McLaren MP4-26 Mercedes

[Blackout]

+ beautiful front endplates
+ intersting winglets obove the sidepods

http://www.f1today.nl/foto.php?file=11909
http://www.f1today.nl/foto.php?file=11908

[senftl]

looks like a sensor array for the FW to me.

[imightbewrong]

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that they are measuring the flexing/forces of the front wing.

[hotochan]

maybe something to do with fw-flexing? i kinda remember seing RBR testing with a similar setup in pre-2010-testing.

[murtoidf1]

trying to sort out a flexing front wing..

[gibells]

Redbull had a similar rig on the RB6 in their final test last year. No one knew the gravity of what they were testing until midseason. So now equipped with more supple suspension to make it work on the 26, I'd say flexi wings here we come.

Sorry didn't spot all the immediate comments.

What's its porpoise?

I'll get my coat...

[raymondu999]

What does suspension have to do with the flexing? THe wing is far away from the suspension

[bonjon1979]

+ beautiful front endplates
+ intersting winglets obove the sidepods

http://www.f1today.nl/foto.php?file=11909
http://www.f1today.nl/foto.php?file=11908

Interesting that the shape of the sidepods allow Mclaren allows them to put winglets on the sidepods.

[Holm86]

There is a picture on the autosport livestream. It is for measuring wingloads and not a aero feature.

[hotochan]

What does suspension have to do with the flexing? THe wing is far away from the suspension

have a further look on that pic posted above

[Shrieker]

What does suspension have to do with the flexing? THe wing is far away from the suspension

Stiff suspension = rough ride for the sprung parts (including the nose and the fw). This might upset the aero of a flexi wing config.

OTOH, better working suspension (soft ones) = a smoother ride for the sprung parts; more suitable for a flexi wing config (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Maybe that's why McLaren couldn't get a flexi wing to work last season ?

[murtoidf1]

What does suspension have to do with the flexing? THe wing is far away from the suspension

the suspension goes up and down and effects the ride hide and also the angle of attack of air coming onto the car.

all of that has to be considered when trying to get a wing to flex..

if the car is too low, and the wing flexes too much, itll hit the ground too lol

[gibells]

What does suspension have to do with the flexing? THe wing is far away from the suspension

The rig will measure tension in each of the support hangars, thereby accurately measuring the amount of movement the wing produces for given variables on the straights and in corners. Its plain to see there's nothing reactive about the way McLaren go testing.

[kalinka]

I think gibbles referred to the suspension of the measuring device, and not front wheel suspension...It's more aerodynamic than a RBR's was in 2010...it was just a box on the nose IIRC.

[marcush.]

RBR5 in wintertesting 2009: