Codemasters has revealed the latest batch of classic open-wheelers coming to F1 2017. All four hail from the McLaren team, and complete the 12-strong lineup of older models in the game.
The oldest car in the group is the one model we’ve known about for a while: the awesome 1988 MP4/4. Simply stated, it’s one of F1’s most famous models. At the hands of both Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, the car won all but one of its races that year.
We move forward three years to the 1991 MP4/6. Again piloted by Senna (alongside Gerhard Berger), the V12-engined McLaren won the Brazilian his third world championship.
It’s fascinating seeing the sweeping changes made to F1 cars between the MP4/6 and the next car from Woking. The 1998 MP4-13 — designed by none other than Adrian Newey — is a vastly different beast from the lithe earlier cars. Powered by a 780 hp Mercedes V10, the MP4-13 returned McLaren back to the winner’s circle, with Mika Häkkinen sealing the championship that year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S81vlyyySso
Last but not least, the 2008 MP4-23. Does it make you feel old to realize that Lewis Hamilton won his first championship (in this car) nearly a decade ago? It does for us. It was a rollercoaster of a year, with the young Brit only winning at the final corner of the season. It was a strategic victory, with Hamilton’s fifth-place placement giving him a crucial one-point advantage over Felipe Massa.
Now that Codemasters has revealed these cars, McLaren ties Ferrari’s classic lineup with four cars apiece. For those that haven’t been keeping track, here are the dozen classic cars coming to F1 2017:
- 1988 McLaren MP4/4
- 1991 McLaren MP4/6
- 1992 Williams FW14B
- 1995 Ferrari 412 T2
- 1996 Williams FW18
- 1998 McLaren MP4-13
- 2002 Ferrari F2002
- 2004 Ferrari F2004
- 2006 Renault R26
- 2007 Ferrari F2007
- 2008 McLaren MP4-23
- 2010 Red Bull Racing RB6
F1 2017 launches in just over a month on August 25. It will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).
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