McLaren MCL60

[SmallSoldier]

It's without a doubt the closest to the RB18 on the 2023 grid, and that's with 7 cars following the same basic concept as the RB18. So I wouldn't call it ridiculous.

It is a gross over simplification though… The team was already going for a an undercut last season (which by the way wasn’t a Red Bull concept, several cars like Alpine, AR, AT had a version of the undercut from the beginning of the season), the ramps (water slides) on the sidepods (which are not a copy of the RB18) were there last season also… The cannon exit was there from launch… What is a copy exactly? The ridge on the sidepods to divert airflow from the top of the sidepod towards the side/undercut?

I mean, everyone is going to take a few cues from the other cars… But to call it a copy is a bit too much.

We still have to see more details from the car, like it’s front wing, more details on the floor (which is most probably still a V1 version of what we will ultimately see).

The sidepod is a close homage to the RB18. The general shape is very similar, the protruding lower intake, the sidepod cut, the back end packaging with the canon exit has become much more pronounced and RB-esque compared to early 2022. So it's not just that they have an undercut sidepod, the details of the undercut and the sidepod clearly draw a lot on RB. One detail they've adapted from Alpine is the waterslide, but the overall impression seeing the car from the side is definitely RB.

And this journey started in 2022. They had 4 different sidepods last season and each one looked more and more like the RB. The 2023 car is just the latest iteration.

To be clear, my first comment wasn't meant to be taken too seriously. I do think it's very similar to the RB, though not in the same class as the RP-20.

Fair enough… But beyond the sidepod ridge and potentially the undercut (although, I wouldn’t call an undercut a copy of RB since as stated, several teams were running one)… The car’s are different enough to not be considered a copy, from the front wing, different intake entry, t-tray, floor edge, cannon exit, etc.

You are free to consider them as such though, here is a comparison via: @SalaStampa

[SmallSoldier]

I don't even think the intended spec floor or fw are even at the circuit yet, or if they are it's only just and they're probably still being unpacked.

Have to say the sidepod packaging on the Mcl looks way more impressive in the sunlight though.

I agree, both parts seem to be either place holders or simply 2022 parts… Just a couple more days!

And yes, I was surprised at how tight the packaging is in order to create that undercut and a ridge on top

[JordanMugen]

covered again
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpglXf4WABE ... ame=medium

This is a photograph.

However these are renders, not on-track photographs unless I am missing something?! It looks like Gran Turismo.

There's no drama with McLaren mixing in renders of a virtual car at Bahrain together with their press photos of lapping Bahrain, but they are not real photos of the actual car, no?

Of course it might just be the smoothing function or low resolution of the photographs that makes it look strange.

[pronopheus]

Is nobody noticing the new nose?

[sbrillo]

covered again
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpglXf4WABE ... ame=medium

This is a photograph.

However these are renders, not on-track photographs unless I am missing something?! It looks like Gran Turismo.

There's no drama with McLaren mixing in renders of a virtual car at Bahrain together with their press photos of lapping Bahrain, but they are not real photos of the actual car, no?

Of course it might just be the smoothing function or low resolution of the photographs that makes it look strange.

these are clearly photographs

[Mchamilton]

here you go

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_1f0XEBM ... name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_ecyXgAI ... ame=medium

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_eceXEA0 ... name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_ecoXEAg ... name=large

source here

and

Nobody else seeing like the double 'undercut' kinda thing goin on on the lightened image?

[organic]

here you go

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_1f0XEBM ... name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_ecyXgAI ... ame=medium

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_eceXEA0 ... name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpg_ecoXEAg ... name=large

source here

and

Nobody else seeing like the double 'undercut' kinda thing goin on on the lightened image?

Highlight what you mean?

[Mchamilton]

source here

and

Nobody else seeing like the double 'undercut' kinda thing goin on on the lightened image?

Highlight what you mean?

The light is doing a pretty good job of highlighting it, I haven't a clue how to post images on this site

[Mchamilton]

source here

and

Nobody else seeing like the double 'undercut' kinda thing goin on on the lightened image?

Highlight what you mean?

This kinda thing goin on, look at the shelves/ridges where my lines are lol

[organic]

Looks like a normal (albeit large) undercut to me

[SmallSoldier]

Nobody else seeing like the double 'undercut' kinda thing goin on on the lightened image?

Highlight what you mean?

This kinda thing goin on, look at the shelves/ridges where my lines are lol

There is no double undercut… There is one

The undercut is simply the area below the sidepods.

[Mchamilton]

Highlight what you mean?

This kinda thing goin on, look at the shelves/ridges where my lines are lol

There is no double undercut… There is one

The undercut is simply the area below the sidepods.

Sorry captain literal, it's obviously not a double undercut is it. but it's also not the usual undercut that we see. There's is clearly a second ridge between the underside of the sidepods, and the SIS bulge.

[SmallSoldier]

If you mean this… More than a different undercut, it is just taking advantage of the blister they have to use to cover the lower sips to manage airflow over the floor… Deviating part of it towards the edge of the floor, the Mercedes seem to do something similar, it would be more a matter of floor treatment than related to the undercut itself:

[PhillipM]

I'm not 100% if that's a second ridge or just the sunlight reflecting off the lower sidepod radius there. Could be, given how deep the undercut is.

[SmallSoldier]

I'm not 100% if that's a second ridge or just the sunlight reflecting off the lower sidepod radius there. Could be, given how deep the undercut is.

The renders seem to show a very defined ridge:



And from this other angle, it definitely seems to be there:



Smart use of what could have simply been an intrusion on the floor flow if intended