McLaren Honda MP4/7A

TYRES

• Compound: Slick D (Soft)
• Front pressure: 1.68 bar (cold-set target for ~1.70 bar hot)
• Rear pressure: 1.72 bar (cold-set target for ~1.74 bar hot)
• Tyre blankets: not applicable

ELECTRONICS

• TC: 8 (as recorded; lap-time reference. Drop to 6 if rear steps out on Tosa and Rivazza exits)
• ABS: N/A (not fitted, 1992 F1 car)
• Engine braking: not adjustable on this car
• Brake Pressure: 100%
• ERS: N/A
• Brake bias: F: 44% / R: 56%

DRIVETRAIN

• Fuel Map: 1 (full power, max attack, fuel use irrelevant)
• Gear Ratios: 1st 2.50 / 2nd 1.85 / 3rd 1.46 / 4th 1.20 / 5th 1.00 / 6th 0.86 / Final Drive 3.20 (6th just touches the limiter at the end of the Rettifilo and Rivazza-Traguardo run)

SUSPENSION

• // FRONT
• Ride Height: 32 mm
• Wheel Rate FL / FR: 62000 N/m / 62000 N/m
• ARB: 38000 N/m
• Brake Torque Multiplier: 100%
• Brake Bias: F: 44% / R: 56%
• // REAR
• Ride Height: 48 mm
• Wheel Rate RL / RR: 70000 N/m / 70000 N/m
• ARB: 30000 N/m
• Diff Preload: 40 Nm
• Diff Coast: 0.4
• Diff Power: 0.3

DAMPERS

AERO

• Front wing: 6 clicks
• Rear wing: 7 clicks
• Downforce level: medium-high, a compromise for the Tosa-Rivazza traction zones while staying competitive on the long straights
• Brake ducts: not adjustable on this car (all slats open for single-lap attack)

KEY SETUP NOTE

• The 1988 layout runs flat out through Tamburello and punishes a nervous front end. Ride height and slow-speed damping must keep the car stable over the Tamburello and Variante Bassa kerbs, but traction out of Tosa and Rivazza onto the long straights is where the tenths are. Keep rebound slower than bump so the rear squats on power instead of snapping loose.

TRACK GUIDE

• Tamburello (flat-out left-hander): commit fully, keep the car on the inside kerb with minimal steering. Any mid-corner lift upsets the chassis and costs time all the way down to Villeneuve.
• Tosa hairpin: brake late and straight, trail the brake to rotate, then wait for the rear to settle before squeezing the throttle. This exit sets your speed on the long run to Piratella.
• Piratella and Acque Minerali: brake gently as the car pitches on the uphill approach, then carry momentum through the dip. Use the kerbs but don't launch the car over the compression.
• Variante Alta: stay committed and clip the apex kerb in a straight line. A smooth entry lets you run the kerbs without upsetting the chassis.
• Rivazza 1 and 2 into the final chicane: sacrifice the Traguardo entry to get a clean Rivazza exit. A tidy Rivazza exit is worth more than any late-braking gain at the last chicane.