Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[horse]

It will be interesting to see wether the top panels of the side pods / engine cover remain in this iteration, as I feel there may be some room in there to reshape their profile and refine the guiding of the air in this area in a manner similar to but less extreme than last years U pods and this years Ferrari.

I would agree that this seems the most likely place for there to be changes. I'm not sure it's the level of changes that Button was referring to, but perhaps.

I think they will find a neater solution to the cut outs that are atop the exhausts at the moment, at the very least, but perhaps they have now made a choice on preferred exhaust layout and are adapting the rear bodywork to suit. Who knows? I guess we'll see in Melbourne.

I really don't think they would change the nose though, that would just seem desperate, and I don't think they are desperate.

[Owen.C93]

Seems pretty "rakey"



Here's an overhead view with some interesting changes to the floor, one side has a brownish floor like when they had that fantail attached to the 26, while the ther side is normal with some silver something on it. Trying to find more pics.

[Chalke]

'Marble' collectors?

[tjaeger]

has Mclaren ever come up with a whole new front wing design other then the current one?

I guess, this has been with us since the last few races of MP4-25????

Well if it aint broke don't fix it haha.

Sound good to me. But when I see the RB, Lotus or even the Merc front wings from above, Mclaren wing seem simple and not as huge as theirs. Specially RB seems to have a large area which might be the answer to flexi wings...

I just guessing by the way...

Think you cannot compare them to the others. McLaren entire aero concept is different, given their low front nose. Hence the FW will be different to compliment that design. Just thinking, could be wrong.

[hardingfv32]

Side pod around the exhaust channel as viewed in the above photo:

Why not a more sleek shrouding shape on the surface that faces outward in a side view? It is very round. Are they trying for some interaction with the top opening of the exhaust channel?

Brian

[murtoidf1]

It seems unusual for McLaren and Red Bull to have so little upgrades in the second test.

Could this be because teams are trying to keep their killer ideas under wraps til the latest possible time?

[raymondu999]

Or teams are starting to struggle to find where to optimise the cars because they're so optimised for the current regs already

[NoDivergence]

McLaren already stated that first updates would be for third test during the presentation at the car unveiling. Everything is on schedule. McLaren looking great!

[Pup]

I'm surprised, though, that they didn't test some alternates. Especially the exhaust. Maybe they started with their most extreme solution, and since it worked they didn't feel a need to test the others?

[richard_leeds]

There will have been a lot of tweaking and testing of various parts under the bodywork.

I am surprised we haven't seen several exhaust variations. However, they can be copied very easily so perhaps all the teams are waiting until the final test days before they reveal any variants? Just the RB6 or 7 when the exhaust exit jumped from top of pod to bottom at the last test?

[Mr.S]

Whitemarsh sounds confident,he says Mclaren is as good if not stronger than Red Bull in fast corners. Maybe their have improved on their rear grip & worked on the setup.

[gilgen]

Whitemarsh sounds confident,he says Mclaren is as good if not stronger than Red Bull in fast corners. Maybe their have improved on their rear grip & worked on the setup.

Not much point being faster in the corners, if you are slower on a full lap.

[beelsebob]

Whitemarsh sounds confident,he says Mclaren is as good if not stronger than Red Bull in fast corners. Maybe their have improved on their rear grip & worked on the setup.

Not much point being faster in the corners, if you are slower on a full lap.

Sure, but if they've maintained their traditional strengths of grip out of slow corners, and straight line speed, there's not a lot more than they need to get right.

[ianwit]

Seems pretty "rakey"

Good pic of the rake on Pitpass, copyright Joanne Burnett.

[KeiKo403]

Nice find...any idea what caused Button to stop on track?