McLaren MCL38

[Steven]

This is the official McLaren MCL38 car thread. The thread has been created to facilitate discussion specifically about the MCL38 car.

Please, ONLY discuss technical items of this car. Refrain from speculation.

General discussion about the team, its drivers and performance can be posted in the team thread.

Livery discussion also belongs in the 2024 McLaren F1 Team thread.

[Xyz22]

[Marble]

Like Ferrari, new medium downforce rear-wing, probably to improve efficiency :

[organic]

Skeptical that these images are totally representative given they've shown two different floors from different angles. Let's see when it's on track

[M840TR]

Looks like they just bolted the new fw and rw on the Mcl60

[MrGapes]

looks like they have taken extra precautions with the reflection

[FittingMechanics]

Skeptical that these images are totally representative given they've shown two different floors from different angles. Let's see when it's on track

To me the images look like they are renders, although very good ones. Two different floors also point toward some hiding being done.

It's possible they pulled the car in, maybe even MCL60 in a new livery, shot some wide angles and that quick panning shot and then replaced it with the render car.

[CjC]

That side pod intake… looks a step backwards from what they had last year?

[Vanja #66]

Front wing is carry-over part on those photos. Front suspension is new (rear top arms more inclined downwards), so the chassis is new as well. Sidepod inlets giving big Haas VF-22 mockup render vibe. Rest of the sides is further improvement over final 23 spec, airbox is slightly smaller. Engine cover seems further refined a bit, same as DRS pylon and fairing

With these unexpected side inlets, I'd say McLaren is opening up a different development path in this area, just like RB is doing with overbite RB20.

[bauc]

This is either a weird looking car (seems like development went backwards) or it is the weird angles the shots were taken from, or 3rd option a Frankenstein mix of a car just for show.

[FittingMechanics]

Reflection definitely looks like it is not the same car. Look at the VELO and OKX font in the reflection compared to the show car.

In the reflection the OKX tightens toward the Velo while the released photo shows the same size font throughout. The same applies to Velo - looks tighter in the reflection. Even the VELO font is not the same, in the reflection it looks like it is italic.

[FittingMechanics]

Added both the reflection and released photo in a single image. Maybe it's just angles distorting things but I doubt the font would be changed in such a logical manner (to follow the curve of the side pod, etc).

[ollandos]

https://prnt.sc/qZDj5y6StYXH

[Tomsky]

I don't like it very much, it's very conservative, air intakes are generally a step back.

[ollandos]

mclaren look like focus on their car....

little bigger wheelbase ..new rear suspension ...and rear wing-drs effect ....