Photo Gallery: 1991 McLaren Honda MP4/6

Submitted by Rich Fowler on May 22, 2013

In McLarens 50th anniversary year and with news that Honda and McLaren will again be partners in 2015, lets take a look back at the dual Championship winning McLaren-Honda MP4/6 of 1991.

The McLaren MP4/6 Formula 1 racer twas designed by Neil Oatley and was the first McLaren to be powered by a Honda V12 engine. In pre season testing Gerhard Berger was less than impressed with the new engine, saying it was underpowered compared to Honda’s V10 from the 1990 car.

However it didn’t stop Ayrton Senna from winning the first four races of the season, including an emotional victory in Brazil. He would follow this up with three more wins for a season tally of seven.

By mid season Williams and Nigel Mansell had found their feet with their remarkable FW14 , but consistent podium finishesand a huge push from McLaren and Honda, helped Senna and McLaren to stay on top.

By the time the chamionship headed to the penultimate race in Japan, Mansell needed to win to keep the championship alive, but he spun out early whilst Senna cruised to his third drivers championship, coming in second behind Gerhard Berger in glorious 1-2 on Honda’s home soil.