McLaren MP4-26 Mercedes

[Owen.C93]

Looking not for the best qualifying car perhaps, but one that can once again utilize straight-line speed to attack. Though technically one could say that approach bit them in the first 6 or so races last season.

Having a good KERS system is good for qualifying because you get the free bit of KERS before the straight finish line when it resets, and a good DRS is great for qualifying because you can use it as much as you want then. As apposed to 1 small section in the race.

[Carmack]

I don't know if this has ben discussed yet, I was wondering if one of you can give me an explanation around this.
I tought that there were no holes allowed in the floor or diffuser, but on this picture you can clearly see daylight trough the diffuser, sculpted like a sort of a wing.
An explanation yould be great.

Cheers!

[timbo]

I don't know if this has ben discussed yet, I was wondering if one of you can give me an explanation around this.
I tought that there were no holes allowed in the floor or diffuser, but on this picture you can clearly see daylight trough the diffuser, sculpted like a sort of a wing.
An explanation yould be great.

Cheers!

This is a hole for starter. Each car has it, and dimensions are regulated by the rules.

[Carmack]

Yeah, forgot about that
Well,they shaped it in a quite unique way, very different to other cars.

[Rino]

Is McLaren going to be better on bumpy tracks and slow cornering (better mechanical grip) this season?

Since the DDD is banned and ride height no longer has to be "fixed" so that they can allow softer suspension setting?

[Owen.C93]

Probably.

[NoDivergence]

Very likely. Besides, the pullrod rear is different. The whole rear aero concept is different. They'll be able to run softer suspension as the car should be less sensitive. From what I watched, MP4-26 seemed very nice over curbs. I did note understeer compared to the Redbull and Ferrari, however. That could be attributed to the lack of setup optimization, though (slow speed corner onto the straight). ARW hasn't even really been used. Very curious to know what the parts they're shipping are. Birthing pains I'm sure. However, it's interesting as I'd thought they'd have enough spares to build a second car

[satlan]

Tried to show more obviously the channels:

Suppose it really is an exhaust and let's add some simple logic; would they really put electrical wires and tape so close to an exhaust that spews out 600 degree hot air?

I think you can answer this yourself.

[murtoidf1]

Tried to show more obviously the channels:

Suppose it really is an exhaust and let's add some simple logic; would they really put electrical wires and tape so close to an exhaust that spews out 600 degree hot air?

I think you can answer this yourself.

How do you know which exhaust configuration they were running when that picture was taken?

[Shrieker]

All I know is some folks from McLaren might be reading this thread andhaving a good long laugh

[MAY11]

Hi guys ....
im new member & i want to ask about the controversial mp4-26 exhaust !!!!
where is it ... or its stell hidden

[NoDivergence]

Haha, I think we should just sit tight on the exhaust until the first race. Exhausts and floor combinations almost make McLaren seem like some kind of counterintelligence group. No one knows what they're going to use, not even McLaren themselves

[mcjamweasel]

See the red line I've added? Thats a reflection, you can see it follows above & below the carbon strip. In this zoomed image you can clearly see the tape on the lower section too.

[segedunum]

...

I doubted it on launch and having thought about it more I doubt it even more. What you think I implied is irrelevant.

Higher sidepods create drag. When you have two parts of the same object that create differing amounts of drag (the higher and lower parts of the sidepod) you get a twisting force going on. In a straight line and when things are symmetrical this is probably OK, but I wondered out loud what would happen to the handling in yaw when you get differing amounts of drag and turbulent air across the car.

Like I said, I was looking for something more constructive than "Boo, hoo, stop being so negative, everything on the car is perfect". I see I'm not going to get it. I should have learned by now regarding these 'car' threads.

Funny to watch this has descended into a "Where's McLaren's exhausts" competition. Hint: McLaren doesn't know where they are yet, and they certainly weren't them bits of pipe sticking out the back.

[murtoidf1]

Just a thought,

Each time the car runs a different exhaust configuration, the insert in the large vent at the back changes significantly.

Could this be because the two parts are linked in some way?

i.e maybe they require different levels of cooling?