Motivated by the victory of the drivers' and constructors' titles the previous year in Woking, home of McLaren, they worked hard to maintain the advantage especially against Schumacher's Ferrari who fought for the '98 title with the World Champion Mika Häkkinen until the end of the Championship. The Managing Director of the British team, Ron Dennis, maintains the exceptional technical staff that has characterized the Woking team for a couple of seasons, with Adrian Newey in command in the role of Technical Director, Neil Oatley as Chief Designer, Steve Nichols as Chief Engineer, Matthew Jeffreys as Head of Vehicle Design, David North as Chief Transmission Engineer, David Neilson as Chief Suspension Engineer, Paddy Lowe as Head of Research and Development and Henri Durand as Chief Aerodynamicist, while the designer of the Ilmor-Mercedes FO110H V10 engine, Mario Ilien, is always attached to the team with the role of Engine Manager, as is Norbert Haug as Mercedes Vice President for sporting activities.
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| McLAREN MP4/14, Mika Häkkinen Hungaroring, Hungarian GP '99 |
Numerous innovations are introduced on the new McLaren MP4/14, mainly desired by Newey in his obsessive search for perfection in every detail. In fact, despite the similarity, the new single-seater differs almost completely from the previous MP4/13, starting from the new chassis which has a lower center of gravity, a result obtained by lowering and slightly lengthening the nose and moving the oil tank to a central position to reduce the ducts and concentrate the weight in the center of the car. The new aerodynamics are specifically studied at the British Aerospace wind tunnel and, without presenting any particular changes compared to '98, are refined down to the smallest detail following the indications of Technical Director Newey. To optimize even the smallest details, an ingenious system has been designed for the upper track of the front suspension which at the beginning of the season is hollow to include the steering rod, then moved outside to a more classic position from mid-season. The beautiful white/black/silver livery of the sponsor West and the sinuous shapes created by Newey's genius make the MP4/14 one of the most iconic Formula 1 cars ever.
McLAREN MP4/14, David Coulthard
Catalunya, Spanish GP '99
Mario Ilien also worked a lot on the development of the Mercedes V10, practically redesigning the engine block and the exhaust system following the technical and aerodynamic directives imposed by Newey. The new version of the German V10, now at the "H" specification, is a very high level engine capable of delivering at the beginning of the season around 780hp at 17000 rpm, undoubtedly the most powerful engine of '99, thanks also to the sophisticated electronics managed by the new electronic control unit TAG Electronic System 2000 which also manages the 7-speed semi-automatic longitudinal McLaren/TAG gearbox. In addition to the exceptional power, the German V10 is also the lightest engine ever, barely reaching 100kg, thanks also to the widespread use of the copper-beryllium metal alloy used for pistons, cylinders and other engine components, allowing a significant reduction in weights as well as better heat exchange. In the years to come, however, the FIA, once it has been established that the processing of Beryllium causes inflammation of the airways which leads to cancer, will ban the use of the precious metal by issuing legislation establishing the prohibited and permitted alloys. Returning to the powerful Ilmor-Mercedes FO110H V10, it must be said that, despite the weight and power advantage over its competitors, Ilien introduces three evolutions during the season, bringing the engine power up to 815hp at 17,600 rpm.
McLAREN MP4/14, David Coulthard
Silverstone, British GP '99
The two drivers from '98 are also confirmed for the new season, the reigning World Champion Mika Häkkinen and the British David Coultherd, who did not start the '99 world championship in the best way, both victims of breakdowns in the opening Grand Prix of the championship in Australia. In Brazil Mika Häkkinen instead achieved his first success of the season while Coulthard was still forced to retire due to mechanical failure. In the third race of the season the roles are reversed with the Scot second and the Finn out of the race. Also in Monte Carlo Couthard was forced to retire due to mechanical failure, the third in four races. Once all the delicate systems have been fine-tuned, the MP4/14 turns out to be an unbeatable car even if, to tell the truth, halfway through the season, Mclaren-Mercedes' direct competitor, Michael Schumacher, is the victim of a terrible accident that keeps him away from racing practically until the end of the season, thus allowing Häkkinen to achieve his second consecutive world title, even if Ferrari's second driver, Eddie Irvine, contested it until the last race.
McLAREN MP4/14, Mika Häkkinen
Magny-Cours, French GP '99
The MP4/14 is undoubtedly the best performing single-seater and with the most advanced aerodynamics of the entire '99 grid, even if some reliability problems, due to the extreme solutions adopted by Newey, as well as a few too many errors on the part of the two drivers, do not allow the British team to repeat the constructors' title of the previous season, despite the 124 points obtained by Ron Dennis' team, with 7 victories, 6 second places and 3 thirds, but allow Mika Häkkinen to boast the title for the second consecutive year of World Champion. The MP4/14 was used at the end of the season, precisely on 12 November, on the Silverstone circuit where the young and promising British driver, as well as future World Champion, Janson Button was invited for a private test session.
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