F1 is known for having the highest-performing racers in the world, but not all designs or engines are created equal, with some being terrible.
The 1955 Le Mans disaster is considered by and large as one of the worst crashes in Formula 1 racing history. On June 11th on the Circuit de la Sarthe driver Lance Macklin swerved out in front of Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes 300 SLR, causing the latter to lose control of the vehicle, careen over the protective barriers at about 125 miles per hour, and subsequently explode in the stands — resulting in the deaths of 77 spectators including Levegh. Since this horrendous incident, Formula 1 has experienced much growth in the advancement of safety procedures to protect the well-being of audiences and competitors alike. While a repeat of the 1955 disaster is unlikely, the industry is still not immune to poor performances from low-grade race-cars or their subsequent spin-outs and collisions that come at a very high price.
The term “formula” in Formula 1 denotes a set of strict, clearly defined regulations from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (“FIA”) that all competitors must abide by concerning the components and specifications when designing a compliant race car. While these comprehensive recipes have led to some incredible engineering and technology advancements, particularly the high-performance engines that have gone on to power non-F1 commercial cars, there have also been cases of subpar construction and design that have led to a less-than-stellar crossing of the finish line. From the spontaneous combustions of the McLaren MP4-18 to the painfully slow speeds of the Lola T97/30, here is a look at some of the worst vehicles to compete in the F1 championships. The McLaren MP4-18 lit up the racetrack, literally
Our first stop is with a race car that actually never even made it through the rigorous, three-stage qualification process for the Formula 1 championship because of the number of severe technical issues it encountered. In 2002, the McLaren MP4-18 was constructed by the company’s chief designer, Adrian Newey, in the hopes of finally launching an inventive contender to successfully face down rising competitor Ferrari on the world stage. On the outside, the MP4-18 had an aggressive and edgy style, complete with a radically streamlined body that was considered revolutionary for the industry at the time.
However, the unconventional design of the MP4-18 may have landed too far outside the box for racing purposes. The car was plagued by a series of chronic issues ranging from a very sensitive and fickle carbon composite gearbox to frequent spin-outs and crashes. A flawed sensor kept raising problems with the hydraulics, and the exhaust system was so badly compromised that it would cause the car to combust — sometimes even before it entered the track. McLaren only produced four units of this fiery race-car for testing, half of which were completely totaled when undergoing testing by drivers Alexander Wurz and Kimi Raikkonen, who, after getting out of the wreck, firmly stated, “I am never driving that car again.”
The MP4-18 also suffered from the consequences of poor management decisions. When Newey presented a series of enhancements for the MP4-18 in 2004 to improve safety and quality of performance, such as reconfigured chassis for improved aerodynamics, the managing director Martin Whitmarsh and the majority of the team instead opted to forego corrections and keep the original design.
