Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[Owen.C93]

McLaren's bulging flap is back. It looks like it's inflatable actually

[JMN]

Actually, when did McLaren lower their brake calibers to that position? If memory serves the RB7 (or was it the 6?) had issues with its low-positioned brake calibers getting stuck in the closed position, and subsequently changed it to a less extreme position in order to be less prone to failures (presumably from dirt getting stuck in them).

[Forza]

Japan FP1

[Holm86]

The flap that goes over the sidepod intake isnt it positioned higher than earlier??

[ianwit]

According to GA on the beeb it has a new profile so there is a change there.

[McMrocks]

The flap that goes over the sidepod intake isnt it positioned higher than earlier??

yes. hope they are under the maximum height:
no bodywork situated more than 330mm behind the front wheel centre line and more than 330mm forward of the rear wheel centre line, which is more than 600mm above the reference plane, may be more than 300mm from the car centre line.
3.8.1
But i think they don't make such mistakes

[Jef Patat]

I don't think so, in other pics it looks lower than the top of the sidepod.

[McMrocks]

Japan F

smaller air outlet?

and in the lower pic: look at the main element. i don't understand the shape in the area next to the endplate. What advantage should this bring?

[Morteza]

[gibells]

Japan FP1

It looks like they have reprofiled the airbox fairing to alter how the sidepod air exhausts out at the back.

[PlatinumZealot]

Japan F

smaller air outlet?

and in the lower pic: look at the main element. i don't understand the shape in the area next to the endplate. What advantage should this bring?

Has been on the car since last year. That little concave part on the main element allows them to run a narrower more vertical DRS flap. IT helps the DRS.

[McMrocks]

thank ya n smikle

[turbof1]

Japan FP1

Interesting development. They not only changed the width inbetween the panel and the upper edge of sidepod, they also changed the shape of it. The vane extends now more inwards. This was the Singapore one:



Here we have the new turning vane in side view:

The new one is most certainly legal; it isn't higher then the highest point of the sidepod. Also it looks the little winglets right in front of the turning vane, work now more in conjunction with the vane.

The fact that the vane isn't higher then the top edge of the sidepod, while the previous one already came very close to that, makes me suspect they changed the sidepod entrance layout. I can't find a good image from FP where that shows up. Does someone perhaps came accros a frontal image from the McLaren from this FP?

[Owen.C93]

New splitter.

Old:

Old:

New:

New:

[Holm86]

Japan FP1

Interesting development. They not only changed the width inbetween the panel and the upper edge of sidepod, they also changed the shape of it. The vane extends now more inwards. This was the Singapore one:



Here we have the new turning vane in side view:

The new one is most certainly legal; it isn't higher then the highest point of the sidepod. Also it looks the little winglets right in front of the turning vane, work now more in conjunction with the vane.

The fact that the vane isn't higher then the top edge of the sidepod, while the previous one already came very close to that, makes me suspect they changed the sidepod entrance layout. I can't find a good image from FP where that shows up. Does someone perhaps came accros a frontal image from the McLaren from this FP?

I believe the previous version only created a more laminar flow on the sidepod roof to help the coanda effect on the exhaust. But i think the new one create downforce in itself beside creating a more laminar flow.