Mc Laren MP4/24 aero-mech development in 2009

[shotzski]

Hey Bar, very nice finds as usual =D> By the way, what are the vertical fins attached to the front brake ducts for? For channeling airflow?

[PNSD]

The ride height sensor was there last also.

Also, seems they have almost took the opposite aproach to Redbull with their chassis shape.

RedBull has gone for a more V shape where the lower wishbones almost mount to a point, whilst Mclaren have take almost this kind of shape /\ .

[bar555]

Hey Bar, very nice finds as usual =D> By the way, what are the vertical fins attached to the front brake ducts for? For channeling airflow?

FRONT BRAKES FOR AUSTRALIA



1. Carbon ring
2. Brake duct
3. Wing-like element with a horizontal hole to allow air circulation for the brake callipers .
4. Carbon element which acts like an aero shielding element to prevent air entering inside the wheel rim

[bar555]

AIRBOX ZONE CAMERA-WINGLETS


Apart from the T shaped camera there was a winglet attached on the left side of the airbox . No camera was fitted inside it .


REAR FLOOR CUT OUT


McLaren have introduced something completely new for 2009 - a floor with a cut-out section in front of the rear tyres. Its aim appears to be to increase the effectiveness of the rear diffuser by effectively turning the whole rear bodywork area into one large diffuser, with the 'throat' of the venturi starting just ahead of the back wheels. The delta-shaped leading edge of the cut-out creates low pressure, encouraging the diffuser to pull in more air at a faster rate. This solution is possible because with no more flick-ups (banned for 2009) on the upper bodywork, it's no longer essential to retain the uniformity of the lower floor area. It remains to be seen whether this is a pro-active measure from McLaren, or a reaction to a general lack of downforce.( From www.f1.com )





REAR LIGHT





DIFFUSER

Semi-circular central channel





Jerez - February Testing
Boxy shaped central channel

[jason.parker.86]

So Macca running a new diffuser and are P1&4th. Im so shocked at how one single component is giving a team such an advantage. 10-12 places?

Rock on China!

[blobslosak]

It's not. Kovy was running old aero and Lewis new aero, and Lewis was only 3 tenths faster. Not a big gain in my book. They were then in the bottom 10 in FP2. It hasn't improved them that much. TBH, need to wait till quali and the race to make any proper judgements.

[myurr]

It's only an interim solution as well. Whilst they have a new front wing (not seen any pictures yet, but then again I haven't looked properly) they'll need to make further aero changes towards the front of the car in order to fully open up the diffuser. They'll probably also need to make other changes around the rear of the car, such as altering the rear crash structure.

I think they're further along that path than the other non-DDD cars, but they've still a way to go.

Also 3 tenths in this close field is actually pretty significant for them. Could even be enough to edge into Q1!

[blobslosak]

True, I suppose 3 tenths is a significant leap, there's no doubt they've improved. Although I would say Lewis is potentially 3 tenths a lap faster than Kovy on skill alone. It will be interesting to see what happens though. Considering how fast the RB5 is without the DDD, I think they could be the biggest challenge to Brawn GP, although we'll have to wait longer to see what they come up with. Looks like the top 10 could be the diffuser three + Red Bull + Macca. Interesting times ahead.

[bar555]

FRONT WHEEL RIM SHIELD - AUSTRALIA


The MP4-24's lower and wider 2009 front wing has modified the airflow around the car. During testing in Portugal the McLaren featured an evolution of the rim fairings tested by the team last year, designed to take best advantage of the change. Whereas before the front wing endplate channelled airflow around both sides of the front tyre, it now directs most of the air towards the outside of the tyre. The revised fairing exploits this increased outer flow. The leading edge (left arrow) sends some of it into small ducts (right arrow) to help cool the brakes, while the rest is channelled away from the tyre and towards the rear of the car. (From www.f1.com)





REAR WHEEL RIM SHEILD - AUSTRALIA


Did not have rear wheel rim sheilds


REAR BRAKE DUCT - AUSTRALIA

[jason.parker.86]

The intrim diffuser is probally just a bodge job, I assumed they would have just removed the cap from that other diffuser they had, because it looked very simular to the Brawn one, it was just "plugged"...

However- im pritty sure that if Macca had fitted that diffuser in Australia it would have been deemed illigal and would have probally been banned from the championship!

[PlatinumZealot]

I think the wheel fairings are not to put air into the wheels, but to make it easier for air from the brakes easier to exit the wheels.

Look on it this way... the brake air ducts are on the inside of the wheel. So you can see it is desired for the air to flow out on the other side.. But with the wider front wings now, the extra air being pushed to the outside of the front wheels can interrupt the hot brake air trying to escape the wheels. So I think the fairings are actually like a shield that divert the air from the wing around the rim such a manner that it aids in the expulsion of the hot air from the brakes.

Well this my deduction.. i don't know how correct it is..

[bar555]

GP MALAYSIA


1.Asymmetric sidepods
2.Airbox winglet camera
3.Different diffuser only for free practice



FRONT WING






REAR WING

Similar to Australia


Malaysia

Mc Laren has also joined their wing to the rear diffuser . Like Brawn , Mc Laren’s joint version is not very large . It helps to reduce vortexes


Australia

[bar555]

NOSE CONE CAMERA WINGLETS - MALAYSIA

No change


BARGEBOARDS - MALAYSIA

No change


UNDER NOSE FLOOR - MALAYSIA

No change


ASYMMETRIC SIDEPODS - MALAYSIA


For Sepang, McLaren have introduced asymmetric sidepods, the left one now housing the electronics box for the car's KERS system. This means that compared to the Melbourne design, the bodywork is more bulbous and wider in section at the rear. Note also the wider exhaust opening to evacuate more hot air in the higher temperatures of Malaysia. ( from http://www.f1.com )


AIRBOX CAMERA WINGLETS- MALAYSIA


Α camera was fitted inside both Hamilton’s and Kovalainen’s airbox winglet .

[bar555]

EXHAUSTS - MALAYSIA






DIFFUSER - MALAYSIA



Similar to Australia


Only for free practice session a different diffuser with higher vertical fences was used




REAR LIGHT - MALAYSIA

No change



FRONT SUSPENSION DETAILS

[bar555]

GP CHINA


1.New front wing for Hamilton only
2.New diffuser
3.Repositioned nose winglets for Hamilton only
4.Asymmetric exhausts



FRONT WING - CHINA






Revised end plate to better direct airflow around the front tyres




REAR WING - CHINA