Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

[meves]

McLaren have so much experience with their wind tunnel, is it likely that they would be out by that much? I would've thought they had plenty of calibration information.

[bonjon1979]

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

It's still there, just slightly smoother. I noticed yesterday that their sidepod openings looked more refined. They're smaller and there's a small ridge on the bottom that wasn't there before.

[kilcoo316]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 5605.shtml

"For sure we are not yet where we want to be," Haug, Mercedes' motor racing chief, told Bild newspaper.

[chasefreak]

so it is true then that mclaren will have a another 4 more days to test

[bonjon1979]

so it is true then that mclaren will have a another 4 more days to test

yep, 4 days in Jerez next week.

[mattclinch]

so it is true then that mclaren will have a another 4 more days to test

yep, 4 days in Jerez next week.

will this be public, or closed event? press, timimngs etc...

[bonjon1979]

so it is true then that mclaren will have a another 4 more days to test

yep, 4 days in Jerez next week.

will this be public, or closed event? press, timimngs etc...

I think it's a public session, this is only an assumption because it would seem to bee strange to have a private session with so many teams there. It'll be interesting to see as the cars will be closer to race trim then they are now. I'll be fascinated to see where the Brawn car is, especially as I've decided to take a punt on button while the odds are still good!!

Button's just done a 1.19:1 !!! yikes...

[gcdugas]

Evidently I am not the only one in the "concerned" camp. Clicky

[Rikhart]

At this point, you would have to be fairly new to F1 (especially the testing season) to still harbour hopes that mclaren are perfectly fine, its all just a trick to confuse the others.

I have seen referenced the 2008 season, when both macs lapped the field on the first race. Well lets keep in mind that the very first lap that car made in testing was immediately 3 or 4 seconds faster than everyone else. Also please do not forget Barcelona is mclaren territory, they usually rule that track, especially in testing. They are now dead last in all testing sessions.

[bonjon1979]

At this point, you would have to be fairly new to F1 (especially the testing season) to still harbour hopes that mclaren are perfectly fine, its all just a trick to confuse the others.

I have seen referenced the 2008 season, when both macs lapped the field on the first race. Well lets keep in mind that the very first lap that car made in testing was immediately 3 or 4 seconds faster than everyone else. Also please do not forget Barcelona is mclaren territory, they usually rule that track, especially in testing. They are now dead last in all testing sessions.

Despite being cautious, I'm inclined to agree, especially when you read this:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73672

The package on the car is the Melbourne aero and no matter how much fuel they've got on, they'd never want to be 2.5 secs slower than the Brawn.

[jon-mullen]

Who was it Hamilton got in trouble for referring to as a backmarker in his rookie season? He may be eating his words for the first few gps this year.

[bonjon1979]

Who was it Hamilton got in trouble for referring to as a backmarker in his rookie season? He may be eating his words for the first few gps this year.

Not sure but isn't that what people at the back of the grid are called? By definition if he's at the back, Hamilton'll be a backmarker...

[axle]

What's with the black strakes/airflow modifiers below and behind the front wing elements? What do they add?

http://premium.f1-live.com/f1/photos-hi ... po_113.jpg

[axle]

I tell you what, 1 thing McLaren have done by going slow is generate an ENORMOUS amount of coverage for their sponsors in the closed season! Very good VFM!

[Callum]

Very true Axel...maybe it's all a cunning plan, haha:D