Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[ell66]

McLaren have traditionally been good at mechanical design. Kerb riding, traction, low speed responsiveness, braking.

Last year Vettel grabbed at least two poles by being better over the kerbs than everybody else. Don't know how much of that is him or RB7, though.

The red bulls have also been very good over kerbs since 2010.

[Pierce89]

Would I be right to say that the McLaren is better at riding the kerbs and this might be a feature the drivers prefer and would that be down to their front suspension geometry?

McLaren have traditionally been good at mechanical design. Kerb riding, traction, low speed responsiveness, braking.

yes traditionally they have, but since 2009 the Maccas have been suspended stiffer than stiff

[raymondu999]

We saw that in 2010; but in 2011; they've only been stiff at the front - they seem quite supple at the rear. And even in 2010 they were good on traction braking and kerb riding. They weren't so good in 2010 at BUMP riding though - if they met a bump they practically had to coast. But other than a bit of porpoising under braking in bumpy braking zones, I don't remember McLaren being weak there. Just take a look at Hamilton's on boards in Canada 2010 and Abu Dhabi 2010; the car rides kerbs beautifully.

I remember distinctly free practice in Bahrain 2010 there was a bump into turn 6 of the new infield section. McLaren were obviously lifting through the bump; the Red Bull shook slightly as it went over the bump; and the Ferrari basically ignored it. Brundle said, "McLaren are having to coast through that bump in Turn 6. The Ferrari rides it like a Rolls Royce"

[fets81]

just out of curiosity is it just lighting, the camera may not be bang on central but the exhausts don't look symmetrical



is that normal or just a trick of the eye or something?

[PlatinumZealot]

We saw that in 2010; but in 2011; they've only been stiff at the front - they seem quite supple at the rear. And even in 2010 they were good on traction braking and kerb riding. They weren't so good in 2010 at BUMP riding though - if they met a bump they practically had to coast. But other than a bit of porpoising under braking in bumpy braking zones, I don't remember McLaren being weak there. Just take a look at Hamilton's on boards in Canada 2010 and Abu Dhabi 2010; the car rides kerbs beautifully.

I don't know about that - 2007 - 2009 was the best of curb riding for Hamilton in my view.. See Abu Dhabi 2009.. The car was pimp slapping the tarmac coming off those curbs. 2010 and up was nothing close.

[raymondu999]

You have to admit the 2011 car was actually quite good on the kerbs. 2009 though there were times the car would be three wheeling. But I agree that the 2011 McL was not as good as the 2007/2008 cars on the kerbs. That car could mount the inner kerb, brake, turn, and you wouldn't know it was on a kerb. Such as Lewis' fantastic pass on Kimi in Monza 2007.

[Raptor22]

just out of curiosity is it just lighting, the camera may not be bang on central but the exhausts don't look symmetrical



is that normal or just a trick of the eye or something?

its the launch car. Those little irritating details need to be rectified by the first race..

[Bomber_Pilot]

It's just the perspective. You can see more of the right rw endplate, more sidewall on the right tire and less of the right exhaust...

[mozza_84]

just read on one of my f1 andriod apps that charlie whiting is attending jerez to inspect mclarens exhaust system theres rumours that they have exploited the regulations and found something with the exhaust which has been camoflaged by the bulge at the rear of the car.

the app is livesports24 racing.

[fets81]

It's just the perspective. You can see more of the right rw endplate, more yellow on the right tire and less of the right exhaust...

seems pretty bang on to me, it maybe a little off but nothing else on the car has that kind of degree of difference from left to right.

I'd tend to agree with raptor its just the show car & its just an inaccuracy, that was my first thought but with the technical boffins around here I thought I'd post it just incase

[KevinR34]

[raymondu999]

Don't forget McLaren have a certain affinity for assymetric exhausts. Like in 2009 and 2010

[Javert]

just read on one of my f1 andriod apps that charlie whiting is attending jerez to inspect mclarens exhaust system theres rumours that they have exploited the regulations and found something with the exhaust which has been camoflaged by the bulge at the rear of the car.

the app is livesports24 racing.

An "Octopus-style" bulge where exhaust pipes blow their gases and then they are carried everywhere in the car?
This can explain why they need more air inside the sidepod

[beelsebob]

just read on one of my f1 andriod apps that charlie whiting is attending jerez to inspect mclarens exhaust system theres rumours that they have exploited the regulations and found something with the exhaust which has been camoflaged by the bulge at the rear of the car.

the app is livesports24 racing.

An "Octopus-style" bulge where exhaust pipes blow their gases and then they are carried everywhere in the car?
This can explain why they need more air inside the sidepod

In all these theories no one has managed to explain how you'd divert the exhaust flow with no body work in the cone the gasses exit through.

[krisfx]

The bulges look like they might force air around the rear wheels like the front wing end plates do at the front, or maybe into the brake ducts or edge of the floor?

I'm in no way experienced with things like this and it's just a visual guess..