McLaren MP4-7 carbon-fibre monocoque Grand Prix racing car chassis

A McLaren MP4/7 carbon-fibre bare monocoque, 1992 (chassis no. MP4-7-05). This black monocoque features a section of the red and white livery of McLaren towards the front on the part of the monocoque which was visible, and sponsorship decals for Shell and Marlboro. There is a barcoded FiA seal inside the chassis, a chassis number sticker, and a gold tape heat shield to the rear.

This monocoque was raced once, by Ayrton Senna, at the 1992 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. Senna, at the time defending his 1991 World Driver Championship title, qualified for the 1992 Spanish Grand Prix race in third, behind Michael Schumacher for Benetton and Nigel Mansell for Williams. Towards the end of lap 63 while running in third in wet conditions, Senna spun out while attempting to lap Ferrari driver Ivan Capelli. He crashed into the barriers, ending his race. As well as being driven by Senna in the 1992 Barcelona Grand Prix, this monocoque was part of a 'T-car' during the 1992 Formula 1 World championship season, at the Interlagos, Imola, and Monaco Grands Prix.

McLaren were pioneering users of carbon fibre technology in racing car construction, first using it in the late 1960s, in collaboration with designers at RAE Farnborough, where applied techniques for carbon fibre were first patented. In 1981, the MP4/1 McLaren F1 car was the first F1 car to have a chassis made from carbon fibre. All of McLaren's competitors switched to carbon fibre constructions over the coming years, and carbon fibre remains a key component of modern Formula 1 cars, as well as many other racing and road cars.