McLaren MP4-29 Mercedes

[Jef Patat]

Increased airflow resistance doesn't affect fuel efficiency?

Anyway, nobody said that we have the data to do a cost vs reward analysis on the suspension. To say that the suspension doesn't affect the fuel consumption is just silly though. Doesn't matter if they aren't as 'draggy' as we first thought, it surely is more draggy than other rear ends which is kind of the whole point.

Sure it does, all I'm saying it's not possible to relate the two. All we can see is that the MCL might consume more than others (again, I have no evidence of this, no source, but it might be true, if anyone has something please add it for completeness). But then, is that because of the suspension arms?

Various sources in the team have been stating they have problems with overheating, missing downforce, which means less efficiency which might mean more fuel consumption.

The rear end of the MCL is designed with those arms in mind, the coke bottle is different (wider), the hot air exits are higher. The drag penalty won't be the same as if you would mount those arms on Merc or RB for example. Also bear in mind that those arms will increase diffuser efficiency, which might reduce fuel consumption.

All I'm trying to say is that it is not as easy as you guys are making it look: you cannot take fuel consumption from one car and compare it to another to then say: the second car has a higher fuel consumption because of that part on the car.

[Morteza]

Formula1.com

[321apex]

Fuel is certainly possible, more likely perhaps is the butterfly suspensions is causing some serious drag.

Obviously we don't have hands on the data but I have to wonder if it the suspension is worth it in light of the fuel issues.

There are two options as I see, either Macca are already planning to remove the suspension but this takes time, or the Macca believe the positives outweigh the negatives.... personally I would get rid of it. I think it is a bit of a gimmick.

As much as Button was/is complaining of having no rear grip, it confirms the false benefit butterfly control arms may have brought for diffuser efficiency in lieu of certain and not insubstantial increase in aero drag. I would suspect, that the air they kick up may also interfere with rear wing itself.

[mclaren111]

Huge McLaren fan but I think they must drop this Butterfly crap at the rear. It is not the silver bullet they had hoped. Also heavy on tyres.
They must design new rear suspension ASAP !!!!!!!!!!!!

[i70q7m7ghw]

Huge McLaren fan but I think they must drop this Butterfly crap at the rear. It is not the silver bullet they had hoped. Also heavy on tyres.
They must design new rear suspension ASAP !!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing technical insight. Thanks.

[megasyxx]

the butterfly crap is giving them butterfly pace.....

[McMrocks]

As already mentioned before the car does not seem to have too much drag. JB and KM are 3rd and 5th fastest in the speed trap table from yesterday.

What the car really suffers from is the lack of df and the butterfly suspension is rumoured to give them some df.

[Xero]

There's nothing wrong with the "butterfly" suspension. It's clearly giving them more rear downforce or else they'd have ditched it by now. As McMrocks said, drag is negligible in the grand scheme of it all. Any issues it may have had on tyre deg is clearly behind them now. Jenson even said after the race that their tyre deg was pretty good at Bahrain, they have a good understanding of the tyres now.

Button's race pace today was right up there! He had a genuine shot at the podium, hurt massively by the safety car, and then the gear shift issues that sent him backwards and retiring. The car is quick, well balanced. The key now is to proportionally bolt on more downforce throughout the season. They've already shown they're top dogs at developing their car through a season, I doubt if Williams and Force India can keep up. Don't have much hope for any non-Merc powered cars at this stage, the difference is staggering.

[Duke]

It was good to hear JB saying the correlation between the wind tunnel and track is much better this year. Hopefully that means all the updates they throw at the car will work as expected, like RB have done well in the past.

[Lazy]

Indeed, comparing where they were at the end of the Bahrain tests to how the car (JB at least) performed in the race, I think it's fair to say they've made good progress.

[patrik]

Merc made it clear they will keep as mush info as possible from McLaren to ensure honda didn't get it.

They are going to try, for sure. But I'm guessing Honda's elements distribution will be very similar to the Mercedes PU (compressor/turbine split, MGUH & MGUK locations), since apparently, that's what's making the whole PU energy efficient AND work cooler than the competition.

And I'm going to say that the reason of McLaren's deficit this year is largely due to Mercedes not sharing info on the PU.

[JDC123]

Why do McLaren have such large front brake ducts this year? I understand the front brakes have more work to do this year but they have gone from having hidden/tiny ones last year to huge ones (and are not the only ones), yet every race run with tape over about a third of it. They also seem to be relatively basic compared to the likes of red bull, mercedes and lotus. Any thoughts?

[Xero]

Why do McLaren have such large front brake ducts this year? I understand the front brakes have more work to do this year but they have gone from having hidden/tiny ones last year to huge ones (and are not the only ones), yet every race run with tape over about a third of it. They also seem to be relatively basic compared to the likes of red bull, mercedes and lotus. Any thoughts?

It could be they're helping with some airflow around the wheels to the sidepods, floor or rear of the car, however basic they appear. There was a lot of brake dust at Bahrain coming from the 2 McLarens, they maybe need the extra cooling for their choice of brake materials.

[stefan_]

Bahrain Testing - Day 1 (08.04.2014)

[avatar]

Not really part of the car, but that moveable pitot rig is pretty cool.
Quite a chunky mount/actuator though...