Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[Jef Patat]

The slotted Gurney was Germany though.

not the case if I recall correctly

[Jef Patat]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2819 ... -practice/

... The McLaren was visibly updated further, following on from the developments of Hockenheim. This time, the most obvious enhancements were slots in the sidepods ...

Anybody got a clue what they are talking about?

[PhillipM]

Either they've tweaked the rear undercut in a little more, or there's something slightly different with the floor there.

Or I've gone mad, because I've been flicking between last weeks photo's and this weeks with the feeling something is different there but I can't see what it is.

[Owen.C93]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2819 ... -practice/

... The McLaren was visibly updated further, following on from the developments of Hockenheim. This time, the most obvious enhancements were slots in the sidepods ...

Anybody got a clue what they are talking about?

Probably the vent just behind the drivers head and maybe some on top of leading edge of sidepod. Not that they are new but it wouldn't surprise me that that's what the website was talking about.

[gray41]

The floor has a new vein close to the body work guiding air to the centre of the diffuser.

[Owen.C93]

The floor has a new vein close to the body work guiding air to the centre of the diffuser.

I saw you said that before but I couldn't see what you meant. Could you point it out please?

Also it looks like this front wing is very high and the wheel on the right is unloaded (combined with other shots showing low rake) it look like the car is pitching up under acceleration compared to other cars suggesting a soft rear end?

[gray41]

It was said during p1 that both JB and Lewis said the car was sprung softer.

[Forza]

More photos from FP1

[Owen.C93]

Nice flow vis view and they've brought the neon lights to the floor again this weekend. I'd say this makes the car 30% "pimpier" at the cost of some straight line speed.
[img]http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2012/ ... 10.jpg[img]
[img]http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2012/ ... 12.jpg[img]
[img]http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2012/ ... 13.jpg[img]

EDIT: Posted above.

[gray41]

[Owen.C93]

[img]http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1785/mp444.jpg[img]

Looks like a bit of black tape to cover up a seam or maybe some sensor wires to me.

[gray41]

After enhancement, i think you could be right but it would make some sense to guide some air flow to the centre of the diffuser.

[Nando]

probably the cables for the lights at the diffuser.

[Jef Patat]

How can it be that in the middle of the diffuser there seems to be flow viz going down?

[Shrieker]

http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2012/ddr1227jy036.jpg

I love how the chrome livery has a blue tint to it in that pic. Reflection of the sky maybe ? I wish they'd paint it like that so it could look a little blueish the whole time !