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[djos]

Actually it's arguable that BMW would have been the fastest of the non-diffuser cars and they have a short wheelbase.

So whilst there are benefits to each design to say that McLaren are fundamentally wrong in having a short wheelbase and will therefore be incapable of winning, as some other commenters alluded to, is a ridiculous leap.

Check this out:

Here is the theoretical fastest laps based on combined best sector times.


from the Racing Bulls forum.

[Shaddock]

RBR have a long wheel base and are the fastest non-diffuser cars so it is likely that there are 2 benefits to this:

1/ more floor surface area to feed the diffuser

2/ more stability

im no aero guy but this seems plausible to me.

Actually it's arguable that BMW would have been the fastest of the non-diffuser cars and they have a short wheelbase.

So whilst there are benefits to each design to say that McLaren are fundamentally wrong in having a short wheelbase and will therefore be incapable of winning, as some other commenters alluded to, is a ridiculous leap.

I'll add that the BMW's looked after their super softs quite well, with a short wheel base and KERs. Mechanically, it's not just wheelbase that makes a car fast or slow, but also the weight distribution and the suspension geometry. The shorter wheelbase cars ‘excluding 2x diffuser aero’ should suit the tighter tracks, and the longer wheelbase cars should be better in the medium and fast bends.

[kilcoo316]

1/ more floor surface area to feed the diffuser

More surface area to take advantage of the diffuser.

[djos]

1/ more floor surface area to feed the diffuser

More surface area to take advantage of the diffuser.

*defers to expert*

Yep, that's was what i was trying to say.

[myurr]

Fastest lap times don't count for squat though, it's fastest over the course of the GP that counts. In Australia the BMW was faster than the Red Bull over the course of the GP, hence Kubica being able to overtake Vettel.

Look at Kimi last year, loads of fastest laps but not much to show for it. Hamilton seems to favor setting up for a reasonable fuel load, hence solid pace over a stint but not setting amazing fastest laps.

[djos]

Fastest lap times don't count for squat though, it's fastest over the course of the GP that counts. In Australia the BMW was faster than the Red Bull over the course of the GP, hence Kubica being able to overtake Vettel.

Look at Kimi last year, loads of fastest laps but not much to show for it. Hamilton seems to favor setting up for a reasonable fuel load, hence solid pace over a stint but not setting amazing fastest laps.

Try watching the GP and paying attention! Vettel was on worn out Super Soft Tyres, Kubica was on Medium compound tyres that where working nicely, that is why he caught Vettel!

[nudger]

actually, from what i have heard (we will see soon enough if it has any mnerit),
mclaren wish to shorten the wheelbase. The purpose is to address the front/rear weight balance. it dosnt really matter what other cars are doing... the mclaren has too much weight on the rear. new front suspension providing a shorter wheel base will help... so they say.

[Shaddock]

actually, from what i have heard (we will see soon enough if it has any mnerit),
mclaren wish to shorten the wheelbase. The purpose is to address the front/rear weight balance. it dosnt really matter what other cars are doing... the mclaren has too much weight on the rear. new front suspension providing a shorter wheel base will help... so they say.

If they do that by bringing the front wheels backwards towards the sidepods then they will loose rear end down force, as this will lower the quality of airflow to the rear, which is there problems area. I don't think the McLarens were any better or worse than any other car (Except Ferrari) when it came to tyre degradation.

[siskue2005]

Fastest lap times don't count for squat though, it's fastest over the course of the GP that counts. In Australia the BMW was faster than the Red Bull over the course of the GP, hence Kubica being able to overtake Vettel.

Look at Kimi last year, loads of fastest laps but not much to show for it. Hamilton seems to favor setting up for a reasonable fuel load, hence solid pace over a stint but not setting amazing fastest laps.

Try watching the GP and paying attention! Vettel was on worn out Super Soft Tyres, Kubica was on Medium compound tyres that where working nicely, that is why he caught Vettel!

Try watching the GP and paying attention! Kubica was also on worn out Super Soft Tyres, Vettel was on Medium compound tyres which worked nicely and that is why Vettel was Ahead of Kubica in the first stint!
when the reverse happened Vettel could not hold on to it!
Suggesting BMW had better pace overall!

[Metar]

Try watching the GP and paying attention! Kubica was also on worn out Super Soft Tyres, Vettel was on Medium compound tyres which worked nicely and that is why Vettel was Ahead of Kubica in the first stint!
when the reverse happened Vettel could not hold on to it!
Suggesting BMW had better pace overall!

Vettel was ahead on the first stint, and then came a safety-car to delete his advantage. So, over-all pace isn't comparable.

[kilcoo316]

Try watching the GP and paying attention! Kubica was also on worn out Super Soft Tyres, Vettel was on Medium compound tyres which worked nicely and that is why Vettel was Ahead of Kubica in the first stint!
when the reverse happened Vettel could not hold on to it!
Suggesting BMW had better pace overall!

As Metar says... you neglect the safety car.

[myurr]

So in summary it's too early to tell precisely how each car stacks up. Lets just wait and see what happens before we completely write McLaren off - it would be foolish to do otherwise, just as it's foolish to state that they've utterly messed up the wheelbase of the car which is where this conversation started.

[steelboy]

regards next race in malayasia,if macca have a new rear end like brawn,toyota or williams they should run it.if the diffusers are classed as illegal,hamilton will get ten points for aussie race.at the moment the team to be saying no points in the next race due to track not suiting present car.seems a no brainer to stick a new diffuser set up on the car to me.

[siskue2005]

if the diffusers are classed as illegal,hamilton will get ten points for aussie race.

FIA wont remove the Brawn GP victory! keep dreaming
if the diffusor is illegal, it will be from the Shangai race. and no one is going to change the results from first 2 race!
its the same as MDamper!

[Shaddock]

if the diffusers are classed as illegal,hamilton will get ten points for aussie race.

FIA wont remove the Brawn GP victory! keep dreaming
if the diffusor is illegal, it will be from the Shangai race. and no one is going to change the results from first 2 race!
its the same as MDamper!

Renault removed their mass damper BEFORE it was banned to avoid losing any points retrospectively.