McLaren MCL32 Speculation Thread

[taperoo2k]

I doubt so. The teams in front will yet again be Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. Why? Because they are the only teams so far that have tested the 2017 spec tires. All the other teams will have to wait, whereas Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull already have valuable data. They know how the cars behave with these tires, thus they also have data on how the suspension should be set up, how it the suspension should be engineered.

Testing the 2017 spec tyres should be open for everyone. Sadly it isn't.

It was open to everyone. But McLaren and others didn't think it would be financially feasible to develop a mule car alongside the 2016 & 2017 car.

The only real advantage is that the drivers of this 3 teams have already a good sing on how will this tyres behave and relate that to the engineers. All data collected on daily basis is shared between all F1 teams, plus although only 3 teams are present wilt mule cars, all teams have their representatives present at the event so over all, yes small advantage to the testing teams already.

BTW we should move this discussion to the team thread

Given pirelli tested multiple compounds with mountains of data to go through to decide on which compounds to use for 2017, any advantage will be slight at best for the teams that tested. I'd say the advantage is likely to be with the drivers who've tested the tyres, as they'll have a rough idea of the physical characteristics of the tyres, even that might be dwarfed by the new aero designs.
Might be a bit of lottery as to which teams aero concepts work with the pirelli tyres out of the gate on the first day of pre season testing.

As for McLaren ? They have most of the pieces in place, getting everyone working well together and in the same direction, on the correct path is the challenge. Honda should have the PU sorted more or less without the token milestone around their necks (might not be quite up there with the Mercedes). So the onus will be on McLaren to start producing the goods in terms of the chassis. I think we may see a topsy turvy start to the season, before things settle down. So there might just be a chances of podiums for McLaren if they hit the ground running.

[Paul]

Amongst those mountains of data is bound to be driver feedback. And that might sway characteristics of future tyres towards the teams that tested them. Imagine Vettel reporting that tyre A is fine, but tyre B is rubbish for some reason. Pirelli will more likely pick tyre A, even if that tyre is actually less suited for every other chassis on the grid.

[mclaren111]

Amongst those mountains of data is bound to be driver feedback. And that might sway characteristics of future tyres towards the teams that tested them. Imagine Vettel reporting that tyre A is fine, but tyre B is rubbish for some reason. Pirelli will more likely pick tyre A, even if that tyre is actually less suited for every other chassis on the grid.

Autosport:

Pirelli said it tested approximately 96 different prototypes on the final day of its 2017 Formula 1 tyre testing programme.
For the first time this season, all three mule cars from Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari ran on track at the same time in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
It was the 24th day of testing, which has allowed Pirelli to complete around 12,000km of running to help define next year's bigger and wider tyres.
Lewis Hamilton started the running for Mercedes but ended the day early because he felt unwell, with Pascal Wehrlein stepping in.
Kimi Raikkonen was in the Ferrari while Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo split the driving duties for Red Bull.
They tested a number of different compounds and structures but as it was a blind test, they were unaware of what they were running.

"Now the hard work begins as we collate and analyse the results of our 24 days and approximately 12,000 kilometres of testing in order to define the tyres with which we will go racing next year.

I don't think the atvantage - if any - will be that big.

[Paul]

Part of tyre testing process for drivers is filling feedback cards, at least that is how it used to be. They won't say "softs are good, mediums are bad," but they will say "tyres A are grippy, but last half a lap, tyres B feel slightly slower, but last whole lap no problem, tyres C have no grip, grain, blister and look funny." Guess which tyre spec Pirelli won't bother testing anymore...

[Gaz.]

Part of tyre testing process for drivers is filling feedback cards, at least that is how it used to be. They won't say "softs are good, mediums are bad," but they will say "tyres A are grippy, but last half a lap, tyres B feel slightly slower, but last whole lap no problem, tyres C have no grip, grain, blister and look funny." Guess which tyre spec Pirelli won't bother testing anymore...

A & B and they'll put C into production

[Thunder]

First glimpse of a 32 model? https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/808660146364751872

[bauc]

First glimpse of a 32 model?

100% seat fitting but the monocock is that one of 32 for sure

[Holm86]

First glimpse of a 32 model?

100% seat fitting but the monocock is that one of 32 for sure

So now at least we now the 32 has a cockpit, how conservative

[Joseki]

Both the MP4-30 and the MP4-31 were pretty flat and squared on the cockpit, in this picture it looks a bit more curvy.

[bauc]

@Joseki - Agreed

[Thunder]

I noticed that too but no one knows if this is the final Design of the 4-32 Tub so take it carefully.

[Joseki]

I noticed that too but no one knows if this is the final Design of the 4-32 Tub so take it carefully.

I don't think they are going to do a seat fit on a not final cockpit, also it would be a bit worrying if they haven't a final cockpit design in mid december.

[Thunder]

It's not a real Cockpit, looks 3D Printed or something. As long as the inside of the Tub is the same nothing speaks against using an outdated Tub for Seat fitting.

I'm just Cautious.

[Joseki]

It's not a real Cockpit, looks 3D Printed or something. As long as the inside of the Tub is the same nothing speaks against using an outdated Tub for Seat fitting.

Shouldn't they use a current cockpit to simulate the driver view? If so being curvy or flat would change much. Also the head protections on the side are 2016 spec, higher the the ones used before, so it's not an old unit.

[turbof1]

It's not a real Cockpit, looks 3D Printed or something. As long as the inside of the Tub is the same nothing speaks against using an outdated Tub for Seat fitting.

Shouldn't they use a current cockpit to simulate the driver view? If so being curvy or flat would change much. Also the head protections on the side are 2016 spec, higher the the ones used before, so it's not an old unit.

Not necessary. Cockpit height is the same across the field for years now. The head protection look bigger because there is no additional bodywork around it to soften edges.

This is nothing more than a mock up with the sole purpose of seat fitting and customizing things like steer, paddles, padding,... For the drivers. It wouldn't surprise me if it is the same mule as last year, with some very minor changes which influence driver position and comfort.

I also suspect that the edge are infact quite squared like the 2016 car. The lighting in the room reduces contrast to a minimum, which gives the impression of soft edges.