score his maiden win of the season. He followed it up with victories in Hungary, Italy and the USA.
Then, Hamilton retired at the start of the race in Belgium, retired while leading in Singapore, retired again while leading in Abu Dhabi, and was eliminated from the race in Brazil after a collision with Nico Hulkenberg. Hamilton has decided to move on to Mercedes AMG for the 2013 season.
Jenson Button's campaign started brilliantly with a win in Melbourne, then headed downhill as tire and set-up woes made serious points a rarity before a mid-season recovery began to stop the disaster.
Button captured second place in Germany, and followed that up with a brilliant win in Belgium and another victory at the season finale in Brazil. Despite the reliability problems, Button was able to score points in 14 of 20 races.