Tyrrell 023
| Industry | Motorsport / Formula One |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Tyrrell 022 |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Products | Formula One racing car |
The Tyrrell 023 was a Formula One vehicle crafted by designers Harvey Postlethwaite and Mike Gascoyne for the Tyrrell squad competing in the 1995 Formula One World Championship. The car was piloted by seasoned Japanese driver Ukyo Katayama, marking his third year with the team, alongside Finnish newcomer Mika Salo, who embarked on his first complete F1 campaign after transferring from Lotus. Italian test driver Gabriele Tarquini stepped in for Katayama, who was sidelined due to injury, at the European Grand Prix. The highest achievements were two fifth-place finishes secured by Salo at both the Italian and Australian Grands Prix.
Design and development
The 023 introduced an innovative hydraulic front suspension system known as "Hydrolink," which had been undergoing trials since February 1995. It retained the 3-litre Yamaha V10 engine from the previous season.
Tyrrell maintained its principal sponsors such as Mild Seven, BP, among others, while Mika Salo contributed $3 million in sponsorship from Nokia, enhancing the team's financial resources. Ukyo Katayama continued as one of the drivers.
Following a competitive showing with the straightforward yet efficient Tyrrell 022 in 1994, the 023 failed to meet expectations. The chassis lacked competitiveness, and the novel Hydrolink suspension exhibited major shortcomings, prompting its removal midway through the season.
Racing history
In his debut full season, Mika Salo delivered all five points earned by Tyrrell. He momentarily held third place at the 1995 Brazilian GP before a cramp-induced spin ended his run; subsequently, he was involved in a collision with backmarker Aguri Suzuki at the following race, delaying his points accumulation until later events.
Ukyo Katayama's performance declined compared to his promising 1994 campaign, hampered by raised cockpit sides and outpaced by the less experienced Salo. After sustaining an injury at Estoril, test driver Gabriele Tarquini substituted for Katayama during the 1995 European GP. Post-retirement, Katayama disclosed that a benign tumor in his back had compromised his performance levels.
Tyrrell finished ninth in the Constructors' Championship with five points—all credited to Salo—trailing behind Footwork, which benefited from Gianni Morbidelli’s podium finish at Adelaide.
Sponsorship and livery
Initially, the 023 sported a dark blue paint scheme during its first two Grands Prix before transitioning to a light blue and white color combination starting from the 1995 San Marino GP. Korean Air joined as a sponsor for the remainder of the season. In races where tobacco advertising was prohibited, Mild Seven branding was replaced with "Tyrrell".
Complete Formula One results
(key)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha | Yamaha OX10C V10 |
Template:Goodyear | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC | JPN | AUS | 5 | 9th | ||
| Ukyo Katayama | 3 | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | NC | Ret | 14 | Ret | Ret | |||||||
| Gabriele Tarquini |
style="background:#CFCFFF;" |14 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mika Salo | 4 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 10 | Ret | 7 | 15 | 8 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 5 |