2024 Mclaren Formula 1 Team

[mwillems]

RPM’s are not a measure of Engine Modes… Yes, McLaren may using a higher RPM range, but the engine could be detuned

This exact phenomenon of being fast on the straights is exactly the same as FP2 at Jeddah when you compare the long runs and we know how the pace turned out on the straights, with no DRS we had little or no advantage.

https://i.ibb.co/nzDj1cg/Speeds-Jeddah.png

Granted, there is always the unknown of fuel and we don't know how this will turn out, but I doubt Dr Obbs is simply looking at RPMs, you can see on his graphic that we used 8th whereas Ferrari didn't. Another clue. Previous history of this FP2 Race pace speed is another clue. Overall speed of the Mclaren in the races vs Ferrari is another clue. We may well be a bit faster here, but this much faster on the straights than Ferrari is too much to believe right now. I hope I'm wrong though.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out during the race… And I wouldn’t bet on McLaren been that much faster on the straights to be fair… Obbs is making the assumption based on RPM’s (we discussed it in PM)… The only way to really tell would be looking at GPS data to really know the impact… The high RPM range may very well be due to gearing.

I would be really surprised if McLaren had the engines turned up during practice in Australia, not only would it be a very different approach to the weekend (which they could be trying), but also Australia is one of those circuits where you build speed through the days, the danger of having an “Albon” situation is high.

It's not just about engines, it's about fuel of course but also electrical deployment can be used to mask speed. And then of course teams still run to Deltas to get a grip on the tyre wear.

I'm surprised he was just looking at RPM though. None the less, with everything mentioned here (including previous form) as well as the difference when the cars are compared on their fast laps makes me think that Ferrari have more in hand than us and I think we are using a little more of our potential. Ultimately it doesn't matter which of the factors it is, it's just that everyone gets fixated on "engine mode".

[mwillems]

Aaaanyway... I started the evening saying that FP2 isn't representative and we should wait, and yet I still got drawn in, though the only point I make is that there is much more evidence than a little bit of data in FP2. We may well be faster on the high speeds tomorrow and on Sunday and I won't argue that it can't or won't happen, but there is way more to consider than some Silo'd data from FP2. I do like a bit of devil's advocate.

I do think we will be closer to Ferrari than before and might be able to battle them. Lionsheart has promised to buy me a Mclaren 675 if I'm right, and I will give him 675 rubles if I am wrong, which seems very fair to me.

[mwillems]

Something that I am concerned about is that a large portion of the straights are DRS zones, which is to say that on three of the straights the DRS zones encompass almost all of the straight that they sit within, so that in Qualy there is as a % more of the lap spent within a configuration our car doesn't enjoy, as well as a potentially bigger top speed gap on the straights, and I'm worried about how this will play out in Qualy.

[mwillems]

For those interested in gearing, I took all of the data from Jeddah Race and calculated the average of the speed at which drivers changed up or changed down in a particular gear. Naturally engine power, tyre strategy etc will affect the results but I have no patience to go to that level of detail right now.

[LionsHeart]

So, the team decided to install a Bahrain spec rear wing on Lando’s car during practice 3. Let's see what ultimately decides to qualify.



Oscar’s rear wing

[Macklaren]

That was a very confusing FP3. going to be a spicy quali

[Dafnalina]

So, the team decided to install a Bahrain spec rear wing on Lando’s car during practice 3. Let's see what ultimately decides to qualify.
https://i.ibb.co/ZghDP9g/2-C8-D5970-F7- ... EED3-E.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/khZF3HS/EFAFCE22-5297- ... 705-D0.jpg

Oscar’s rear wing
https://i.ibb.co/kxgBqNc/4-B4-D4020-3-B ... 1-DEB1.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/6JRfrhC/22779750-E138- ... -C6350.jpg

Did they have different wings the entire session?

[LionsHeart]

So, the team decided to install a Bahrain spec rear wing on Lando’s car during practice 3. Let's see what ultimately decides to qualify.
https://i.ibb.co/ZghDP9g/2-C8-D5970-F7- ... EED3-E.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/khZF3HS/EFAFCE22-5297- ... 705-D0.jpg

Oscar’s rear wing
https://i.ibb.co/kxgBqNc/4-B4-D4020-3-B ... 1-DEB1.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/6JRfrhC/22779750-E138- ... -C6350.jpg

Did they have different wings the entire session?

Yes, I confirm.

[BMMR61]

Hope they've got some big sandbags to drop, pace looks ordinary on a circuit that should suit. Lando awful pace, maybe they're just trying. The softs seem to be able to live with the McLaren, not so the Ferrari and RedBull. Hints at strong race pace but grid position may be a frustrating factor.

[FittingMechanics]

Both cars second run in Q1 is on a used set - team seems confident they will be through.

[willmesquita]

Q3 or Q1?

[FittingMechanics]

Q3 or Q1?

Sorry, obviously Q1.

Strange times - Ferrari did their times on used softs. Red Bull on new. Likely both are clear ahead of us.

[SmallSoldier]

Both cars in Q3… Not a bad qualifying… It anything I’m learning so far this season is that making a fast car in this era isn’t as easy as some make it out to be… Mercedes is a behemoth with great facilities, infrastructure and clearly the brain power that allowed them to be the most dominant team of the hybrid era, and with 2 drivers that are definitely great and are still struggling.

Time for Q3… 3rd row wouldn’t be a horrible outcome for the team and where one would expect them to be

[geogate]

both cars have two new sets for Q3 - very well managed qualifying so far

[FittingMechanics]

Teamstream: "The first objective today was obviously to get through to Q3. The second was to do so with two new sets of Soft tyres remaining. Both drivers have done that, along with VER, PER, LEC and SAI. The other cars only have one new set available."