McLaren MP4-28 Mercedes

[stefan_]

Craig Scarborough ‏@ScarbsF1
#McLarenMP428 Detail: The rear suspension is again pullrod and follows Redbull by enclosing the driveshaft

Craig Scarborough ‏@ScarbsF1
#McLarenMP428 Detail: The frotn of the chassis is raised to 625mm and the nose step is disguised under a modesty panel

Hope it's OK to put this here.

MP4-28 Technical Specifications

[turbof1]

It is most certainly a modesty panel. The nose would else be too high. It is intricite to mclaren to work on aesthetics, so they refined it that much that it seemlessly integrates in the bodywork.

[WillerZ]

Based on stefan_'s last photo it looks like they have repositioned the front brake callipers to 6 O'Clock so that can put a mini diffuser close to the ground on the inside of the front tyres. I expect this gives them more downforce (and less drag) than the "traditional" tri-plane wing higher up. Of course these bits are small but they all add up.

Anyone have a shot of the rear brake ducting to see if they are doing the same thing there?

[Holm86]

Theres alot of space on the floor area between the rear tires and the sidepod.

[Sevach]

Mclaren's interpretation of the sidepod/impact test bulge looks weird to me, i don't know what to make of it.

This new pods do look more round from the front and the pull rod + high nose give the car an entirely different look.
Exhaust look like late season MP4-27.

[Rikhart]

The area around the sidepods, also the back area, lower wing etc, look amazingly detailed and complex. Surprised they show this much at launch.

[Huntresa]

Craig Scarborough ‏@ScarbsF1
#McLarenMP428 Detail: The frotn of the chassis is raised to 625mm and the nose step is disguised under a modesty panel

So i was right

[turbof1]

I noticed anchor points underneath the nose. Turnings vanes are to follow. Strange that for a presentation car with such a level of detail, it isn't showing the turning vanes. What could mclaren possibly be hiding?

[meves]

Same as Renault, they obviously think their is an advantage to be had through parts that are easy to copy in the front wing and turning vane area. I would guess, new front wing and turning vanes, new floor and diffuser to come and maybe the hoop vanes around the sidepods again!

[beelsebob]

Completely non technical post... Sorry, but I think we have a contender for most beautiful car in F1 history here.

[Tim.Wright]

Sorry, post 2008 cars aren't eligible for that prize

[thestig84]

Doesn't look like there's a modestly panel to me. Just looks like the nose.

And thereby stating the exact reason for a modesty panel! I think some people where expecting it to be like a quick release panel as its not structural. Mclaren were never going to do a crude slap on panel. Hopefully we will never see it break off as I guess only a crash would show it underneath.

[Lurk]

Mirror mounting looks great. Don't know how they come to that as they usually don't changed and kept simple...

Rear suspension is amazing. Y upper arm, lower arm is mounted very high and includes driveshaft - very RBR inspired. Pull rod seems very low (not as low as RB8, but between MP4-27 and RB8), but that could be just my eyes, I didn't see clear shoot of its mounting point yet.

Top of sidepods seem very flat all along; they ended rounded the previous years.


BTW, no rear brake duct? surely a lot to come in this area, combined with tricky exhaust solution and diffusor. But I don't expect a clone of RBR solution.

[Nando]

Completely non technical post... Sorry, but I think we have a contender for most beautiful car in F1 history here.

*slap*

Get a hold of yourself!

[Giando]

Hello everyone from Italy.

The new MP4-28 - or at least the version that has been showed today - is a very interesting car, indeed.

It features a raised chassis, so they will be able to mount a vanity panel nose-cone like today (the panel edges are somehow hidden under the painting... scale modelers know what i mean here) and - if necessary - a stepped nose.

It has quite an evolutionary suspension scheme at the front: it's a pull rod like Ferrari's but the geometry is very different, take a look at how high the upper front whishbone connects to the chassis... (and that's why the steering arm had to be lowered) and compare to the other part of the triangle, specifically the arm towards the cockpit.
Also the pull-rod arm is inclined more toward the center of the car when viewed from above.

A lot of refined aerodynamics can be seen:
- mirrors struts
- all the area around and under the driver's legs
- the rear suspensions which are full 'wing-shaped' according to what is allowed by the rules

Also the radiators intake are a little bigger when compared to MP4-27, so cooling should be more efficient (and reliability, too).

The exhausts scheme is just a temporary solution and i'm sure they will test something new there.

I have the strong sensation (personal of course, not based on any evidence) that this is a car with great potential.

Regards