Mclaren Mercedes 2014

[Paul]

Not if it complies with most current rules, or whatever the exact wording of the regulation is.

[marcush.]

the regs only mention teams -not engine suppliers .so if Honda decides to build a car and test it....it is not really covered by the rules .In Mercedes and Ferraris case the engine manufacturer and chassis is the same so not comparable ...but i think in this case Honda can do as they like as log it is their chassis project and there is no intention to campaign the test hack in the championship...clever thinking.

[basti313]

the regs only mention teams -not engine suppliers .so if Honda decides to build a car and test it....it is not really covered by the rules .In Mercedes and Ferraris case the engine manufacturer and chassis is the same so not comparable ...but i think in this case Honda can do as they like as log it is their chassis project and there is no intention to campaign the test hack in the championship...clever thinking.

But no one is talking about a Honda mule...like Ferrari had for example...McLaren is building a MP4/29H, which they will use at the first test in 2015.

[FW17]

Mclaren can build a F1 mule for one of Honda's companies which is then tested by Honda through the winter. Now that Mosley has retired, I think it is low risk.

If they run it in Japan, now one will even know.

[basti313]

Mclaren can build a F1 mule for one of Honda's companies which is then tested by Honda through the winter. Now that Mosley has retired, I think it is low risk.

If they run it in Japan, now one will even know.

Come on....

[1158]

Mclaren can build a F1 mule for one of Honda's companies which is then tested by Honda through the winter. Now that Mosley has retired, I think it is low risk.

If they run it in Japan, now one will even know.

Crazy idea. Teams often sell spare cars right? What if Mclaren sold one of the spare MP4-29s to a private collector who then turned around and sold it to Honda. Would/could that work?

Sure it wouldn't be within the spirit of the rules but that has never stopped teams before.


Edit -> I don't actually think this is what is happening, I am just wondering if this could hypothetically work as a way around the testing ban issue.

[Sasha]

MP4/29H is for the new Mclaren teammates have more time to design the MP4/30.The MP4/29H can test at the early test next year and with the MP4/30 ready for the last tests before the new season.

Who knows,Honda could be already testing the PU in their own copy of the MP4/29-RA014.

[mclaren111]

GP 24/7:

"But the fact McLaren is building a special Honda-powered 2014 test car indicates either that the full 2015 test car will not be ready for Jerez, or that the team plans to go its own route with private testing."

Surely if they are going to all this trouble to build a test car it should be more of a MP4-30(A), than a revised MP4-29. This way they can start testing next years car early - IMHO

[SectorOne]

Or it just means they will run a Honda-Mclaren on the official test days (Abu Dhabi for example). From what i understand you can run whatever you want during test sessions (like Mclaren in Jerez 2013 running a car that was essentially illegal in terms of rideheight)

[FW17]

Ron Dennis is quoted as saying: "We will start to use it at a time subsequent to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

"Out of respect for Mercedes, it will be after this date, but we do not know exactly when."

Officially, however, F1 teams are not allowed to freely test outside of the sport's test restrictions.

But the fact McLaren is building a special Honda-powered 2014 test car indicates either that the full 2015 test car will not be ready for Jerez, or that the team plans to go its own route with private testing.

Team boss Boullier is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport: "There is a gentleman's agreement among the engine manufacturers that prohibits track tests outside the official dates.

"But we could test if we wanted, because Honda is not (yet) officially part of the world championship," said the Frenchman.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff does not like the sound of that.

"You can't put an engine in an experimental car or whatever and just drive around. It's clearly against the rules."

He said Boullier's argument about Honda not yet being an official part of F1 is not valid.

"McLaren is enrolled as a team," said Wolff. "And if they have an engine supplier (for 2015), then you can't just say 'I don't know who my supplier is'.

"In this case, the rules are quite clear," he insisted.

[CptPeanut]

But what about dyno testing the mule, does that contravene any rules or existing 'gentleman's agreements'?

[ScottB]

GP 24/7:

"But the fact McLaren is building a special Honda-powered 2014 test car indicates either that the full 2015 test car will not be ready for Jerez, or that the team plans to go its own route with private testing."

Surely if they are going to all this trouble to build a test car it should be more of a MP4-30(A), than a revised MP4-29. This way they can start testing next years car early - IMHO

Unless they want to benchmark the new engine against the Merc unit, therefore using a car that is close / the same as the current 29 makes sense.

[langwadt]

But what about dyno testing the mule, does that contravene any rules or existing 'gentleman's agreements'?

5.2 Steady State and Dynamic engine dynamometer work with an F1 car or subcomponent may be performed (and therefore not within the definition of Restricted Wind Tunnel Testing) provided that :
a) The bodywork used in the test has no front wing assembly (Articles 3.7.2 to 3.7.8 of the
F1 Technical Regulations) or rear wing assembly (the whole of Article 3.10 of the F1
Technical Regulations) present.
b) No devices designed to measure directly or indirectly aerodynamic forces or flow field characteristics are installed in the facility used.
c) No sensor installed on the car or subcomponent which are capable of measuring displacements, pressures or air flow direction of the external airstream resulting directly or indirectly from the incident air flow may be logged. Logging files have to be available, if required, during the independent benchmarking inspection.
d) The gas flow exiting from the exhaust system is ducted away from the testing area before impacting on any bodywork component (other than the exhaust itself).

[CptPeanut]

But what about dyno testing the mule, does that contravene any rules or existing 'gentleman's agreements'?

5.2 Steady State and Dynamic engine dynamometer work with an F1 car or subcomponent may be performed (and therefore not within the definition of Restricted Wind Tunnel Testing) provided that :
a) The bodywork used in the test has no front wing assembly (Articles 3.7.2 to 3.7.8 of the
F1 Technical Regulations) or rear wing assembly (the whole of Article 3.10 of the F1
Technical Regulations) present.
b) No devices designed to measure directly or indirectly aerodynamic forces or flow field characteristics are installed in the facility used.
c) No sensor installed on the car or subcomponent which are capable of measuring displacements, pressures or air flow direction of the external airstream resulting directly or indirectly from the incident air flow may be logged. Logging files have to be available, if required, during the independent benchmarking inspection.
d) The gas flow exiting from the exhaust system is ducted away from the testing area before impacting on any bodywork component (other than the exhaust itself).

Thanks for clarifying. So essentially as long as there is no chance of it being construed as external aero testing it's fine.

[Thunder]

Wasn't there something at the beginning of this Season with Toro Rosso doing stational Engine Tests with the Full Car on a Test Rig in Austria? It was declared ok.