Is McLaren really off the pace?

[Pup]

Well I certainly remember the 24 three-wheeling it around the Sepang hairpin.

[conni]

new chassis on its way

conni

[Shrieker]

Wow. Could you be a little bit more specific maybe ? Not to be disrespectful, but...

[Pup]

I wouldn't doubt Conni, but it does seem strange.

[Ciro Pabón]

A new chassis in March? Well, then the testing will be done by July, if lucky.

I apologize for quoting myself... again.

The Tao of Racing

Book Four
Construction

Thus spake the master engineer:

``A well-built car is its own heaven; a poorly-built car is its own hell.''

4.2

A novice asked the master: ``I’m building a car that sometime runs well and sometimes runs poorly. I have followed the rules of building and testing, yet I am totally baffled. What is the reason for this?''

The master replied: ``You are confused because you do not understand Tao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans. Why do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed? Computer aided design simulates determinism; only Tao is perfect.

``The rules of design and construction are transitory; only Tao is eternal. Therefore you must contemplate Tao before you receive enlightenment.''

``But how will I know when I have received enlightenment?'' asked the novice.

``Your car will then run correctly,'' replied the master.

I have written more about testing, but you already read it, didn't you?

[wunderkind]

new chassis on its way

conni

Oh, MP4-26B...................I hope the B-iteration will deliver the goods. Is McLaren making a new tub or a new back-end?

I read from somewhere that Adrian Newey remarked the engine cowling and sidepods looked "very busy". I think Newey's remarks may go some way to explain the perceived or real aerodynamic and instability problems of the MP4-26. The deep channel of the L-shape sidepods might deliver a lot of good quality airflow in a straight line. But in yaw, the incongruous surfaces of the sidepods and the cowling might kick up a lot of turbulence and reduce the effectiveness of the rear wing and the diffuser.

That's just my personal thoughts..................

[WhiteBlue]

The deep channel of the L-shape sidepods might deliver a lot of good quality airflow in a straight line. But in yaw, the incongruous surfaces of the sidepods and the cowling might kick up a lot of turbulence and reduce the effectiveness of the rear wing and the diffuser.

That's just my personal thoughts..................

Sounds plausible to me.

I don't think that McLaren can have a new chassis, not if they have homologated the existing one. According to the rules you can only have one homologation. But then a revision of the L-shaped side pots may not require a new tub, just new side pots.

[FW17]

I don't think it will be a new tub but a total revamp of side-pods and rear end.

If I remember they did the same with MP4-19

[kalinka]

I don't think they'll change those sidepods. So far nobody complained about sidepods. If the sidepods were the famous "fundamental" problem, I think we would know it by know, and McLaren would experiment a LOT around sidepods. But they were experimenting mostly on exhaust design/reliability/rear end. Everything in front of the engine cover remains almost the same, or we see just some normal iteration. Those little winglets on the sidepods surely can't be regarded as an effort to completely change the sidepods aero. But as always, I'm aware of my ( and our ) little knowledge about what's happenning there in real.

[conni]

new tub apparantly

conni

[wunderkind]

I don't think they'll change those sidepods. So far nobody complained about sidepods. If the sidepods were the famous "fundamental" problem, I think we would know it by know, and McLaren would experiment a LOT around sidepods. But they were experimenting mostly on exhaust design/reliability/rear end. Everything in front of the engine cover remains almost the same, or we see just some normal iteration. Those little winglets on the sidepods surely can't be regarded as an effort to completely change the sidepods aero. But as always, I'm aware of my ( and our ) little knowledge about what's happenning there in real.

We're all guessing but I still think the fundmental problem of the MP4-26 is aerodynamic and not mechancial. McLaren is very very strong in the mechanical department and doesn't usually get things wrong too badly or for too long.

I suspect McLaren cannot modify the sidepods in such short notice because it is a major undertaking that require a lot of design, engineering, manufacturing of the new parts, not to mention track testing - which they have no time to do now. I think they are just persevering with the MP4-26 in its current guise and try to iron out as much of the car's other bits (such as exhaust solutions, reliability of the hydraulic system) until the modifications are ready.

The sidepods are always difficult to modify as it is tightly wrapped to the components underneath and to make wholesale changes would also require substantial modifications of the internal components like radiators, plumbing, and the KERS components. Mercedes only played with the air inlet openings of the sidepods on the W02. The shape of the sidepods remained the same as before.

Hopefully, whatever turns up at the McLaren garage in Melbourne will be competitive. They are probably the only team capable of making a new tub and chassis in such a tight schedule.

[volarchico]

new tub apparantly

So when someone says "new tub" does that just mean another copy of the same thing? For instance, I know they have to bring 2 cars to Australia (if they want both their drivers to race...), so is this just another way of saying they'll now have two ready?

[Hangaku]

I don't think they'll change those sidepods. So far nobody complained about sidepods. If the sidepods were the famous "fundamental" problem, I think we would know it by know, and McLaren would experiment a LOT around sidepods. But they were experimenting mostly on exhaust design/reliability/rear end. Everything in front of the engine cover remains almost the same, or we see just some normal iteration. Those little winglets on the sidepods surely can't be regarded as an effort to completely change the sidepods aero. But as always, I'm aware of my ( and our ) little knowledge about what's happenning there in real.

We're all guessing but I still think the fundmental problem of the MP4-26 is aerodynamic and not mechancial. McLaren is very very strong in the mechanical department and doesn't usually get things wrong too badly or for too long.

I suspect McLaren cannot modify the sidepods in such short notice because it is a major undertaking that require a lot of design, engineering, manufacturing of the new parts, not to mention track testing - which they have no time to do now. I think they are just persevering with the MP4-26 in its current guise and try to iron out as much of the car's other bits (such as exhaust solutions, reliability of the hydraulic system) until the modifications are ready.

The sidepods are always difficult to modify as it is tightly wrapped to the components underneath and to make wholesale changes would also require substantial modifications of the internal components like radiators, plumbing, and the KERS components. Mercedes only played with the air inlet openings of the sidepods on the W02. The shape of the sidepods remained the same as before.

Hopefully, whatever turns up at the McLaren garage in Melbourne will be competitive. They are probably the only team capable of making a new tub and chassis in such a tight schedule.

For the large part, I suspect they could actually use the MP4-25 as a base, as the tub wouldn't need to change a greal deal to conform to this year's technical guidelines. If that suspicion is correct, I reckon they could get an MP4-26B out the door sharpish (see: within three races). The tech spec hasn't changed *that* much since last year, has it? Feasible?

[gibells]

Does anyone remember when Goony posted for us, that he used to complain that the management would rush the curing processes for tubs etc. Seems to me it could be a similar situation as this one. He said they would always be doing stuff like that, and that they never learnt. Very Interesting.

[meves]

I would question the side pods as they appear to channel the air directly over the side pods through suspension members which would disrupt the airflow. It just seems like it's a less efficient plan that running the air around the side pods and under the suspension members right over the diffuser or is that too simplistic a view? Especially when you look how efficiently teams like red bull have managed to work the air round the side pods.