Mclaren Mercedes MP4-25

[Tbox]

I'm just glad to see that all the added bits are nicely prepped and polished. A welcome change from last year, when it seemed like they had a crew in the back of the garage frantically making any part they could think up out of whatever scrap they could find.

We'll have to wait and see what Lewis' feedback is like. If I remember correctly, it was certainly clear by this point last year that the McLaren looked a right dog.

The feedback I've seen this year seems quite positive although, obviously with the greater potential for fuel load differences the interpretation needs to be a little more guarded. From what I've seen so far, the ferrari and McLaren are on pretty even terms on the longer runs. BMW are universally agreed to be sponsor fishing.

[triart3d]

Do you want paint?




Font: thef1.com

[ben_watkins]

Is it me, or are those rear tyres in really poor shape on the inside shoulder?

[vall]

Do you want paint?




Font: thef1.com

If this is a standard procedure, as Maca now claim, then why the other teams don't use this obvious approach to see what is going on? Are they stupid or what? I only saw a photo of RF1 using a little bit of paint

[vall]

Is it me, or are those rear tyres in really poor shape on the inside shoulder?

I noticed that too

[Roger the knife]

I'm surprised they haven't developed a flow viz that isn't visible to all, something that requires ultra violet light

[myurr]

I wouldn't be worried by the paint just yet - it seems to have been incorporated into McLaren's standard test routine now and was something they were doing throughout last year even when the car was performing well.

We'll hear soon enough if they are genuinely struggling, but their pace on the long runs has look pretty good so far, so fingers crossed.

[fizzer]

Is it me, or are those rear tyres in really poor shape on the inside shoulder?

I noticed that too

Appears to mostly be pickup. OPR (other people's rubber) as racers call it.

[ringo]

I wouldn't be worried by the paint just yet - it seems to have been incorporated into McLaren's standard test routine now and was something they were doing throughout last year even when the car was performing well.

We'll hear soon enough if they are genuinely struggling, but their pace on the long runs has look pretty good so far, so fingers crossed.

I agree, this is now standard procedure to ensure they don't miss a beat.

I don't even care for the times, as long as they say they are following the program and a checking off on their things to do and goals to meet list, I am satisfied. =D>

[ringo]

kinda late but the car reminds me of this turbine powered bike



Can't wait for Lewis' comments. Hope his feed back is positive.

[Pup]

Can't wait for Lewis' comments. Hope his feed back is positive.

It is...

“It was a night and day different feeling compared to the first lap on the first test day in 2009. I got out smiling. All the problems I had generally with the last car I don’t have with this one."

[Poleman]

Lewis Hamilton was the first driver out on the track in the morning. He took over the McLaren MP4-25 from test driver Gary Paffett who shook the car down Monday.

"The feeling was like the difference between night and day compared to the first lap in the first test day in 2009," Hamilton told ESPNF1. "It is a really positive feeling. Obviously I have kept a close eye on the development of this car, and the results we got at the end of 2009, seeing the car evolve, and having input into it, I was very excited to get into the car today to see just what parts we have improved. I got out of the car smiling, and all the problems I had in the last car I don't have with this one. But there are still a lot of areas we can improve on."

[segedunum]

Well, it certainly doesn't feel like last year where there were frantic comings and goings and McLaren put a 2008 wing on their car in some tests just to see what was going on. The paint is probably being used to double-check that the data they have from simulations and from the wind tunnel actually reflects reality, especially owing to the design they have. Many teams have suffered terribly in the past from those discrepancies.

As for performance, it's too early to say. I think McLaren still have some mileage for improvement with this car as they start setting it up better and they're still sandbagging to a large extent.

[vall]

I think McLaren still have some mileage for improvement with this car as they start setting it up better and they're still sandbagging to a large extent.

Oh well, let see if they are sandbagging as last year

[horse]

If this is a standard procedure, as Maca now claim, then why the other teams don't use this obvious approach to see what is going on? Are they stupid or what? I only saw a photo of RF1 using a little bit of paint

They did get a lot of practise at this last year, remember, so perhaps they are just putting the expertise they gained to good use.

EDIT: Been said before already. Read... then post. Signal... then manoeuvre...