McLaren MP4/4 Engineer's Cut: The Ultimate Video Guide to F1's Greatest Car

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In today's video, an engineer's cut of my previous MP4/4 video. We have done an extra day of filming with a second car, to look at all the aspects which helped make one of the most dominant cars in F1 history.
Thanks to:
@sportzntouring and @dadcars for filming help
Matthew Jeffreys, Project Lead for Monocoque and Front Suspension
Contact him on [e-mail] for information on his incredible artwork:
/ car_profile_art
Neil Trundle, Chief Mechanic for '88
Steve Nichols, Chief Designer - now working at www.nichols-cars.com/
and to Kiklo Spaces kiklo.space...
and Paul Lanzante for hosting us
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00:00:00 - Introduction
00:07:11 - Brazil: The First Race
00:11:16 - An Overview of the Car
00:11:16 - Expanded: Front Suspension
00:12:18 - NEW: MP4-2 Chassis vs MP4-3/4
00:14:48 - NEW: Front Suspension Evolution
00:21:39 - Expanded: Carbon Fibre Nosebox
00:26:01 - NEW: MP4-2B Nosebox Comparison
00:28:04 - Expanded: Wooden F1 Car Parts?
00:28:41 - Side Profile and Overall Shape
00:31:03 - Tyres
00:33:17 - Expanded: Brakes
00:36:42 - Wheel Nuts & Pit Stops
00:39:27 - The Design Process
00:41:52 - Rear Wing & Downforce
00:45:31 - Front Wing
00:47:22 - The Style
00:50:06 - Collaborative Design Process
00:51:42 - The Team
00:54:25 - The Disappearing Snorkel
00:55:17 - The Paint
00:57:41 - Expanded: Titanium Roll Hoop
01:00:02 - Undressing the car
01:01:06 - Airflow and Engine
01:01:49 - Expanded: Exhaust & Turbo
01:03:07 - NEW: Slippery Radiators
01:03:44 - NEW: Skid Blocks
01:04:54 - Restrictors
01:08:20 - NEW: Honda RA168E Specifications
01:13:08 - Honda Reliability
01:14:15 - Expanded: The Tilton Clutch
01:15:27 - NEW: The McLaren Gearbox
01:36:41 - NEW: Driveshafts
01:38:43 - NEW: The Coolest Gear Knob
01:39:34 - Expanded: Weight, Materials and Centre of Gravity
01:42:58 - A Moment of Panic
01:44:40 - The Mechanic's Assessment
01:47:40 - How to Start a McLaren MP4/4
01:50:14 - Expanded: The Front Suspension Revisited
01:55:30 - NEW: Front Wishbone Up Close
01:58:49 - NEW: Dampers in Detail
02:02:07 - Master Cylinder?
02:02:40 - Fuel Capacity
02:04:34 - NEW: Fuel System
02:07:35 - Expanded: Cockpit and Dash
02:11:27 - NEW: Body Bolts
02:12:54 - NEW: How Small is the Cockpit?
02:17:43 - Parting Words

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@sidrens1047]

Awesome video James! However, I highly recommend changing the thumbnail to make it stand out better for views - the current version is way too bland for such an important car and video!!!

[@panikkos86]

This is fascinating. These men know this car inside out. The video could be 5 hours long, I would still watch it. Mr Jay, you are doing this right. Thank you!

[@hangingchad_]

I watched it a few hours after it was released, and I'm back watching these videos for about the third or fourth time. Such brilliant guys who built some of the most incredible, iconic racing cars of all time.

[@andreww8941]

BRILLIANT !!!!!! Absolutely Brilliant!!!! Thank you all involved for the phenomenal interview/ content. Simply incredible! Much gratitude and appreciation gentlemen.

[@duncanashton8359]

Absolutely brilliant documentary. 2hr 25 ??!? had myself checking the time stamps over and over because I couldn’t believe 2hr 25 had gone so quick. Amazing work by all involved 👌

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks Duncan

[@dadcars]

The first video is one of the best KZbin videos I’ve ever seen… such an honour to get the call to assist with the filming on this one. A day I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

[@sportzntouring]

It's been a real pleasure to have been a part of making this! Amazing work James!

[@sebastianscholz6041]

This is the most interesting video series on KZbin by far. Thank you very much for your work and thank you to all of the guys who where involved. The MP4/4 is an absolute engineering masterpiece!

