McLaren MP4-23

Following the 2007 Formula One espionage controversy the MP4-23 was subject to FIA inspection before the start of the 2008 season, to determine if any Ferrari intellectual property was on the car.[3][4] After an admission that the Ferrari information was disseminated more widely throughout the team than was originally thought an apology by McLaren on 13 December 2007, and a pledge that measures would be taken to rectify the situation, caused the FIA to decide that there was no need for a formal hearing and the matter was considered closed.[5][6]

As part of updated FIA regulations for the 2008 season, the MP4-23 as well as the other cars of 2008, used raised headrests in an effort to improve driver safety. The FIA had also banned traction control via the introduction of a standard ECU for 2008, making the MP4-23 the first McLaren to not use traction control since the 2001 MP4-16.

Revisions from the MP4-22 included a longer wheelbase, the removal of the "bullhorn" winglets from the airbox and a new rear wing which differed both in main profile and its endplates.[7][8] In the pre-German Grand Prix testing, the car was run with a "shark fin" engine cover, as sported by cars such as the Renault R28 and the Red Bull RB4, but the team did not permanently run it.[9]

At the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, some new aerodynamic parts were added, including "dumbo wings" on the nose, similar to those used by Honda on the RA108, which were temporarily removed at the Italian Grand Prix but reinstated for the rest of the season.

The MP4-23 was succeeded by the MP4-24.

The livery did not differ much from that of the MP4-22: grey remained the primary colour, while red, together with the main sponsor Vodafone, appeared on both wings, on the sidepods, above the body and on the side vents. The team logo was also placed on top of the sidepods, on both sides. The other sponsors were: Johnnie Walker, SAP, Aigo, Santander, Bridgestone and Mercedes-Benz.

During the 2008-2009 off-season tests, McLaren tested a K version of its MP4-23, including a KERS and an enlarged front wing, modifications which would be used on the 2009 MP4-24.

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  Lewis Hamilton driving the MP4-23 at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.
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  Heikki Kovalainen driving the MP4-23 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.
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  Hamilton drives to victory in the 2008 British Grand Prix.
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  Gary Paffett testing a modified MP4-23K at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in preparation for the revised aerodynamic rules of 2009.

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	Mercedes FO 108V 2.4 V8	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	ESP	TUR	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	EUR	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	CHN	BRA	151	2nd
				Lewis Hamilton	1	5	13	3	2	1	Ret	10	1	1	5	2	3	7	3	12	1	5
				Heikki Kovalainen	5	3	5	Ret	12	8	9	4	5	5	1	4	10†	2	10	Ret	Ret	7