Less than 2 days since the chequered flag fell on the British Grand Prix and they are already back in action at Hockenheim.
Like the Silverstone test, this is a pre-Grand Prix test and so it has extra importance. It's the chance to hone the car and dial it into the circuit.

It's been two years since we raced at Hockenheim and so there will be plenty to do as the teams work out how best to set up their car.
Hamilton topped the timesheets during morning session with a 1:15.550 after 36 laps. The afternoon session will start at 14:00 and finishes at 18:00.

These are the morning test times:

1 HAM 1:15.550 36
2 ROS 1:16.099 35
3 SUT 1:16.516 43
4 HEI 1:16.593 30
5 PIQ 1:16.856 43
6 RAI 1:16.970 17
7 BOU 1:17.135 43
8 COU 1:17.361 25
9 KOB 1:18.118 29
10 WUR 1:18.798 29

Some clearly visible aero-updates are Mclaren's shark-fin engine cover.



Honda also came with new barge boards and wheel fairings.

I might be wrong but didnt honda run those wheel discs at silverstone?

The back of that McLaren is insane! I have to say I'm a fan of the McL car, but I don't think the shark fin suits it. The rear wing on the other hand is a thing of beauty - the skill that must be required to make those astounds me

cookty wrote:I might be wrong but didnt honda run those wheel discs at silverstone?

You're right. No wheel fairings yet at Monaco, they have been using them since Montreal. They tried fairings that covered the entire wheel first but shortly after changed them with almost half open fairings.

The Mp4-23 runs an assymetric sidepods+chinmey bodywork!

Ogami musashi wrote:The Mp4-23 runs an assymetric sidepods+chinmey bodywork!

Is that pic from today?? Only the pictures on GPUpdate today don't show they are using that sidepod still...infact it looks more standard from the pics I have seen.

I'm wondering if they use it when they expect rain or a low ambiant temperature only...

See here...pic deffo from today.



And yes Honda have been using those rim shields for a while.

At first look that McL photo looks like they have completely different chimneys on left and right - then you realise its perspective and its actually just the closed off parts that are different...

i don't know if it is from today or not sorry, i think so, i just saw it on autosport forums and the person presented it as "new" so i assumed it was from today.

Moanlower wrote:

Honda is also testing cockpit fins. So much for focusing 100% on 2009.


And BMW is testing new supports for their rear wing.

I think the wing looks cool on the McLaren. Makes it look even more aggressive, and apparently makes it go faster as well...

The shark-fin engine cover they are testing looks cool. Would be great to see that in use at the next race.

As it was already mentioned in the MP4-23 developmant thread it looks too much like MP4-10

I want to know the reasoning behind the air intake grill on the Honda.

mini696 wrote:I want to know the reasoning behind the air intake grill on the Honda.

I'd bet it's a sensor for taking measurements at the intake, which leads me to believe the team may also be adjusting its "elephant ears."

bhallg2k wrote:Honda is also testing cockpit fins. So much for focusing 100% on 2009.

I said this in another thread also.

The R&D that resulted in the items they are testing now has been done a while ago.

So I believe R&D is fully focused on 2009.