Gallery: The incredible McLaren MP4/13

The headline, of course, is that this is the car that took Mika Häkkinen to the 1998 Drivers’ title, his first of two, and McLaren to the 1998 Constructor’s, its eighth and last title. But it was also the car in which David Coulthard came third in the drivers’ standings, beaten by Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, and overall it took nine wins out of 16 races, finished in the podium places in all but one event and cracked five one-twos. Add to that nine fastest laps and 12 pole positions. Not a bad run, wouldn’t you say?

The MP4/13 was a little bit taller (51mm) and a fraction longer (1mm) than the 1997 MP4/12, but it was a full 200mm wider and had a 45mm longer wheelbase. It also ran on Bridgestone tyres rather than Goodyears, had an entirely different suspension set-up, and a more-powerful 3.0-litre, naturally aspirated V10 engine. All of these changes, combined with so many other developments with the chassis, the brakes and the aerodynamics, pushed the MP4/13 not just beyond the MP4/12 but beyond the reach of both Ferrari and Williams.

Looking back at its record breaking Festival run at the hands of McLaren test driver Nick Heidfeld in 1999, with the car flitting left and right over cambers of the Hill, past hay bales and a big, very solid flint wall, it seems like something of a miracle McLaren let the car attend at all. But, we have to say, we’re very, very glad it did.