McLaren MP4-26 Mercedes

[Formula None]

Apparently, this is Jenson's seat fitting in the 26 ...

There's not much to go on, but it is the first official sighting of (bits of) a 2011 car

Hey! It only took five pages, but we actually have a relevant image. Thanks gridwalker.

Looks like a void behind his head. Low air intakes? Hmmm...

Zoom and enhance sector D7.

I said zoom and enhance, dammit! Zoom and enhance!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq9yj2pVWk[/youtube]

[Giblet]

It will be MP4-26

The A i have a feeling is more to do with the version of the chassis or something like that?

Do you guys really need to keep quoting the picture?

Mclaren have typically put the A (or b,c,d etc) after their name to show a development chassis, or prototypical version.

The mp4-17D was an example as it was supposed to just be a stepping stone to the never raced mp4-18.

[ringo]

rotate 90 degrees... Enhance!!!! ok stop!!

This car seems to be zero keel front suspension, based on the reflection off Jenson's Helmet.
It also seems to be a very narrow car...

Anyway i hope Jenson's larger frame doesn't make the car chunk like the WO1.
They need to cut some knee holes so he can bend up and squeeze in.

[astracrazy]

Looks like a void behind his head. Low air intakes? Hmmm...

It will just be a real basic monocoque nothing else, i bet even if they showed the whole picture there wouldn't be much to see (going from other seat fitting pictures i have ever seen)

http://www.lgblog.co.uk/2010/06/exclusi ... t-fitting/

[Blackout]

These head protections look different to me... less rounded than those in the last 3 Mclarens...

[Henning]

I believe the 25 had these too, headrest area just seems the same

The sides of the cockpit (protecting the driver's head) are definitely different to the MP4-25. Compare them to this image from the MP4-25 launch:

[astracrazy]

from both pictures i see no difference. can you highlight these differences?

Another view

[Blackout]

hmmm.. this ?

[Blackout]

And the shape of the 'shoulders' ? (but this is only a fake chassis...)

[gridwalker]

I got the photo from McLaren's own publicity material, so I am informed that this is the real deal (rather than a chassis mock-up).

Not that PR genearlly means that much ...

[astracrazy]

i think its a mock chassis, looks to square to the left where its circled

[marcush.]

but how many bucks would they have ? the LG video shows a different buck ..

[Giblet]

More than likely just the safety cell. Making a mock chassis for just a seat fitting seems like a waste of time and material.

[astracrazy]

More than likely just the safety cell. Making a mock chassis for just a seat fitting seems like a waste of time and material.

more of a waste if they make a proper one and the driver isn't comfy

this http://www.lgblog.co.uk/2010/06/exclusi ... t-fitting/ from last years seat fitting says they used a mock then, so i can only guess this year is the same as last year.

[Giblet]

I learn something new every day.

I would have assumed that knowing the drivers dimensions, and the relative ease of a seat fitting (after all just about everyone who drives an F1 car gets one) would make a mockup a waste of time and energy.

If Jenson came in for his seat fitting and had gained 20lbs and gone up a waist size, then i would make sense to me.

Making a chassis that one of your drivers didn't fit in to seems a bit on the daft side.

I guess it's like trying on new shoes. Just because they are the right size doesn't meant they will fit.