2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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mwillems
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Joined: 04 Sep 2016, 22:11

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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LionsHeart wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 15:00
Interesting thoughts people. I just realized for myself that I definitely won’t be able to draw any adequate conclusions until I see the rear wing and how the first two practices go. :D

Yes, in 2020 and 2021 we had a super-efficient straight-line chassis, but then we lost a lot in corners. In the last year and a half, we mostly lose in long slow corners, as before, but now we also limp on straight lines. Why am I so unsure, because I have no idea what the team will bring. And to what extent it can be put to good use. If it wasn't for a rainy weekend at Spa where the team bet on more down pressure, I would have had a better idea of ​​how well the team was able to implement a rear wing with a clipped top flap, plus there was also the option of using a less loaded beam wing.

I think there is not one here who believes that the team sometimes acts very conservatively. At the same time, I also understand that they know better, because they test a variety of options on the simulator and experiment. Out of 6-7 options, two will be chosen as the most effective and brought to the track to make the final choice.

I would also like to revisit the practice in Hungary, where the team found some specific settings, plus experimental details, to get more peak downforce. They really found it and quickly discovered that the car was starting to hit the bottom.

It turns out that the team needs to add more downforce from the bottom so that they can use wings with less loading without penalty. But my guess is that they still need to rework the chassis balance and handling in slow corners, and that's just through the suspension and steering.

Reading and delving into the words of Andrea Stella, I understand that they themselves would like to use wings with less loading without penalty for themselves, but then they lose a lot not only at the exit of corners, but also in the stability of the chassis during braking. Lando lost a lot in relation to Yuki precisely in long slow turns, but before that he was extremely fast in the first sector and it was clear that Yuki could not keep up Lando's pace, but then two consecutive slow turns and Lando loses so much that he is already catching up only towards the end of the straight, and there the time is up, it's time to slow down and turn. And so circle after circle.

Perhaps this is the main reason why I do not want to review this race again. I am sure that in the future the team will be more flexible in their approach to strategy and more likely to experiment and take risks.

About Monza: I'm ready for a tough weekend. Then I won't have a reason to be upset. :) Do not judge strictly. This is just my opinion.
Even at 100mph these cars will generate 750kg of downforce. Don't underestimate the inherent issues of a stalling diffuser in slow corners and since we also struggle in dirty air, it is possible that one potential problem is the way we are handling the airflow at these speeds. Possibly particular in relation to the behaviour of the tyres as we know the team have issues with the deformation. This is something that couldn't be mapped in the old tunnel but can in the new.

It is why I am less concerned about turns 1 and 2, hitting the second apex around 50-60 mph this takes away aerodynamic load largely apart from turn 1 entry, but maybe totally wrong, but it is a very good place to see if what issues we have.

I don't get upset by just opinions, but that's the past :D
I'm not taking advice from a cartoon dog

-Bandit

Macklaren
Macklaren
12
Joined: 23 Feb 2014, 16:26

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
15
Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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mwillems wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 15:20
LionsHeart wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 15:00
Interesting thoughts people. I just realized for myself that I definitely won’t be able to draw any adequate conclusions until I see the rear wing and how the first two practices go. :D

Yes, in 2020 and 2021 we had a super-efficient straight-line chassis, but then we lost a lot in corners. In the last year and a half, we mostly lose in long slow corners, as before, but now we also limp on straight lines. Why am I so unsure, because I have no idea what the team will bring. And to what extent it can be put to good use. If it wasn't for a rainy weekend at Spa where the team bet on more down pressure, I would have had a better idea of ​​how well the team was able to implement a rear wing with a clipped top flap, plus there was also the option of using a less loaded beam wing.

I think there is not one here who believes that the team sometimes acts very conservatively. At the same time, I also understand that they know better, because they test a variety of options on the simulator and experiment. Out of 6-7 options, two will be chosen as the most effective and brought to the track to make the final choice.

I would also like to revisit the practice in Hungary, where the team found some specific settings, plus experimental details, to get more peak downforce. They really found it and quickly discovered that the car was starting to hit the bottom.

It turns out that the team needs to add more downforce from the bottom so that they can use wings with less loading without penalty. But my guess is that they still need to rework the chassis balance and handling in slow corners, and that's just through the suspension and steering.

