McLaren MCL39

A place to discuss the characteristics of the cars in Formula One, both current as well as historical. Laptimes, driver worshipping and team chatter do not belong here.
User avatar
mwillems
44
Joined: 04 Sep 2016, 22:11

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

BassVirolla wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 10:47
Given the rules about weight distribution between axles, the CoG is quite limited in location.

The amount of ballast which makes sense for setup is very restricted.

Nevertheless, it would be possible to fit ballast under the CoG to get it even lower, while not moving it forward nor rearward.
On the article I posted, there is this to say about weight distribution:

Front suspension: Carbon-fibre / titanium suspension legs, pullrod operating inboard torsion bar, spring and damper system

Rear suspension: Carbon-fibre / titanium suspension legs, pushrod operating inboard torsion bar, spring and damper system

Weight: Overall vehicle weight 800 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)

Weight distribution between: 44.6% and 46.1% on front axle

Whether that is something that is with a regulation and how tight they are, I do not know. So that may or may not be insightful.
I'm not taking advice from a cartoon dog

-Bandit

User avatar
BassVirolla
12
Joined: 20 Jul 2018, 23:55

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

mwillems wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 13:30
BassVirolla wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 10:47
Given the rules about weight distribution between axles, the CoG is quite limited in location.

The amount of ballast which makes sense for setup is very restricted.

Nevertheless, it would be possible to fit ballast under the CoG to get it even lower, while not moving it forward nor rearward.
On the article I posted, there is this to say about weight distribution:

Front suspension: Carbon-fibre / titanium suspension legs, pullrod operating inboard torsion bar, spring and damper system

Rear suspension: Carbon-fibre / titanium suspension legs, pushrod operating inboard torsion bar, spring and damper system

Weight: Overall vehicle weight 800 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)

Weight distribution between: 44.6% and 46.1% on front axle

Whether that is something that is with a regulation and how tight they are, I do not know. So that may or may not be insightful.
I think that's nearly what the rules restrict. I think I remember to be about a 2% of variability.

f1rules
f1rules
609
Joined: 11 Jan 2004, 15:34
Location: Denmark

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

Piastri has suggested there are items on the car that could get the F1 paddock talking once testing gets underway.

“There are some interesting things on the car which I’m sure everyone will see tomorrow,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.

Emag
Emag
102
Joined: 11 Feb 2019, 14:56

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

f1rules wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 21:12
Piastri has suggested there are items on the car that could get the F1 paddock talking once testing gets underway.

“There are some interesting things on the car which I’m sure everyone will see tomorrow,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.
We didn’t see the diffuser and I suppose some of the engine cover bodywork might have been an early MCL39 spec for the camo run.

Other than that, the wings were also 2024-spec, but there isn’t much you can come up with there.

Excited for tomorrow. We will get first proper pics of the car.
Developer of F1InsightsHub

User avatar
RedNEO
40
Joined: 09 Jul 2016, 12:58

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

f1rules wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 21:12
Piastri has suggested there are items on the car that could get the F1 paddock talking once testing gets underway.

“There are some interesting things on the car which I’m sure everyone will see tomorrow,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.
Upside down suspension?

f1rules
f1rules
609
Joined: 11 Jan 2004, 15:34
Location: Denmark

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

yeah i dont know, if this wording in the statement is correct, i havent seen mclaren going to this length of keeping their car secret, and im not talking about diffuser, that can be hidden easily. There must be some kind of solution somewhere, the front susp has already been shown so, its really intriguing

Macklaren
Macklaren
12
Joined: 23 Feb 2014, 16:26

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

Are we sure he's not just referring to the anti-dive? Does he know it's been discussed to death online? How active is Oscar on F1T? :D

f1rules
f1rules
609
Joined: 11 Jan 2004, 15:34
Location: Denmark

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

yeah maybe, thats a good point. Interesting enough Kravitz mention McL's rear susp as agressive

https://x.com/i/status/1894477471581409613
Macklaren wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 22:25
Are we sure he's not just referring to the anti-dive? Does he know it's been discussed to death online? How active is Oscar on F1T? :D

