Mclaren MP4-31 Honda Speculation Thread

[DiogoBrand]

Because I live in Italy and EVERY f1 journalist and insider I trust is reporting so! Next year car will have finally a new push rod front suspension, a short nose, and a smaller PU to allow smaller sidepods.

All very welcome changes, those three areas are the ones where Ferrari seems to be the least advanced in relation to the others.

I've seen someone talking about suspension changes from McLaren as well, could someone explain what and why they are?

[graham.reeds]

I think the unveiled car will look very similar to this one. The first test will be a shocker due to the PU. The second test will be better with more reliable PU and upgraded front wing. The overall package for the first race will be a significant improvement over this year allowing them to mix it with the second tier teams (Sauber, Force India and Lotus).

[turbof1]

Ferrari will change quite a lot for sure.

Why are you saying that? Maybe I missed some news?

Because I live in Italy and EVERY f1 journalist and insider I trust is reporting so! Next year car will have finally a new push rod front suspension, a short nose, and a smaller PU to allow smaller sidepods.

Do those F1 journalists and insiders tell how the nose can legitimately get shorter then the regulated requirement?




Maybe they can grind off a couple of mm, just maybe, but it's basically at the limit. The nose tip has to atleast extend roughly halfway the neutral section. I think it's right on the money there.

What could be possible as that they are able to reshape the nose cone, more similar to Red Bull and Williams. It does NOT get shorter, but it will allow more airflow between the nose cone and mounting pylons:

[ferkan]

Look how small RBR air inlet is compared to McLarens.

[trinidefender]

Look how small RBR air inlet is compared to McLarens.

RedBull also has the large inlet right underneath their top air let above the drivers head. From what I can see McLaren had some of the smallest sidepod openings this year.

What I think McLaren can do with the nose is to make it more RedBull like, if you look at RedBull's nose the openings next to the thumb extend higher up the nose allowing more airflow underneath.

[DiogoBrand]

Do those F1 journalists and insiders tell how the nose can legitimately get shorter then the regulated requirement?


Maybe they can grind off a couple of mm, just maybe, but it's basically at the limit. The nose tip has to atleast extend roughly halfway the neutral section. I think it's right on the money there.

What could be possible as that they are able to reshape the nose cone, more similar to Red Bull and Williams. It does NOT get shorter, but it will allow more airflow between the nose cone and mounting pylons:

I'm pretty sure he was talking about Ferrari.

[chenpei24730]

@Wazari

Did you talk to your nephew lately?

No I haven't. I will see him during the Christmas/New Year holidays. I'm sure Honda is already working to resolve their MGU-H/K issues. They will continue to improve ICE output and efficiency. Knowing PP, I see significant if not radical changes for the MP4-31 next year; since we're just speculating.

I speculate bigger turbine, ES resdesign, major plumbing changes and broader mapping range.

Your nephew is someone who works in MC/Honda ? That's coooool!

[Joseki]

Do those F1 journalists and insiders tell how the nose can legitimately get shorter then the regulated requirement?


Maybe they can grind off a couple of mm, just maybe, but it's basically at the limit. The nose tip has to atleast extend roughly halfway the neutral section. I think it's right on the money there.

What could be possible as that they are able to reshape the nose cone, more similar to Red Bull and Williams. It does NOT get shorter, but it will allow more airflow between the nose cone and mounting pylons:

I'm pretty sure he was talking about Ferrari.

Correct, I was OT.

[Wazari]

My nephew works for Honda Racing in Sakura, Japan, just as I had about 30 years ago.

[Thunder]

The 2016 Ferrari has it's own Thread Guys.

[SectorOne]

Do those F1 journalists and insiders tell how the nose can legitimately get shorter then the regulated requirement?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUvCE4kUAAAWQCo.jpg
http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/McL ... 912512.jpg
http://img2.auto-motor-und-sport.de/McL ... 903817.jpg
Maybe they can grind off a couple of mm, just maybe, but it's basically at the limit. The nose tip has to atleast extend roughly halfway the neutral section. I think it's right on the money there.

What could be possible as that they are able to reshape the nose cone, more similar to Red Bull and Williams. It does NOT get shorter, but it will allow more airflow between the nose cone and mounting pylons:
http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Red ... 912515.jpg

Theres at least 5cm they can cut off from that nose, Mercedes and Lotus have the shortest nosecones on the grid and if Mclaren will introduce a shorter nose then what they have then it will be a Merc-nose.

[turbof1]

Do those F1 journalists and insiders tell how the nose can legitimately get shorter then the regulated requirement?


Maybe they can grind off a couple of mm, just maybe, but it's basically at the limit. The nose tip has to atleast extend roughly halfway the neutral section. I think it's right on the money there.

What could be possible as that they are able to reshape the nose cone, more similar to Red Bull and Williams. It does NOT get shorter, but it will allow more airflow between the nose cone and mounting pylons:

I'm pretty sure he was talking about Ferrari.

Correct, I was OT.

My apologies; I didn't read the original quote .

[GoranF1]

This is from Pirelli test day...interesting there is a heat sensor on RW endplate,something to do whit next years 3 exaust pipes?
[tweet]Check out @Graftechweb's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Graftechweb/status/ ... 49536?s=09[/tweet]

Edit: on better look i now see its on monkey seat endplate...sorry.

[dren]

I expect a very similar looking car with the biggest changes at the rear suspension set-up. I think it will be more in line with what others are doing. The engine cover might be a bit bigger depending on the changes to the Honda PU.

[superdowg316]

Anyone know whether the car McLaren ran at the Abu Dhabi test had a PU with a fixed turbine and MGU-K or if it was just a race engine? Could be interesting using Vandoorne to give data and run in a new configuration.

Anyways, I'm expecting a much better driving car overall. Both parties know where they each went wrong this year so I'm expecting that they'll be working feverishly to not make the same mistakes. At best I think the car will be a mid points contender, about 5th-10th each race over the season. Reliability has a question mark, but I do think the car will be better enough to warrant Jenson, Fernando, Ron, Eric etc., etc. telling the media "how much potential" this car has and that "it just needs a little extra".

Aesthetics will look the same. Maybe a few more sponsors with good results, but no title sponsor (again) or anything to change it from being black and red for the moment. And some wing improvements as well.