Reading and delving into the words of Andrea Stella, I understand that they themselves would like to use wings with less loading without penalty for themselves, but then they lose a lot not only at the exit of corners, but also in the stability of the chassis during braking. Lando lost a lot in relation to Yuki precisely in long slow turns, but before that he was extremely fast in the first sector and it was clear that Yuki could not keep up Lando's pace, but then two consecutive slow turns and Lando loses so much that he is already catching up only towards the end of the straight, and there the time is up, it's time to slow down and turn. And so circle after circle.

Perhaps this is the main reason why I do not want to review this race again. I am sure that in the future the team will be more flexible in their approach to strategy and more likely to experiment and take risks.

About Monza: I'm ready for a tough weekend. Then I won't have a reason to be upset. :) Do not judge strictly. This is just my opinion.
Even at 100mph these cars will generate 750kg of downforce. Don't underestimate the inherent issues of a stalling diffuser in slow corners and since we also struggle in dirty air, it is possible that one potential problem is the way we are handling the airflow at these speeds. Possibly particular in relation to the behaviour of the tyres as we know the team have issues with the deformation. This is something that couldn't be mapped in the old tunnel but can in the new.

It is why I am less concerned about turns 1 and 2, hitting the second apex around 50-60 mph this takes away aerodynamic load largely apart from turn 1 entry, but maybe totally wrong, but it is a very good place to see if what issues we have.

I don't get upset by just opinions, but that's the past :D
Yes, there is such a moment. But I do not think that at speeds of 90-100 km / h the car creates a lot of downforce. There is still little of it, so I tend to think that the problem is not only aerodynamic, but also mechanical. Regarding the deformation of the tires: an interesting observation. But in slow corners, they are unlikely to deform as much as in fast corners, and there the McLaren is doing well. But I agree, tire deformation is important.

I wrote earlier that I hope to see a modification of the side pontoons in the area of ​​water slides. But my assumption is based on letting hot air in through the slots, and narrowing the channel of the water slides to speed up the air flow. This would increase the efficiency of the diffuser and the floor in particular. Rather, this is my interpretation of the 2012 McLaren version. :D

The good news is that the new wind tunnel is already up and running and testing the 2024 chassis. Hurrah, comrades!

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mwillems
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Joined: 04 Sep 2016, 22:11

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Macklaren wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:05
Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....
Did Lando want to stay out? I thought he was following the team strategists until he overruled them. He actually asked them "Are you f*cking stupid?"
I'm not taking advice from a cartoon dog

-Bandit

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Macklaren wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:05
Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....
In Sochi, it was Lando's personal choice. In Zandvoort, I don't know who made the decision to stay on the track, but here Lando probably didn't show any toughness himself and didn't tell the team that he was coming to the pit. So he relied more on the team and all the information they have. And the team, on the contrary, did not rush, did not take risks, chose a conservative option. And yes, I was very dissatisfied with the team then, that it was slow to make a decision. :(

The only important thing is that it is time for the team to learn to take risks. Don't be afraid of it. I read Stella's interview. He said that they would analyze all the information. I am sure they will draw the right conclusions, take into account the mistakes and move forward.

MCLvamos
MCLvamos
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Joined: 30 Jun 2023, 18:41

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Macklaren wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:05
Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....


This video sums it up well (might not show up but it's the 10 Minutes of Zandvoort video from F1). Both the drivers did absolutely nothing wrong, and gave good feedback on the conditions. Yet again, the McLaren strategy team bottled it with vague, indecisive communication and decisions, topped off with the bizarre call on lap 3 to Lando that makes you wonder what race they're even watching. In fact, It was Lando that semi-rescued his race by overruling the team and boxing.
Last edited by MCLvamos on 29 Aug 2023, 16:34, edited 1 time in total.

Tomsky
Tomsky
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Joined: 03 Jul 2023, 01:41

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Andrea Stella explained that for Monza there will not be a completely new wing, but a modification of already existing wings: “We will make changes to the existing wings. But to make this level of changes we would have had to modify the wings from a constructive point of view, capable of being modified, as they will have to be modified for Monza, Yes, it will be a combination of changes in addition to the wing that we adopted at Spa, predominantly”.
 https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-st ... /10513081/

Tomsky
Tomsky
29
Joined: 03 Jul 2023, 01:41

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Macklaren wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:05
Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....