Emag
Emag
102
Joined: 11 Feb 2019, 14:56

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

Weird slot-looking thing at the top of the sidepods :

Image

Taken from this :

Developer of F1InsightsHub

User avatar
organic
1100
Joined: 08 Jan 2022, 02:24
Location: Cambridge, UK

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

Emag wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 22:51
Weird slot-looking thing at the top of the sidepods :

https://i.imgur.com/xyF7YcC.png

Taken from this :

Quite clear from this angle that it's just the top surface of the waterslide catching the light

Image

Emag
Emag
102
Joined: 11 Feb 2019, 14:56

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

organic wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 22:59
Emag wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 22:51
Weird slot-looking thing at the top of the sidepods :

https://i.imgur.com/xyF7YcC.png

Taken from this :

Quite clear from this angle that it's just the top surface of the waterslide catching the light

https://i.imgur.com/IsG7iN7.jpeg
Honestly, that still looks kind of weird.
Developer of F1InsightsHub

CjC
CjC
13
Joined: 03 Jul 2012, 20:13

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

f1rules wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 21:12
Piastri has suggested there are items on the car that could get the F1 paddock talking once testing gets underway.

“There are some interesting things on the car which I’m sure everyone will see tomorrow,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.
The floor?
Wasn’t it rumoured Mclaren didn’t bring a redesigned floor towards the back end of last season so the other teams couldn’t see it and then spend all winter creating their own interpretations of it?

I know McLaren did take a new floor towards the latter part of last season but I think we all agreed it was very similar to the eye compared to the old one
Just a fan's point of view

User avatar
nico5
25
Joined: 12 Mar 2017, 18:55

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

CjC wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 23:07
f1rules wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 21:12
Piastri has suggested there are items on the car that could get the F1 paddock talking once testing gets underway.

“There are some interesting things on the car which I’m sure everyone will see tomorrow,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.
The floor?
Wasn’t it rumoured Mclaren didn’t bring a redesigned floor towards the back end of last season so the other teams couldn’t see it and then spend all winter creating their own interpretations of it?

I know McLaren did take a new floor towards the latter part of last season but I think we all agreed it was very similar to the eye compared to the old one
They did bring a substantial upgrade to the floor in Mexico, adding a second kick further up, as Vanja explained, so don't think they were keeping anything hidden. Always better to test on track

CjC
CjC
13
Joined: 03 Jul 2012, 20:13

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

nico5 wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 23:25
CjC wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 23:07
f1rules wrote:
25 Feb 2025, 21:12
Piastri has suggested there are items on the car that could get the F1 paddock talking once testing gets underway.

“There are some interesting things on the car which I’m sure everyone will see tomorrow,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.
The floor?
Wasn’t it rumoured Mclaren didn’t bring a redesigned floor towards the back end of last season so the other teams couldn’t see it and then spend all winter creating their own interpretations of it?

I know McLaren did take a new floor towards the latter part of last season but I think we all agreed it was very similar to the eye compared to the old one
They did bring a substantial upgrade to the floor in Mexico, adding a second kick further up, as Vanja explained, so don't think they were keeping anything hidden. Always better to test on track
Struggling to remember that to be honest.

Just had a look at pages 66 and 67
viewtopic.php?t=31567&start=975

Looks to me like we are all struggling to see anything with our eye- even Vanja at that moment in time.
Vanja may have spotted something later and I haven’t followed their observations.
Vanja has noticed a ‘pocket’ on the MCL39 floor pre-season - this might be the floor the team didn’t want the others to see.

I’m only speculating though from my arm chair, I’m looking forward to what we can see over the next 3 days
Just a fan's point of view

Ground Effect
Ground Effect
14
Joined: 02 Mar 2018, 12:39

Re: McLaren MCL39

Post

Ted Kravitz says the MCL39 looks aggressive, we'll soon see for ourselves.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/1 ... an-ferrari
Q: (Stefano Mancini – La Stampa) Kimi, will you help Vettel to win his championship this year?
Kimi Raikkonen: I can only drive one car, obviously. 
@2018 Singapore Grand Prix drivers press conference.