Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

[lkocev]

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.

Just for the record I wasn't being a smart ass to you or saying that you talk crap, I read probably the same reports that you do about Kovalainen's 'rear tyre wear' problems, and i think that what is reported is a bit exadurated, rather then you exadurating it.

I can appreciate that perhaps Kovalainen's driving style puts a little more stress on the rears tyres. He would appear to strictly follow the "slow in fast out" rule where drivers sacrifice a little bit of entry speed so that they can get on the throttle as soon as possible, but normally when using this technique, you tend to get the car straightened up a little sooner. Lewis would appear to trail brake alot more than Heikki, and perhaps tries to carry as much speed as possible into, and through the apex of a given turn, and hence the reason he is a little harder on his front tyres. Perhaps the tyre wear problems are also partially due to the reduced amount of downforce, wasn't that the reason McLaren were using a 2008 rear wing most of the time at the last test? It could also have something to do with slightly different tyre contructions also. I guess your right and we'll just have to wait and see what happens during the next tests...

[timbo]

New rear wing for Macca

[Scotracer]

Very interesting but that picture looks a bit skewed. I would like to see their diffuser too.

Found another pic:

[malafunkshun]

Nice find... Are those heat exhaust holes I'm seeing... Just on top of the rear diffuser... Looks like it's angled toward the rear tires to warm them up?

[i70q7m7ghw]

This must be the high downforce rear wing they have been waiting for, hopefully we wont see them running the 08 wing anymore. I really can't figure out what's going on with that diffuser though...

[modbaraban]

[Paul]

Interesting shape there, although the testing times could be better.

Also, considering temperature of exhaust gases, I don't think it would be a nice idea to try an warm tires with them.) They would just burn, wouldn't they?

[axle]

Interesting shape there, although the testing times could be better.

Also, considering temperature of exhaust gases, I don't think it would be a nice idea to try an warm tires with them.) They would just burn, wouldn't they?

I think the poster meant latent heat exhaust not the engine exhaust.

[timbo]

So the cooling outlets seem to be just above the floor?

[Paul]

Oh, sorry, after staring at the picture for a little bit more, I managed to see what he meant. I suppose it is more of a cooling device, although the direction does suggest that it has something to do with the tyres too...

[DM0407]

Very interesting but that picture looks a bit skewed. I would like to see their diffuser too.

Found another pic:

Is it just me, or do the top of the end plates on the wing look different on each side?

The left side looks like the end plate extends much further than the right... Anyone have a better angle?

[Paul]

No, it's symmetrical:

[Shaddock]

Interesting shape there, although the testing times could be better.

Also, considering temperature of exhaust gases, I don't think it would be a nice idea to try an warm tires with them.) They would just burn, wouldn't they?

They were running 2010 spec tyres, so the times today are difficult to compare to the rest. The hot gases onto the tyres could be to do with next years ban on tyre warmers.

[djos]

Well well, look what's no longer on the Macca!!!!

Fancy some humble pie gents?

[NaZzO]

Well well, looks what's no longer on the Macca!!!!

front wheel fairings ?