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| McLaren MP4/4 |
In 1988, Honda had switched from supplying Williams — with which it had won the 1987 World Championship — to McLaren.That was the good news; the bad was that designer John Barnard, responsible for all the McLarens since 1981, had left.
The new car, penned by Steve Nichols and Neil Oatley, essentially retained the aerodynamic essence of Barnard's MP4/3, helped by the fact that, like the Honda, its Porsche engine had also been a V6.The cockpit, however, was noticeably slimmer. Despite this being the final year that turbocharged engines would be allowed, Honda had spared no effort and even produced two engine types — XE2 and XE3 — for use according to the circuit characteristics.
In time-honoured McLaren fashion, the new cars were not completed until the eve of the season, joining pre-season testing at Imola weeks after most of their rivals. Yet instantly the MP4/4s left the opposition breathless. Armed with the most powerful engines and the best drivers — Senna and Prost — and with the best team management, McLaren swept all before it. At the Italian Grand Prix, leader Senna tripped over back-marker Schlesser while lapping him. With Prost already out, it was the only race that the MP4/4 failed to win all season.