Mclaren Brake Cooling Aero

[fly13]

Has anyone but me noticed the extension of the brake cooling element on the mclaren?
It can't just be for brake cooling, any ideas on what its for?
Only thing i can think of is redirection of airflow from the edge of the front wing


http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/photolarge.ph ... catID=3773

[timbo]

This appears to be some sensor thingy. Last year they run similar, but less developed, extensions.

[Mikacouli]

This appears to be some sensor thingy. Last year they run similar, but less developed, extensions.

http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/615.html

[scarbs]

Its an aero device, with the front wing being so much wider, the fairing now picks up the flow from the front wing and guides it around the wheel. This shoudl leave a cleaner flow structure passing back along the car.

[myurr]

Its an aero device, with the front wing being so much wider, the fairing now picks up the flow from the front wing and guides it around the wheel. This shoudl leave a cleaner flow structure passing back along the car.

Is it legal though? I was under the impression that it would violate the maximum car width rules.

[chasefreak]

according to F1.com they say it is legal... very strange

[scarbs]

The cars width is 1800mm with the wheels at zero camber. I am guessing the few mm of width the fairings take up is accommodated with a slightly narrower track. The loss in handling from the narrower track must be made up for in the aero benefit of the fairing. This might be why we didn’t see the fairing race last year (i.e. new front suspension required).

[Sawtooth-spike]

So will they race them this year? as they have been testing with them for ages