https://www.racefans.net/2023/02/25/the ... t-of-2023/
Interesting numbers from testing...
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If my reasoning stands up it is a very smart move. It is quite possible they were going to meet the Dev targets if they continued with the previous design, but when they realised the design of this and other parts could be superseded and would exceed the performance of the older parts then they dropped the older designs.SmallSoldier wrote: ↑26 Feb 2023, 07:51I don’t think there is a B Version of the MCL60, found the quote from Stella:swifteddie1 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2023, 05:45As always thanks for your insight. Any idea where the team thinks they are in the pecking order? From your comment above i'm inferring that they believe they are in the upper half of the midfield and if they had gotten these things that will come in Baku then they will be clear of the midfield?PhillipM wrote: ↑26 Feb 2023, 02:05No it's more just things they've seen already on cars they were hoping were behind them that are basically easy bits of laptime without much downside, that's why they're kicking themselves a bit. It's not magic massive differences, it'll maybe just put them clear to the front of the midfield where they wanted to be again.
Is there any truth to what has been reported that they stopped development on the MCL60 a couple of months ago and that the Baku update is essentially a change in aerodynamic philosophy and a B version of the MCL60?
McLaren has not adjusted its goals despite the unsuccessful start: "We want to finish fourth. It's a long season." The first major package is targeted for Baku. It doesn't necessarily have to be a B version. "A few smaller areas have a pretty big impact on lap times. If we change those, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll have a fundamentally different car."
What has happened is that for example, they were working on a front wing for the current package and they discovered late the loophole that allows you to have small flaps to connect the elements of the front wing to the end plates and the potential to add a few winglets in that location (what we are seeing from Mercedes for example), therefore they stop the work on the wing they were working on to start design, CFD, wind tunnel and ultimately manufacturing of the new wing (those flaps + winglet greatly helps create vortexes that help manage front tire wake).
Since the front wing dictates a lot of your downstream aero, the new wing will have an effect on what you need to do in the floor, which also implies changes to the floor edge for example… Since they found this late and there are several parts that probably need to be introduced simultaneously for them to work as intended, they won’t have all of them ready until Baku… In addition, since there is a month gap between Race 3 and Race 4 it makes sense to push development / analysis of the new path as much as possible (also considering the cost cap), they could have had an interim wing / floor to use, but it doesn’t make sense to manufacture them and introduce them for only 3 races if you know you can have better parts early into the season.
It doesn’t sound like it:
“I think the issues we’ve got [are] probably pretty similar to last year, I think I’m also still getting up to speed with how I need to drive to extract the most out of the car.
https://apple.news/Ay_-mbqAoT-awm6R-JTxhRA“I think in terms of feeling of performance it’s I would say a small step from last year.
Aston had an excellent simulation of the race. They will be very fast.
We only have their word on the fact that they should have seen it earlier. Perhaps they should, perhaps they shouldn't, but I suppose you can always see things in hindsight and think how obvious it was and kick yourself.
If we are carrying the same kind of car as last year but a little faster, then this track could make us look worse than we are on average over the season, possibly.
Didn't Siedl leave because he got a promotion, more money and a chance to return to his home country with his family?PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑26 Feb 2023, 14:19It didn't feel good, and he seemed almost mad being so negative in during his introduction, but I perfectly understand why Andrea Stella has played down expectations. They really had a crap development... Looks like team troubles.
And at the same time it make me wonder why Seidl left? Notice Stella seemd to be thrust into the principal role at short notice.
It was said on the coverage that it was the initial plan to leave McLaren much later - for 2026 (?) - but Audi wanted him nowPlatinumZealot wrote: ↑26 Feb 2023, 14:51He could have waited IMO.. He should have more than enough time to work with Audi. That deal was basically done. The factory is aleady there. The only thing is the engine. And Seidle doesn't really have much to do there.
Nah, having a man at the helm who’s future lies with another team is fruitless, even the most professional person wouldn’t be committed to the Mclaren cause.PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑26 Feb 2023, 14:51He could have waited IMO.. He should have more than enough time to work with Audi. That deal was basically done. The factory is aleady there. The only thing is the engine. And Seidle doesn't really have much to do there.