McLaren extends KONI partnership
McLaren have recently announced that it has extended its technical partnership with KONI. The damper manufacturer is a long time partner of McLaren. With the new deal it will continue to assist McLaren and deliver its frequency selective damping system.
While the regulation changes for next year's Formula 1 World Championship are not as extensive or radical as those introduced at the start of 2009, the new rules - which include the banning of refueling and the introduction of narrower front tyres - will inevitably require some serious thinking from all teams if they are to be exploited to their fullest extent.
Not least of these are the additional considerations that stem from carrying significantly heavier fuel-loads through the race - increasing fuel-weight from around 60kg for a typical two-stop strategy to more than 150kg for a full race distance, and slowing laptimes by as much as five seconds at the start of each grand prix.
In order to cope with these demands, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Dutch shock absorber manufacturer KONI have extended their successful partnership, which will continue the Formula 1 team's use of KONI's unique frequency selective damping (FSD) system.
FSD's hydraulic system can be tuned for aerodynamic stability, but, when the going gets tough, such as when a grand prix car is travelling over kerbs, it will adopt an optimum setting for handling and feel of the car.
For 2010, optimal damping will be essential: the heavier cars will require a stable aero platform, particularly where damping assists most: the entries and exits of corners. By reducing unwanted vehicle movement while simultaneously improving driver 'feel', KONI's FSD system provides 'instant' laptime.
"KONI's FSD is intelligent damping," says McLaren Racing's managing director, Jonathan Neale. "FSD thinks for us - so it gives the drivers greater confidence and means they can drive through corners with maximum commitment - something you're always looking for when you're pushing a racing car to operate at its limit."
In addition, KONI continues to expand its FSD technology into the road car market, providing vehicles with an intelligent mechanical system that doesn't require complicated electronics, and which also allows vehicles to be driven more efficiently.
Frits Altorf, KONI's sales engineer, car OE & racing, added: "Formula 1 is an extremely prestigious international shop window for KONI's state-of-the-art products - therefore, we're delighted to have extended our partnership with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, particularly as damper technology will be more important than ever in 2010.
"Additionally, the damping technology you see at the racetrack feeds directly into the pioneering work we're undertaking on our road car FSD systems. The success we've achieved with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes gives the clearest possible demonstration of how KONI FSD technology can also provide outstanding performance and comfort on the road."
