McLaren MP4-31 Honda

[vantage87]

A closer look at the McLaren-Honda MP4-31

full technical analysis:
http://en.f1i.com/magazine/43018-a-clos ... p4-31.html

[ringo]

Hmm. We're not too far away from being halfway through testing. I'm not seeing anything from the Mclaren to suggest that it's anything but a bottom half of the field car. They might sort the engine out and get more power come australia. They might have a good chassis but challenging for podiums? Not on what we've seen. Now we've had the first engine blow out too. This all feels very familiar. For sure, they've managed more laps this year but I don't have confidence in them at all.

But i wouldn't pressure them too much. The first thing Ron said was that they will get points initially. Which means appearing in Q3. I think this car can make an appearance in Q3 a few times. So lets start from there then see if they can steal a podium in a high attrition race.

I'm not sure why you find that funny. I see nothing from the 31 to suggest it is ahead of

Merc
Ferrari
Williams
Red bull
Toro rosso
Force India


That puts it in the bottom half.

What we have is people from within Honda and Mclaren saying that it's not fast enough and not reliable enough.

I agree with you, that's why i'm laughing. It's better than sulking. I feel it for the Honda fans who must endure one year of teeth gnashing.

[McG]

But i wouldn't pressure them too much. The first thing Ron said was that they will get points initially. Which means appearing in Q3. I think this car can make an appearance in Q3 a few times. So lets start from there then see if they can steal a podium in a high attrition race.

I'm not sure why you find that funny. I see nothing from the 31 to suggest it is ahead of

Merc
Ferrari
Williams
Red bull
Toro rosso
Force India


That puts it in the bottom half.

What we have is people from within Honda and Mclaren saying that it's not fast enough and not reliable enough.

I agree with you, that's why i'm laughing. It's better than sulking. I feel it for the Honda fans who must endure one year of teeth gnashing.

I don't think they have pushed yet. In fact they said so themselves.

Why are people writing them off after 3 days of testing?

[Xero]

I don't think they have pushed yet. In fact they said so themselves.

Why are people writing them off after 3 days of testing?

Exactly. McLaren have been throwing more parts at the car compared to other teams, it's clear they have been focusing on chassis and aero assessment, while not pushing their luck with the engine. An engine change would wreck their testing schedule, not worth risking it until the end of the week. I think tomorrow afternoon, for the last couple of hours at least, Alonso will be allowed the push the car/engine as hard as he likes.

[Gustavo Santos]

I totally agree with you both. McLaren is doing what they didn't do last year.. First a stable base to work on without losing time changing engines, then performance. I believe they are on the right track, but one shouldn't expect a huge improvement for now. But this is only the 3rd day of testing.. Still a lot more hours on track to run and in Melbourne we will see if they are really improving.

In my opinion after what we've seen in this first days, there are improvements in reliability and I the chassis department. Testing is very misleading if we look only to the time sheets...

[ollandos]

my understand its...honda have all ready the PU...turbo compressor -mguk-h ...but they dont finish the air intake system and managment.....that mean very high fuel consumption with very low performance...at the moment try checks on reliability..and ers system .....and any other areas of this car (aero-suspencion-brakes-transmission......the air intake and managment of air defore the meet with fuel on cylinder its very critical for power gains....and with all other problematic parts of engine..honda its out of time to be ready 100% to the max. level ....

at the end i like this car and i believe mclaren can win this year with this car.....the calendar is very cleverly with 7 races on june and july.....

[frosty125]

https://twitter.com/f1writers/status/702518315227467777

Louvers on those radiators?

Also wondering if the configuration is the same.

[DiogoBrand]

Does somebody know what are those little flaps at the bottom part of the S-duct outlet? They always looked like they were there because the duct wasn't in their plans at first, but now with a new car they're still there.
Edit: Here are the flaps I was referring to:

[trinidefender]

Does somebody know what are those little flaps at the bottom part of the S-duct outlet? They always looked like they were there because the duct wasn't in their plans at first, but now with a new car they're still there.
Edit: Here are the flaps I was referring to:
http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y48 ... 5duint.png

I had always thought that they were replaceable. Therefore if McLaren wants to draw more airflow through the S duct it will place slightly larger flaps. I.e. To fine tune the mass of airflow going through the S duct.

I cannot confirm this theory obviously so don't hold me to it however until now I have not thought of or heard a better reason. Anybody else have any ideas?

[Lucky]

[Lucky]

[DiogoBrand]

There's so much talk about rake that they've actually fixed one to the car now.

Sorry for the bad joke.

[mclaren111]

Why the wire from exhaust ??

[iichel]

DRS actuator?

[BlackSwan]

Why the wire from exhaust ??

http://i2.wp.com/www.grandprix247.com/w ... .jpg?w=750

Probably a sensor to measure exaust plume.