[@nilocp5684]

…without question, one of my top 3 KZbin videos ever! Thank you JayEmm and everyone else involved in making this video for providing such a in-depth documentary on one of the greatest race cars of all time. This was an absolute pleasure to watch!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks for watching

[@koboskolors]

What are the other 2? I think Chris Harris doing the breakdown of Bloodhound should be up there.

[@Coolcmsc]

Just brilliant. This series is mint and unparalleled on YT. A testament to you, to the respect you are held with in the car industry and to your range of skills.

[@Commander-McBragg]

Can’t get enough of this. To have the actual gods telling the story while eying their creation is beyond awesome. No annoying interviewers, no interruptions, nothing but genius storytelling by the ones who wrote the story. Thank you, and I’m eagerly waiting for the next one!

[@randomshitbekker]

Very well made and presented. Even at 2.5 hours I will still be rewatching and taking notes over and over again

[@Charlie_Yu]

What a privilege it must have been to do a piece on this car, the MP4/4 is what I distinctly imagine of when I think of Formula 1

[@timjohnun4297]

I've never watched a youtube video that's more than 40 minutes long. Until now! Brilliant, I could listen to these geniuses all day, the 1980's was the golden era of F1 for me

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks Tim

[@jpm8103]

I discovered F1 by chance in '88. Didn't understand the sport, but hooked by the spectacle, and became a McLaren fan that year. Decades later, to watch this, and listen to the stories by the people who made it no less, and the detailed shots of the car, somehow feels so complete. It couldn't have been easy to get it organized, hence I'm very grateful to all involved who made this video possible. Thank you. I'll rewatch this many times.

[@stephenc6955]

Someone wasn't invited to Gordon Murray's T33 unveiling.

[@09juliancarr]

This is fantastic! The fact that the Harrods F1 is nonchalantly in the background at Lanzante just shows how amazing it must be there… Also ‘GearHard Berger’ 😂

[@JayEmmOnCars]

I wondered how long it would take for someone to notice the F1!

[@robhitchens966]

Thank you to all of you that have contributed to make this possible! I was a 13 year old McLaren fan at the time and significance of that seasons results were huge and to yet become the tales of lore we now know. Thanks Jay, this is a masterpiece and your finest work so far! Hat's off to you Sir 👌

[@davidmoore6172]

James this is possibly the most in depth and well presented F1 information/design of what is the combination of true engineering geniuses. What an amazing video you and all involved should be extremely proud. Just Mega👏

[@ernied3123]

Thanks for doing this cut James, you’re an absolute legend. I didn’t want it to end, so interesting. Hope you had a great Easter, cheers.

[@johnshaw8013]

One of the best most detailed videos I have ever watched about F1. Great to see the guys who made history happen deep dive into the engineering side!

[@njclsx4252]

2nd that,very very very detailed unlike others rubbish videos

[@trevc4021]

I just want to say thank you for putting this series together. Six incredible cars. In my opinion, the pinnacle of Formula 1. You've made a fine job of documenting that.

[@paulbennett9097]

A really watchable video, loved the section on how the gearbox worked, keep them coming well done JayEmm

[@waltersobchak4252]

UNBELIEVABLE!! At 2.5 hours, my first reaction was "nah." I have never been so happy to be wrong! When these three guys were talking with each other about that rear wing and telling stories, i couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I will be looking back at this video for years! Thank you.

[@seanmain3081]

Bravo, my friend. This and the updated video are without a doubt, THE best videos covering a car and it’s inception and creation by those involved I have ever seen. And I am no casual fan. I have be there, done that. I have seen Senna win twice, had a tour of Ferrari in Italy, was lucky enough to have had a garage tour of the Jaguar F1 team in 2000 at Imola and this series gives me as much joy as all of those events. It takes me back to a time that simply does not exist. So, sir, I thank you and all that participated. So well produced. And I’ve spent 25 years in entertainment. Damn, son! Do more of these!

[@MrAndyj007]

"Thats the Box very simple" understatement of the year .. fascinating stuff.. awesome update JayEmm

[@jamesantill5065]

Neil Trundle is an absolute legend. Was my boss for 3 seasons at MCL and proud to say we're still good friends today.

