My first post: MP4/17 vs MP4/18

[F1freak]

Has anyone heard anything about differences between MP4/17 and MP4/18?

I've heard/read the following:
-Lower Nose
-More HP engine

Thanks.

[Steven]

hi man,
welcome to f1technical !

I've posted something about this in the f1technical forum some time ago:
viewtopic.php?t=129 (it states that Mercedes will produce a top of the notch engine...

Furthermore, I should say that during this winter, Ferrari's chief gearbox engineer left the team to join McLaren, to work on a brand new gearbox for the MP4/18. I do think the car will be a significant step forward, and I even more hope so. Honoustly I'm tired of Ferrari winning all the time, and I really love the look of the cars that Adrian Newey has been designing during his career!

[Guest]

Likewise,
I've been following F1 for about 12 years and have been a McLaren fan since the Senna days = cant stand Ferrari. I cant wait for them to unleash the new car and take down Ferrari's stranglehold.

[Mini Bernie]

I hope McLaren can catch Ferrari as well, but I don't want to swap
one dominant car for another...

I've heard that the new McLaren advances the twin keel concept, to integrate it even more with the bargeboards.

Also expect an even more exagerated coke bottle shape, due to the 'Ferrari inspired' gear box.

I've also heard a rumour that Newey has routed the exhausts through the diffuser, as he did before. completely throwing current trends out of the window, should be interesting.

cheers
Bernie

[Guest]

Just saw somewhere that the MP4/18 will be testing May 21st. Let the countdown begin!!!!!

[imraboss1]

Hi,

It is strange to see MERCEDES-BENZ illmore lagging behind in terms of horsepower as compared to bmw & ferrari engines coz it were they who led the benchmark in 1998 & 1999 Cumm on do something & get some more horsessssssssss as the BMW & FERRARI engines take away everything especially on straight line speeds...............

It is high time that they should come up with a powerfullllll v-10 to catch up ferrari. Coz in terms of Chassis, Aerodynamic design, tyre preservation, Pit-Stop strategy Mclaren is Stillllll the best.

Bye.

[Guest]

Here's an extract of the press release now posted on Mclaren.com:
"The MP4-18 incorporates a number of visible differences. These include a shorter and lower nose, a more tightly packaged rear and a slight dorsal fin shaping to the engine cover. In addition the new Mercedes-Benz engine, the FO 110P V10, has been lowered within the car, producing centre of gravity benefits."

The release says that images will be available later this afternoon!!!!

[Guest]

Here is first picture!!!

[arisen]

Here's a hires pic

http://www.formula-one.net/pics03/velke/20-05-1b.jpg

No periscope exhausts tho. That makes me a bit nervous, because I imagine routing the exhaust through the diffuser is a tricky business, and requires more track testing.

[Steven]

my god! what a car I must admit
I'm really impressed by the rear part, it's more fixed at narrowing the back than lowering it, contrary to Ferrari it seems to me.
Notice by the way the front wing and its end plates... the shape is just like Coulthard was testing a front wing this winter (see another topic somewhere on this forum), and actually the end-line of the front wing, I mean between the tips of the front wheels where the front wing ends kind of make me think of a bat, black, pointy and curved between those points.

Although some minor parts of my point of view... I do like the current colour scheme more that on this MP4-18, and that nose cone just looks so much un-Newey-ish It makes me think he's been very busy with the back of the car
Anyway, looking forward to tomorrow, because one pic is no pic

[arisen]

How about the holes on top of the side pods… Warming up the rear Michelins with air from the radiators maybe?

[Steven]

can't see any holes... painted a little too black
I'll check it out on more pictures

[F1freak]

Cant see them either?!?!? It seems that there is something on the tail end of the side pods - check out hi-res pics on f1-live.com. Not sure it they are holes. Almost look like exhaust outlets (I know that's not what it is but that's what it looks like to me.)

[arisen]

They’re placed at the end of the sidepods indeed, where the Renault and Jordan have the “chimneys” but they’re not raised…

Anyway, hopefully will see more pics tomorrow.

[Guest]

McLaren Mp4-18 on track!!!