Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

[beelsebob]

One thing that I missed in this image was the duct they use for the extra cooling (and no doubt a bit of aero benefit) which exits at the beginning of the sidepods. I first found a shot of it in 2010 but never could find it again. It's out of focus here but you get the idea.

Can you provide a little more detail about the duct's location, I do not see it.

Brian

Black carbon at the top of the rad on the far left. Here's an image without it: http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2012/d12esp314.jpg

I don't see what you're referring to - could you highlight it?

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Black carbon at the top of the rad on the far left. Here's an image without it: http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2012/d12esp314.jpg

Ownen are you talking about the rectangular slot on top of the sidepods just past the inlet? Similar to what RB use?

edit: Like in this picture. Drivers left. At least that's what I think he's talking about.

[Owen.C93]

Yes, that hole.

[f1motta]

McLaren: Adjustable rear brake ducts - system development http://www.f1talks.pl/2012/05/16/mclare ... velopment/

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Interesting that Lewis & Jenson ran different brake setups in Spain. I wonder if the adjustable brake ducts played a factor in Jenson's performance, or lack thereof?


Lewis's car on left


via @russellbatch

[gray41]

Jenson changed to Lewis brakes on saturday morning though?

[SiLo]

[img]http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu18 ... 57.jpg[img]

Clearly different philosophies of how to utilise the front wings...
Just realised the lines are hard to see, but they are there!

thats a terrible comparison, and not only that but vettels front wing is clearly broken here.

The general planes of the wings are not broken, so the comparison is good thank you very much. It highlights how much the RB wing twists compared to the Mclaren wing in a corner.

[wesley123]

The general planes of the wings are not broken, so the comparison is good thank you very much. It highlights how much the RB wing twists compared to the Mclaren wing in a corner.

It is a decent comparision and does show the RB flexing a bit more, although the fact that Vettel here in this picture is further on track being more in the braking zone(it seems), he also has his front suspension compressed more, thus running the wing closer to the ground.

Apart from that, we know that the McLArens are running very stiff, mainly on the front. Thus maintaining a more constant front ride height.

All this distorts the 'truth' in the picture due to different suspension settings as well as track position

[Nando]

The general planes of the wings are not broken, so the comparison is good thank you very much. It highlights how much the RB wing twists compared to the Mclaren wing in a corner.

It is a decent comparision and does show the RB flexing a bit more, although the fact that Vettel here in this picture is further on track being more in the braking zone(it seems), he also has his front suspension compressed more, thus running the wing closer to the ground.

Apart from that, we know that the McLArens are running very stiff, mainly on the front. Thus maintaining a more constant front ride height.

All this distorts the 'truth' in the picture due to different suspension settings as well as track position

Looks like both are well out of the braking zone.
Check the steering angle and where they are on track.

they are also carrying different speeds due to it being 2 lines through the corner.

[PlatinumZealot]

Also notice that the Mclaren nose is just as high if not higher than the RB8 nose.

[aral]

Also notice that the Mclaren nose is just as high if not higher than the RB8 nose.

The two cars are at different elevations and angles to the camera, so there are bound to be apparent differences. Thankfully, all cars are not the same, and different teams are able to design different cars, and long may it continue.

[Owen.C93]

Clearly different philosophies of how to utilise the front wings...
Just realised the lines are hard to see, but they are there!

Again just highlighting the different philosophies where RB bend their front of the wing down to add more pitch at high speed where as McLaren bend it back and lower the AoA.

[PlatinumZealot]

Different angles.

[Owen.C93]

Different angles.

Luckily the front wing end plate and floor are parallel.

[SiLo]

Different angles.

Luckily the front wing end plate and floor are parallel.

Thank you Owen the differences in angles, eleveation of the cars, part of the corner etc will have negligible effects on the relative angles of the wing and floor.

Also, Do Mclaren run a stiff front and soft rear? It seems that other teams run a soft front and stiff rear to keep their desired rake. Just my two cents there though

Another question, does the plane of the front wing have to be parallel to the floor?