Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[Trocola]

I've just Read that it was Hamilton's choice to run the old wing, because he wasn't confortable with the new one in FP3


Trocola

[Forza]

@endless,
If you put the pics side by side and look carefully, it's obvious that Hamilton's rw main plane and DRS flap are bigger. They are angled by a lot more too. The RW Button has might be specifically desigend for Spa and Monza.

I agree with this opinion but I think that DRS flap is similar on both versions (although it's hard to say without precise measurement) Button even had a Gurney on top of DRS flap. The aerodynamic setup on Button's mp4/27 was better choice today.

[alogoc]

the upper flap seems to be slotted


EDIT: maybe not!

[i70q7m7ghw]

Something funky going on with that new wing Jenson is using, look at it's profile, the lower element appears to thicken at the ends before joining the end plates. The upper element appears to do the opposite, appear thick and then slimming down at the ends, it's almost convex in profile...

[wizzer]

Seems like there is a channel running down the handplate, like on the Lotus DDRS' .



Also strange bumps in front view

[ajdavison2]

I noted this a few pages back

[i70q7m7ghw]

This picture confirms the upper element is convex in profile

http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/gall ... ep/104.jpg

Didn't spot that channel, so they have either copied the Merc DDRS, or they have created some sort of passive system...

EDIT: Looking at the 'channel' in the end plates, I believe this could be where the wiring for DRS goes, since they no longer have the central column under the main plane, they have to route everything through the end plate. what we are seeing appears to be an access panel.

[Owen.C93]

That bump is present on the old wing as well. I don't think there's anything too exciting going on.

[Nando]

Button ran less downforce. Hamilton ran more downforce.

Button´s team made the right call. Already been confirmed before Qualifying they were running different downforce levels.

[Mazdaboy]

The front wing flexing again:

[alogoc]

Mclaren DDRS or RW F-duct

[superdread]

The front wing flexing again:

This looks similar to what Scarbs proposed last year http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/2011/06/28/mc ... -movement/ and Whiting, then, denied.

It would be a rather clever way of bypassing the deflection test, but is aerodynamically complicated (this is not a simple aerofoil, a change in AoA has all matter of consequenzes).

[Owen.C93]

Something that they started doing more seriously early this year. Most likely helps high speed balance.

[Mazdaboy]

Button said in Q1 in the team radio the car was very understeer. I think the flexi front wing generate this understeering in the fast corners.

[Jackles-UK]

The new wing has considerably less louvres cut into the endplates. Could it be that the little bumps could be being used to direct airflow up to them, a bit like the humps around the exhaust exit on the RBR?

I don't think anything trick is going on with the RW just yet (I agree with Owen, probably just DRS cables inside the little bumps) but the new design would certainly open up the possibility of a Merc style/inspired DDRS sometime in the future.