Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

[tk421]

This is from a redundant thread. I found what mxtifosi said to be incredible and I couldn't wait to hear more, but then the conversation was lost because the other dude started acting like a baby...When asked about a rumor that McLaren were/are having problems with their tyres...

That is "for real", the new MP4-24 is only capable of running at a maximum speed of 120 mph, due to the tyres not being able to withstand a higher speed. Hopefully this dilemma won't cause them any difficulties during the actual race season...Who have you been hearing this from??

So, anyone know what is going on with this?

[Carlos]

IMO All the triangulated bracing dominates the picture. It supplies bracing for the delta wing device which measures airflow dynamically in 3D. It's wings are covered in wireless sensors. You could record the airsteam and it's interactions with the side pod area at any speed in any attitude on straights and different radii of corner. The exact position of the delta is the point of interest. IMO

[ISLAMATRON]

This is from a redundant thread. I found what mxtifosi said to be incredible and I couldn't wait to hear more, but then the conversation was lost because the other dude started acting like a baby...When asked about a rumor that McLaren were/are having problems with their tyres...

That is "for real", the new MP4-24 is only capable of running at a maximum speed of 120 mph, due to the tyres not being able to withstand a higher speed. Hopefully this dilemma won't cause them any difficulties during the actual race season...Who have you been hearing this from??

So, anyone know what is going on with this?

120 mph? they must have gone faster than that to set the fastest times in Portugal & Jerez... I dont know where these unsubstantiated ideas are coming from. Not even really worth talking about.

[Scotracer]

This is from a redundant thread. I found what mxtifosi said to be incredible and I couldn't wait to hear more, but then the conversation was lost because the other dude started acting like a baby...When asked about a rumor that McLaren were/are having problems with their tyres...

That is "for real", the new MP4-24 is only capable of running at a maximum speed of 120 mph, due to the tyres not being able to withstand a higher speed. Hopefully this dilemma won't cause them any difficulties during the actual race season...Who have you been hearing this from??

So, anyone know what is going on with this?

No chance. The MP4/24 does more than 120mph in 3rd gear (and accelerates to that speed in under 5 seconds) and it certainly got higher than that at Jerez.

There are so many rumours flying around about Mclaren just now and they are all unsubstantiated.

[tk421]

120 mph? they must have gone faster than that to set the fastest times in Portugal & Jerez...

As I said, I found it incredible.

Not even really worth talking about.

I just wanted to get to the bottom of it, dude.
I know the stats Scotracer I just had to be sure that this was bunk.

About the straight-line testing: I imagine, for the sake of testing, that they would try all sorts of 2009 rear wings (the high downforce version of which they earlier said wasn't ready, i.e. runnning the 2008 wing). So have we heard anything about that wing being used in this test? Thanks!

[ISLAMATRON]

in which test? I saw the redundent thread and the OP didnt mention any particular test did he? Is this all in reference to the bird cage test... which I guess was a straight line test... maybe they didnt go over 120 so they didnt blow off the bird cage into the driver or the rear wheels... or maybe the reynolds number past 120 was beyond the testing parameters of the bird cage.

[Ciro Pabón]

I merged two threads here (just in case you're confused by the posts in the previous page).

I've read that McLaren used both 2008 and 2009 wings at Portimao, and they got a good time.

[Saribro]

I guess none of you figured mx was being sarcastic...

[mx_tifoso]

Of course I was being sarcastic about the speed of the McLaren, obviously its not true. But how that one guy phrased the question about the tyre problems when going 'very fast' didn't give me a choice.

I would think that if McLaren was having any tyre problems they would be wear and/or graining. But I haven't read anything about it up until now. In any case, tyre issues aren't unusual, especially now when teams are still figuring out the slick tyres, optimum weight distribution settings, suspension settings, etc.

[Skunk0001]

McLaren is working on a completely new interaction between the floor and the rearwing. That's were most potential is hidden. Haug: ''In the coming weeks our car will transform. We very accurately know what can still be expected in terms of downforce levels.''

Source: http://www.f1network.net/main/s491/st140616.htm

hmmmm

[nudger]

im confused about this talk of the birdcage...maybe i havnt read all the posts, but they did two days of filming after the Portimao test... the birdcage i assumed was something to do with that.
on the tyre wear... what i am hearing was that Lewis was fine, but kovy was eating them at a ridiculous rate.

[lkocev]

on the tyre wear... what i am hearing was that Lewis was fine, but kovy was eating them at a ridiculous rate.

This is not the first time we are hearing about rear tyre wear problems for Kovalainen, he pretty much had that problem all through out 2008. For some reason though I find it a little bit difficult to belive that Lewis was 'fine' ... How can he possibly be as fast as he is, but be able to stress the tyres less than Kovalainen, sounds like crap to me mate. The McLaren's of recent years have tended to be very tough on the tyres, I don't think its all to do with Kovalainen's driving style, probably a number of things. In any case, these are common problems anyhow...

[Motley]

Mark Hughes thinks that Kovy's Rear tyres that are his main problem, mainly due to his lines through corners.

He said that Lewis brakes deeper and turns harder than Kovy, and is therefore harder on the shoulders of his front tyres, but he's able to put the power on in a straighter line which means he's much kinder to the rear tyres.

Apparently Kovy drives a 'longer' corner than lewis and so he's putting the power on with more steering angle than lewis and it's shredding the rears...

[Roland Ehnström]

Yep, Lewis is harder on the front tires, Heikki is harder on the rear tires.

[nudger]

on the tyre wear... what i am hearing was that Lewis was fine, but kovy was eating them at a ridiculous rate.

For some reason though I find it a little bit difficult to belive that Lewis was 'fine' ... How can he possibly be as fast as he is, but be able to stress the tyres less than Kovalainen, sounds like crap to me mate. ..

oh well i wouldnt pressume to be able to convince you. All i would say is that it wasnt untill lewis got in the car that they were able to start doing long runs.
I dont think its worth making too much of at this time. That was only relevant to the package they were running at the time. they have 3 tests and a bundle of upgrades before it means anything.