Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[Owen.C93]

Do they use these engines in testing? Because they only used engine 1 for one race in Aus.

[Nando]

Very aggressive gearing i believe.

[Bomber_Pilot]

In what way? Top speed or fast acceleration? I only ask because I think that Vettel might be on a similar gearing strategy as he was at Monza last year, and I would like to see someone else do something similar. In fp1 I saw Vettel hitting the rev limiter veeeery soon... (but hey it was very early, so I might be wrong)

[beelsebob]

Do they use these engines in testing? Because they only used engine 1 for one race in Aus.

They get put back onto the car at later races. The engine schedule isn't designed to use up one engine then bin it, instead, make sure the freshest engines are available for the most straight line speed dominated tracks, and then reused at successively lower top speed tracks.

[JMN]

Very aggressive gearing i believe.

I'm inclined to agree. The lesson from the Webber vs. Hamilton battle of last year was, besides the tactical importance of KERS, the importance of reaching terminal velocity as fast as possible rather than focusing on slightly higher top speed.

[Nando]

In what way? Top speed or fast acceleration? I only ask because I think that Vettel might be on a similar gearing strategy as he was at Monza last year, and I would like to see someone else do something similar. In fp1 I saw Vettel hitting the rev limiter veeeery soon... (but hey it was very early, so I might be wrong)

Very very short gearing.

I´m not entirely sure but it does seem Mclaren have gone towards the Red Bull style of gearing.
Better acceleration while sacrificing some top end but ultimately in theory still cover the straight "faster".

Will be interesting to see how that affects the rear tires with a slightly more powerful engine in terms of torque.

[stadi]

23 4 Lewis Hamilton 14:34:19 308.4
24 3 Jenson Button 14:54:29 308.3

Both McLaren very bad on top speed
It's for the new engine map?

maybe new tests by FIA in front wing?

[Owen.C93]

Do they use these engines in testing? Because they only used engine 1 for one race in Aus.

They get put back onto the car at later races. The engine schedule isn't designed to use up one engine then bin it, instead, make sure the freshest engines are available for the most straight line speed dominated tracks, and then reused at successively lower top speed tracks.

I know, but what I mean is is engine 1 only have 1 weekends worth of running on or was it used in testing?

[LionKing]

Do they use these engines in testing? Because they only used engine 1 for one race in Aus.

They get put back onto the car at later races. The engine schedule isn't designed to use up one engine then bin it, instead, make sure the freshest engines are available for the most straight line speed dominated tracks, and then reused at successively lower top speed tracks.

I know, but what I mean is is engine 1 only have 1 weekends worth of running on or was it used in testing?

They can not race with them though; but they can only be used in Friday free practices in later races, isn't it?

[ajdavison2]

Do they use these engines in testing? Because they only used engine 1 for one race in Aus.

They get put back onto the car at later races. The engine schedule isn't designed to use up one engine then bin it, instead, make sure the freshest engines are available for the most straight line speed dominated tracks, and then reused at successively lower top speed tracks.

I know, but what I mean is is engine 1 only have 1 weekends worth of running on or was it used in testing?

I think the engines used in pre-season get written off, they start the season with 8 brand new units. I think thats what you were asking?

[raymondu999]

They have a pool of 8 engines to be used for free practice, qualifying and the races. They have a separate pool of 4 engines to be used for testing.

[Nando]

They are working the engines according to plan, if Lowe´s words are anything to go by.

[myurr]

Do they use these engines in testing? Because they only used engine 1 for one race in Aus.

They get put back onto the car at later races. The engine schedule isn't designed to use up one engine then bin it, instead, make sure the freshest engines are available for the most straight line speed dominated tracks, and then reused at successively lower top speed tracks.

I know, but what I mean is is engine 1 only have 1 weekends worth of running on or was it used in testing?

There's a lot of confusion here as to how the rules work! If engine one hasn't been used in a race since Aus then they would have used it for a whole host of Friday practice sessions to save life on the other units. As stated they have a separate allocation of engines for testing away from GP weekends.

[beelsebob]

The more I think, the more I think McLaren's big problem is their gear box.

• Visually, I'd say they have one of the biggest gear boxes on the grid.
• In 2011, they couldn't manage to separate their beam wing from the crash structure, I'm guessing simply because they couldn't shrink the gear box enough to get the rear crash strucutre down a bit.
• In 2011, they had several gearbox failures, so much so that I identified it as their big problem back then, and suggested that their main development push should be a williams style gearbox.
• In 2012, they've again had several gearbox failures, having succeeded in shrinking it a small amount.
• In 2012, their mechanical failures that have not involved their gearbox have generally involved parts mounted on the gearbox, suggesting that that's where things are changing.

I can't help but feel that really, still, McLaren's main focus needs to be coming up with a new super-small, bullet-proof gearbox solution.

[ajdavison2]

I think I disagree with your first statement, I thought the 2011 gearbox was mounted higher as a result of the doomed exhaust which compromised the rear end design from day 1?