[@jonathangillbanks3891]

What an unbelievably fascinating and well put together piece. James, this is now the gold standard series on formula one. Terrific editing and getting the flow right, though of course full credit to Steve, Neil and Matthew for being such incredible professionals at the top of their game but also coming though as “good guys” whom you can tell really enjoyed working together. I saw the previous cut but had no issue watching this all the way through, it was just so fascinating and what an insight into how things tick and the sheer ingenuity. I loved the story of improvising a solution with the spring from a ball point pen!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks for watching Jonathan, it was a delight to film this and always nice to do the longer cuts when I don't have to leave anything out

[@duncanflood7983]

JayEmm, that was and absolutely fantastic video. Well done for letting these three brilliant men tell the story of the MP4/4. I love Steve Nichols statement at the end, " the ultimate expression of the advantage of teamwork".

[@ricowade4987]

mad respect for this generation really took engineering and ingenuity to another level in F1. So awesome to have this generation around to do these KTs

[@wings9925]

Another absolutely gem James! Bloody love these. The technical details, the stories and the history. Thanks so much! My son has just spent a week's work experience with Williams and works at JOTA Racing: The passion for engineering runs in the blood and seeing the devotion and tremendous skills of Steve, John and Matthew is a privilege

[@charlesv3962]

I lived for F1 back in those days, I’d get up early in the morning and taped the all the races for which I still have, it’s absolutely fantastic to see and hear from the designers, developers and engineers who put the MP cars on the race track, with cooperation from all the people involved I’d love nothing more than to hear more about other Mclaren MP cars, these guys and this type of information wasn’t accessible back then, I’m sure with all the racing magazines I bought and still have most of them from the 80’s and 90’s I probably read something somewhere about a couple of them, today’s F1 don’t compare to the pinnacle of F1 racing back then and I’m sure happy I was a witness to it all, more please!!!

[@robertrishel3685]

Fantastic! Again!!!🙏🙏🙏 thanks so much for this! Not to start any shite flinging….but where did Gordon Murray fit into the legendary space of this car? Not quite as instrumental an influence as claimed? The men featured in this video deserve a lot more credit, thanks for making steps in that direction with these videos👍. Bravo!

[@ChristianRThomas]

That was gripping, James. Thank you very much. I suspect I may watch it all again. Very nice editing too. I watched the first one and yet never wanted to fast forward over anything, so just watched it as it happened.

[@simondillon]

Absolutely fantastic series, thank you so much to you all, hours of blissful viewing and listening.

[@dococapocalypse7580]

honestly probably one of the single greatest video/documentary/pieces of media in automotive history. it doesn't get better than this

[@russn4933]

"Gear Hurt Berger" LOL awesome, Thank you!

[@carlgeorgtsigakis498]

This extended Directors Cut version is Fantastic! Thanks!

[@Dav37D]

Fascinating engineering details 👌

[@OldStreetDoc]

I’m not at all sure of what this says about me… but I could watch & listen to teams get into the deepest of deep details about these cars all day. In a way I wish it was mandatory for ALL teams to do a deep dive into the design of their cars on video each year. Obviously not giving away CURRENT information, but perhaps after major rules changes come about or a certain number of years have passed. This stuff is truly fascinating & surely not just to me. I’d wager the viewership for such a thing would be pretty respectable. Looking back, this era of Formula 1 has a ‘magical’ sort of thing about it. There is a reason why this era, and these cars particularly are so appreciated & loved. As convoluted as today’s ‘production’ (racing) has become, it only highlights the appreciation we all feel for this era. These were some of the last years that truly felt like ‘motorsport’ to me, and less the ‘show’ that we get today. Very ‘boomer’ of me I suppose to say it, but… man those were the good old days.

[@colinm1325]

Absolutely Fabulous, Thanks to all involved in bringing this to us. Amazing to see and hear the guys that were there on the spot as it happened. By the way, this was the 1st thing l watched on your channel, back to the deep dive to see what other gems you have. Thanks again and Kind Regards.

[@njclsx4252]

Thankyou for making what I believe to be the most in depth, detailed, f1 engineering video I personally seen anywhere (I started watching f1 in 88 and was a senna fan from day 1) so the timing matches this era of my favorite f1 car to a tea. Has said at the end,Ron did have a eye for talent and a massive leap of faith which is so lacking in most forms of life in modern day society ❤

[@JoeEngineer]

So good. So so good. Thank you so much for these videos. You cannot find content like this anywhere else.

[@glenac05]

By far, the greatest video on You tube I have ever seen. The engineering artwork of the MP4/4 was just amazing to see, and surely I will watch this video many times. Would love to see similar videos of some of the other great F1 cars and even sports cars. Thank you so much for making this video.

