One final look at last year’s F1 cockpits

After one season of good and loyal service, 2015 F1 challengers were disassembled, dissected and stored in kits at teams’ factories. Before they are definitely retired – there is still a two-day wet tyre test scheduled at Paul Ricard next week – F1i technical expert Nicolas Carpentiers has a quick final look at some of last year’s cockpits.

1 – McLAREN MP4-30

With more and more buttons, dials, and switches (differential settings, brake balance, engine and ERS use, etc.) featuring on the steering wheels, F1 cockpits now tend to exude a feeling of emptiness. Still, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button’s McLaren offices do have controlling devices on the side, including a plug that allows the FIA to download (via the red button) all in-car data and software. One can also notice a switch to adjust the volume of radio communications. Perhaps Alonso turned this one up a notch before shouting “GP2 engine, GP2 engine! Argh!” at Suzuka…

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Nicolas Carpentiers

Nicolas Carpentiers is F1i.com's resident technical expert, providing in-depth technical analysis and casting his critical eye across the developments of the teams throughout the season.

Recent Posts

Perez admits he ‘had doubts’ about returning to F1 with Cadillac

For much of 2025, the paddock conversation around Sergio Perez was surprisingly straightforward: a driver…

11 hours ago

Briatore questions Alpine’s results: ‘Why are we not winning?’

Flavio Briatore is not a man accustomed to standing on the sidelines of victory, nor…

13 hours ago

Richie Ginther: A man on the brink of F1 greatness

Richie Ginther was born on this day in 1930. A glance at the American F1…

15 hours ago

The Max effect: Verstappen Racing scores first Pro-Class GT win

  Victory at last! After enduring a frustrating season plagued by mechanical failures and unavoidable…

15 hours ago

Hakkinen warns McLaren on Verstappen move: ‘Why rock the boat?’

Mika Hakkinen has urged McLaren to resist the temptation of making a blockbuster move for…

16 hours ago

Veteran Aston Martin engineer Tim McCullough to exit team after 2026

Long-serving Aston Martin engineer Tim McCullough is reportedly set to leave the team at the…

17 hours ago