Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

[timbo]

I think the diffuser is too far in the center of the car to be affected be what goes on way out there.

Not this year.

[Sawtooth-spike]

Can we just go back to discussing whats new on the car and what it does?

All this stuff about is it fast or not its total speculation. None of use know how fast it will be. All we can really do is look at what they are doing and talk about the techinical side of the it (thus a technical forum).....

....Sorry to rant, I am just getting bored of this, Whole "is it fast or is it not stuff" cus we just dont have all the facts.

I agree. Let's all speculate on what they are testing and what it does because we certainly have all those facts, right? Not! Let's all speculate on what Sawtooth-spike wants to speculate on because he is bored with anything else.

Tune out if you are bored.

If you want to go on for pages and pages about are "Mclaren in trouble" or "Mclaren are holding back" because there times are bad and they are using paint then go ahead. But we really dont know until the first race so it totaly pointless. If people havetechnical points abouts about why they think they are having problems then go for it.

No need to be rude mate, i was just trying to get back on topic.

[axle]

...

[kilcoo316]

I have a theory for McLaren's slow testing pace. Could it be that they are getting data for their simulator? Let me explain. Since there is no testing in season they will try to use their simulator effectively to test the effect of new components. To be able to use the simulator they have to validate their simulation models and this requires special tests that not necessarily gives the fastest lap.

Valerio

But it will also require special tests that do focus on low weight runs, do focus on 100% driving (tyre friction circle really), and do focus on soft tyres.

You verify/validate parameters, and these are 3 that need considered


Its a good theory - assuming the stuff I mention above is yet to be done.

[kilcoo316]

Oooohhhh... heres a thought.


People were saying Pat Symonds alluded to McLaren fluking it with the Bridgestone grooved tyres when they had to switch...

Now that the tyre profiles have changed yet again (along with their constructions etc)... have McLaren lost what they lucked into, and don't know how to get it back? (since they never had to actively search for it in the first place - like Renault)

[bidong]

Guys... guys... guys... tone down... McLaren will be okay.. I promise you that. They will be there in the season. They will try to get a win. They won't go back to the ways where they will watch Ferrari and Renault battle it out. Lewis is there, and so is Heikki (with a contract, which is about to expire) Lewis as we have seen can be arrogant and unethical in racing but that's why he's WC. Heikki will have to be hard on his racing this year or we're going to see Rosberg in his place on 2010 (Heikki, possibly back to Renault because of Piquet's skills)

Testing wise, they might be in trouble, but I'm sure it's not as serious as you all guys think that they have chosen a fundamental design flaw. McLaren are possibly the best equipped team in Formula One today, not necessarily the best team though. but they are consistently there like Ferrari. I really know that deep within.. they're gonna make it. Testing is testing, Racing is Racing!!!

[bidong]

oooooohh... i almost forgot

EIGHTEEN FFFFFF****CCCKKKKIIIIIINNNN DAYSSSSS TILLLL MELBOURNE!!!

[xpensive]

Interesting train of thought that kilcoo, in particular when considering how Renault lost it without Michelins?

[axle]

Just to add, Lewis is doing the same sort of program as Heikki yesterday so expect similar times and again don't read to much in to it.

[chris.moden]

Looks as though the KERS cooling scoup has fell off...

[hulmerist]

http://twitter.com/leemck

i know too early but...isn't this the exact same problem renault had from 2007?

wind tunnel figures not the same as real life testing?

[CMSMJ1]

I think you are all getting a bee in you bonnet about each others responses rather than looking at this. Relax guys... no need for personal digs.. [-X

There is going to be no in season testing.

If McLaren are testing various random configurations then it might be to get some baseline data for their car to give them an advantage in the coming months.

They might be trying to get in so many different setups to see how the car behaves and this might explain why the laptimes at the tracks are not as good as they could be.

Pure speculation but it might be that the other teams are stuck in their ways and come the middle of the season and no testing of igh DF and low DF settings..maybe McLaren have stolen a march on them all?

*I am not a fan of any team or driver - I am a fan of F1*

[Kester]

I was thinking that as well, but then it occurred to me that surely to get accurate data of conditions not suited to that track, you need to have honed down the exact requirements of that track. Otherwise it is all complete guesswork.

Think about it, it's all very good saying they are basing their testing for different circuits, but how are they basing it? With last years data? Which is now most likely completely defunct, or just guessing due to what the track requires?

A much better way would be to dial your car into the track you are using then, using that data, and your previous years data, assess the differences and then apply that knowledge of the difference between 2008/2009 to start work on the low and high DF settings you want to test.

Unfortunately McLaren don't seem to have honed their car in on this circuit yet, so for me at least, it seems pretty nonsensical to say they are testing settings for other circuits.

[kilcoo316]

http://twitter.com/leemck

i know too early but...isn't this the exact same problem renault had from 2007?

wind tunnel figures not the same as real life testing?

Which goes back to the point ages ago about using flow viz...


If they are qualitatively out... they are absolutely f**ked.

[hulmerist]

indeed, we saw how wrecked 2007 was for them

maybe mclaren can get "lucky" with something again though