[@richardjones2764]

Absolutely brilliant, totally absorbing and fascinating; thank you James and to everyone involved. As an aside, I'm very glad I purchased a print of the MP4/4 from Matthew (with your code), as it's now so much more meaningful to look at the car and now put the faces and experiences of the guys behind it to their signatures on the print. Cheers

[@Graham_Shaw]

Brilliant!! To actually get to see the mechanics of the suspension, brakes etc in such detail, and explained by the people who designed, built and mantained the car. Wow, just Wow! Thank you James for making this happen and pulling it all together.

[@csababiro7851]

Simply magical, thank you for making it happen James! The film is so involving that watching it as fans I think we all feel like or daydream that we are the designer, we are the mechanic, we are the driver of this legendary car. Fantastic idea, equally well executed, well done.

[@de-fault_de-fault]

I loved the first installment but I wanted to know more about the engineering…and here you’ve given me exactly what I was hoping for. Amazing.

[@allysonsquires8421]

Had a bloody crap Monday doing a timing chain at work.....but watching this made me remember why I love car's I learned on late 80's early 90's stuff.... This is just reminding me of Sunday dinner at nan's and watching the sparks fly in ore! Miss my dad's Westfield kit car watching this. Great memories.

[@todmarketstar8449]

Amazing follow up to the previous videos! The last one inspired the purchase of a Mathew Jeffreys print, which will nicely compliment the Model Facory Hiro MP4/4 1/12 kit I'm getting ready to build. Such a fan of this piece of engineering greatness and so appreciative of your documentation... thank you JE!!!

[@TheLikeButton95]

Really love this vid. Happened upon it through random scrolling and was/am not disappointed. So insightful and such brilliant storytelling and explanation. Am showing this to my dad who is a massive F1 fan and was watching the mp4-4 live in its day.

[@Zubayer_Islam_Rezoan]

It is with great honor that I find myself among the privileged few to have viewed this video a mere hour after its release! I am confident that this piece of content will stand the test of time and be revered for years to come. For all you future petrolheads seeking the definitive resource on MP4/4, look no further. This video is the real deal. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Peace out! Rezoan 12:22 PM GMT time 10th April, 2023

[@leo1fun]

I could listen to Neil talking about the gearbox all day, seriously. Probably the coolest piece of talking about F1 I've ever seen.

[@Rick7HPC]

Thanks J, How you managed this I don't know, but Neil's explanations are great to watch. A real insight into a legendary car by people who just love engineering, and it shows. Fantastic.

[@Ztingjammer]

Thank you for this lovely documentary! Got sent this video by a dear friend of mine and man the hours just flew by so quick because it was both extremely interesting but also fun to hear their stories. One of my all-time favourite videos. Thank you so much!

[@cbh148]

Ok, I just commented on the original cut of this video moments ago about how stellar it was... And then I see *THIS* gem waiting in the recommended list. From my perspective, you already raised the bar only minutes ago, and clearly you've raised it yet another span higher. Outstanding stuff man! Thank you!

[@drummingriffin]

Absolutely fantastic piece of videography, I was enthralled from start to finish. Between them all, they built a car that was ahead of it's time. They should all be very proud to have been a part of the journey, even though the three gents are very humble in their descriptions of their achievements. Thank you so much for uploading this. Subbed to you now.

[@f1o18iwi9]

after watching the first video with the real designer of mp4/4 I just dont respect murray as I did before. great video Jay

[@blackdoublezero]

this is the BEST docu series i've seen - great work !

[@LurcherVonPapsmear]

Sensational Video Jay!

[@thejerkyshack8040]

Man I wish there was more content like this out there.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Brilliant, educational & entertaining vid James! You have reached a new high! 10/10 👍🏻

[@opexo]

and not a single word for Gordon Murray, Technical director, above Steve :)

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Gordon still has an open invite to come on the channel but has yet to take me up on it!

[@Ever443]

Great video. Huge Senna Fan. It would be the top of my bucket list to get to see and touch these cars that he drove. I could listen to these guys talk about these cars forever. THE greatest time of F1

[@2fast2nick]

So awesome. I love how much detail these guys went into. The technology on the car is pretty amazing for the time.

[@digilux4017]

The MP4/4 is an engineering marvel. These in dept videos are so joyful to watch and get more insight in to these machines. Thank you Jay!

[@thetezz0001]

Fantastic documentary J you really out done yourself

[@RUN_RGB]

What an amazing documentary! Loved every minute of it! Bravo!

[@domshan11]

Fantastic film, congratulations James and all who were involved.

