Mclaren Mercedes MP4-25

[ell66]

The higher downforce would help preserve tyres better though. And it would probably help the drivers commit less mistakes as they'd have a car that feels better planted rather than one that just seems to float

well thats what id of thought to, however the guy from bridgestone said that running higher downfoce would "load" the tired more, and thus would wear quicker.
but even if thats not correct i still say the lower downforce spec is the way to go.

[feynman]

The high downforce setup looked reliable and on rails. In low downforce in less than an hour, it left the track at least two or three times and smashed up a front wing.

If the laptimes are 50:50, I'd go for the cornering and braking performance over straight line anyday. No-one will pass you on the brakes, and you can slipstream if you need to chase someone.

[ell66]

The high downforce setup looked reliable and on rails. In low downforce in less than an hour, it left the track at least two or three times and smashed up a front wing.

If the laptimes are 50:50, I'd go for the cornering and braking performance over straight line anyday. No-one will pass you on the brakes, and you can slipstream if you need to chase someone.

lewis just took a curb to hard. and how about the massive run down to turn 1, on sunday? you cold lose upto 2 places.

[Rino]

The higher downforce would help preserve tyres better

And maybe brakes!

[raymondu999]

A broad low wing is "bigger" (much bigger) than a narrow high wing.

Just to match an old wing's level of downforce, the new ones would need to be larger.

Just to better phrase it... In laymen terms, kind of like simple geometry. Width x Height. The width is greatly reduced, so you'd have to increase the height.

In terms of preserving brakes... I'd have thought they'd wear down faster, as you'd be braking harder. Having a much bigger wing would probably mean their slipstream would contain much more energy too, and people would be able to slipstream better. But we'll see soon enough

[feynman]

But on top of the simple multiplication ... one of the reasons they were originally pitched up that high was to break the aero connection with the diffuser.

A high broad wing would be less efficient (generate less downforce) than a low broad wing.

So it is a double whammy, make it narrower, and make it higher, means they have to be a lot chunkier just to get back to where you started.

[zgred]

[feynman]

As for brakes, when you take your hand off the f-duct, to the universe it appears you suddenly just bolted a barn door onto the back of your car.

It makes a very nice drag-chute, the brake-pads will greatly appreciate the help.

Any places you do lose off the line would be grabbed back when they have to brake way, way earlier than you to try and get their cigarette-paper winged cars slowed down for the corners. You can steam in later and faster and leave them scrabbling, sliding and bumping over kerbs and polystyrene chunks.

[ringo]

In the event of rain, the high down-force could be a blessing as well!

[raymondu999]

In the event of rain, the high down-force could be a blessing as well!

Yes but rain in Monza is rare. We've only ever had 4 or so in history I believe.

Macca are splitting their drivers' wing choices: http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/09/10/hami ... ent-wings/

[ringo]

any shots of the splitter?

[747heavy]

[murtoidf1]

any shots of the splitter?

its from practice 2. those in the uk can look up the time on iplayer to see it in motion.

McLaren dont have a proper stay now it seems.

[FW17]

Still they seem to be running lot more wing than a couple of years back. That ront wing on McLaren Mp4-25 looks so heavy

The diffusers on previous generations of cars were much smaller than the monster DDDs that we are seeing in 2010. I guess you need to add extra front wing to balance out the overall grip level.

Are you sure?

That Mclaren in 2007 did a 1 21 1 in q2. I don't see anyone matching that today in qualifying.

[747heavy]

the rpm limit for the engines was 19000 rpm in 2007, compare to 18000rpm today, so this maybe is part of the answer