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MrGapes
33
Joined: 10 Mar 2021, 09:24

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Macklaren wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:05
Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....
ahh

1. Lewis didn't pit either

2. The team has context, both Oscar and Lando don't, they could literally see Perez's mini sectors, he was literally 10s+ quicker. If you listen to half the drivers, none of them overruled a box on the 2nd pit...all of them were pitwall dictated..

3. "Lando is a phenomenal driver in the rain" = Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions??

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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MCLvamos wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:34
Macklaren wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:05
Before we fully turn our attention to Monza -- I think there is an issue that is going unnoticed. i was reviewing Zandvoort -- and should we conclude that Lando is not very good at assessing rain conditions? He is obviously phenomenal at driving in the rain...but after Russia 2021 and now here, he's chosen to stay out instead of coming in despite obviously terrible conditions. He has stayed out for many laps after conditions have clearly become untenable for slicks. Now the team has a lot more data than he does and still could not make the right decision but ultimately the final call comes down to the driver in the conditions. Maybe this will come with experience and why master like HAM and ALO are as good as they are...

I understand that hindsight is 20/20 but still....


This video sums it up well (might not show up but it's the 10 Minutes of Zandvoort video from F1). Both the drivers did absolutely nothing wrong, and gave good feedback on the conditions. Yet again, the McLaren strategy team bottled it with vague, indecisive communication and decisions, topped off with the bizarre call on lap 3 to Lando that makes you wonder what race they're even watching. In fact, It was Lando that semi-rescued his race by overruling the team and boxing.
Thank you!

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Tomsky wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:34
Andrea Stella explained that for Monza there will not be a completely new wing, but a modification of already existing wings: “We will make changes to the existing wings. But to make this level of changes we would have had to modify the wings from a constructive point of view, capable of being modified, as they will have to be modified for Monza, Yes, it will be a combination of changes in addition to the wing that we adopted at Spa, predominantly”.
 https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-st ... /10513081/
Everything is clear now. Deep top flap cut and low downforce wing beam. Now I'm definitely ready for a tough weekend. :D

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MrGapes
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Joined: 10 Mar 2021, 09:24

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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Didn't Lando lose a engine from his pool? Maybe they should take the penalty here..

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MrGapes
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Joined: 10 Mar 2021, 09:24

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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LionsHeart wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 17:04
Tomsky wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:34
Andrea Stella explained that for Monza there will not be a completely new wing, but a modification of already existing wings: “We will make changes to the existing wings. But to make this level of changes we would have had to modify the wings from a constructive point of view, capable of being modified, as they will have to be modified for Monza, Yes, it will be a combination of changes in addition to the wing that we adopted at Spa, predominantly”.
 https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-st ... /10513081/
Everything is clear now. Deep top flap cut and low downforce wing beam. Now I'm definitely ready for a tough weekend. :D
I always felt a Monza rear wing was a waste of time and money :lol: (I guess there is Vegas as well now) Anyways it's definitely a bit more concerning.. because that lower spooned plane is quite deep.

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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MrGapes wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 17:06
Didn't Lando lose a engine from his pool? Maybe they should take the penalty here..
Do you think Lando will be able to overtake here when everyone is riding in the drs engine? Given the lack of speed on the straights, Monza would be the best option not to come to the points if they decide to change the engine.

But they definitely have to do it somewhere. Lando lost one engine, which was very fresh.

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: 2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

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MrGapes wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 17:15
LionsHeart wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 17:04
Tomsky wrote:
29 Aug 2023, 16:34
Andrea Stella explained that for Monza there will not be a completely new wing, but a modification of already existing wings: “We will make changes to the existing wings. But to make this level of changes we would have had to modify the wings from a constructive point of view, capable of being modified, as they will have to be modified for Monza, Yes, it will be a combination of changes in addition to the wing that we adopted at Spa, predominantly”.
 https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-st ... /10513081/
Everything is clear now. Deep top flap cut and low downforce wing beam. Now I'm definitely ready for a tough weekend. :D
I always felt a Monza rear wing was a waste of time and money :lol: (I guess there is Vegas as well now) Anyways it's definitely a bit more concerning.. because that lower spooned plane is quite deep.
By the way, last night, when I was already going to bed, I had an idea: why not use the rear wing that they brought to Zandvoort, but remove the upper plane. Yes, there will be no DRS, but there will be less drag and have downforce in corners. :D