[@ChrisTolf]

This is one of the best things I’ve watched in a very long time. Thanks to everyone who was a part of this!

[@oojimmyflip]

Absolutely amazing , enjoyed every mimute of it, thank you Jayemm.

[@gwelland]

James - please keep these types of videos coming. This is definitely a niche for you and very well done.

[@guywren4801]

Excellent. What a great capture. Well done for making it happen.

[@MartinBaldock]

Fascinating film, thankyou to all involved

[@MBSLC]

This is Fantastic! Thank you so much for this wonderful production!

[@sibunit38]

Thank you JayEmm for ultimate historical episode on the story of a magnificint masters, which brought us great memories and worked on a The Great Bolide!!!

[@AntoniusTyas]

James has been spoiling us lately with top-quality content. I wonder if you'll going to do extended interview with both Neil Trundle and Matthew Jeffreys, they seemed to have a lot of stories to tell too from 1988.

[@katout75]

Thank you so much for posting this. To have Steve Nichols and others from the MP4/4 design, engineering and development explain the car is an outstanding video.

[@S55amgDriver]

This is one of the best videos on all of KZbin!! Thank you so much for making this!!

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

That was excellent. Thank you to everyone involved.

[@Matthew-ll9ke]

The story of the ackerman is brilliant. Something extremely technical explained so clearly, an indication of someone who understands exactly what they're doing. That and the pure genius of the solution in the first place, what a team.

[@m.g4708]

This is simply stunning, absolutely brilliant work. Loved it.

[@GenoSalvati]

Hey JayEmm, I got a little chub when they broke out the hand tools! Amazing work on this video and hearing from the personalities that made the most amazing race car ever. Seeing the details inside and having them explain was the icing on the cake. Thank you! For the next act, let's hear some inside stories about Ron Dennis and the whole McLaren Project 4 endeavor. Ron's ego was clearly huge but his accomplishments and ideas are worth exploring. How did he assemble such a great team? Where did he find Steve Nichols?

[@barrettwbenton]

Jay, this is amazingly out-of-the-blue for me, flat-out wonderful.

[@robwhellams7752]

Hi jay I’ve followed you for a fair few years and have enjoyed your content, but this video is another level more please Jay much more it’s fascinating these men are are just a joy to watch buddy

[@ericneisse7330]

Thank you for this absolutely amazing video ! Mechanical engineering at its very best ! Listening to these heroes of F1 Golden Age is fascinating !!!

[@samcas707]

Thank you, this was absolutely brilliant, some of the best car related content I’ve ever seen

[@akarilotube]

Totally Incredible! The small details are to die for.

[@MR-ji1jn]

This is a brilliant video, those guys are extremely talented engineers and multi skilled. I love this period of grand prix racing as i was hooked on it as a kid, but also because these cars are mechanically interesting just before electronics really ramped up and unintersting peices of aero parafanalia were the main focus. This is the kind of thing ive been hoping to see ever since these cars actually raced. Great work

[@serralvo26]

This is a masterpiece of engineering and history! Thank you very much for this video!

[@stephenpage-vj5el]

Utterly brilliant, thank you Jay

[@ATTACK7199]

What a fantastic documentary must say one of the best intuitive race car episodes I've ever seen, well done more please, those guys wow knowledge was amazing, you done a fantastic job.

[@MrTurbotyla]

This is incredible. The amount of knowledge in this video coming from experienced people. Very rarely do people get this type of knowledge for free.

[@c2rautomotive]

Living legends! It’s awesome to ear this master mechanics telling everything about this car. MP4/4 it’s my dream car…man what a car, simple engineering and a master piece 👏👏👏👌❤️🇵🇹

[@stefandominitzki]

This is the best video ever done about F1. It's worth to watch it many times. What a great car this is in every aspect.

[@Bergie_78]

This is the best video I’ve seen in a long time, absolutely fascinating these guys are amazing!

[@harerton]

A big THANK YOU for this video! Simply fantastic and a great engineering and history lesson!

[@carlexplores8709]

Best video on the internet. Total geek out. Loved it!

[@richardpine8011]

Some of most interesting F1 content I’ve ever watched. Wonderful stuff.

[@jeremysnow3030]

Very, very good. Thank you. I look forward to the next one 👍

[@truebluemiata]

Amazing coup James! What a story. Thank you.

[@arturom9006]

Thank you so much for this beautiful content. Another dream come true.

[@leem3]

Simply brilliant ! Thank you 🙏