2018 McLaren F1 Team - Renault

[M840TR]

Team goes for most conservative tyre choice for Spa.

[Ground Effect]

Team goes for most conservative tyre choice for Spa.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dj6Zc-GU0AAFiHT.jpg:large

Either they're expecting to really struggle in Spa, performance wise, or there's a plan to take grid penalties and start from the back.

[M840TR]

Team goes for most conservative tyre choice for Spa.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dj6Zc-GU0AAFiHT.jpg:large

Either they're expecting to really struggle in Spa, performance wise, or there's a plan to take grid penalties and start from the back.

It's almost confirmed they'll struggle when they loose seconds on straights alone so strategic penalties are possible. I'm guessing most of the supersofts will be used for testing during practice sessions.

[M840TR]

Tyre choice for Monza.

[PhillipM]

Probably hoping to go long and jump the midfield again.

[alexx_88]

He will forever be remembered as the greatest driver to lose untold championships to his attitude and ego.

No driver would've chosen a team started by a drinks company over Ferrari, let's be realistic. And in 2015 all the good seats were taken and there was no reasonable reason to expect Ferrari to recover as soon as they did.

[godlameroso]

They might not be too bad in Spa, the corners are more in line with the speed range the McLaren aero works best at, so they may be able to get away without putting on the barn door wings.

[godlameroso]

The problem is the aero under the car isn't as good as the A class cars. So they have to compensate for this deficiency by running more aggressive wing angles, mechanically the car works. No one in McLaren is even hinting at a mechanical deficiency. The aero works well in a very narrow speed range, none of the tracks have the majority of corners in this speed range. The A class teams have aero that works better at lower speeds, and allows them to run less aggressive wing angles, which means less drag at speed.

Running more wing could be a solution for a lack of mechnical grip. They're having problems at lower speeds, which suggests they lack mechnical grip as well.

Mechanical grip, in other words grip provided by the suspension and the mechanical aspects of the car isn't and hasn't been the problem. It's getting the aero to work at lower speeds, they can't with their current setup so they have no low speed grip. Let's say for ships and giggles that the Red Bull makes between 5-10kg more downforce below 100km/h than the McLaren, and 15kg more downforce at 120km/h, and 30kg more at 140km/h, then 20kg more at 160km/h and between 180-220 the downforce is a wash, but after 220 the McLaren has more drag because it has to run higher wing angles to make up for the downforce deficit in low speeds(because that's where you gain and lose the most time).

If you're losing .3 seconds in the slow stuff because your downforce isn't kicking in yet, while another car is already making useful downforce you're going to get dusted. But you could be right, and it's just a platform issue.

[M840TR]

They might not be too bad in Spa, the corners are more in line with the speed range the McLaren aero works best at, so they may be able to get away without putting on the barn door wings.

But the Renault engine doesn't work as well though.

[diffuser]

with brawn commenting that they have 2 open seats clearly may suggest that Alonso is calling it quits. 90% of my desire to follow F1 will go away with him but i guess that is right for him with no hope of winning another F1 title . i guess its better for him to leave this 3 tier championship.

Brawn or Brown ? I think you meant Zak Brown.....

At any rate, I think that is with respect to Alonso not having given an answer. Until Alo says "yes" that seat for next year is vacant.

[diffuser]

Team goes for most conservative tyre choice for Spa.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dj6Zc-GU0AAFiHT.jpg:large

Either they're expecting to really struggle in Spa, performance wise, or there's a plan to take grid penalties and start from the back.

It's almost confirmed they'll struggle when they loose seconds on straights alone so strategic penalties are possible. I'm guessing most of the supersofts will be used for testing during practice sessions.

Generally 3 sets are used just for Quali. You MIGHT want to keep a 4th fresh set for the start of the race, if you don't make it into Q3.

Kind of odd, though, they'e betting that the Supersofts are too soft to last a whole lap.

[diffuser]

The problem is the aero under the car isn't as good as the A class cars. So they have to compensate for this deficiency by running more aggressive wing angles, mechanically the car works. No one in McLaren is even hinting at a mechanical deficiency. The aero works well in a very narrow speed range, none of the tracks have the majority of corners in this speed range. The A class teams have aero that works better at lower speeds, and allows them to run less aggressive wing angles, which means less drag at speed.

Running more wing could be a solution for a lack of mechnical grip. They're having problems at lower speeds, which suggests they lack mechnical grip as well.

Mechanical grip, in other words grip provided by the suspension and the mechanical aspects of the car isn't and hasn't been the problem. It's getting the aero to work at lower speeds, they can't with their current setup so they have no low speed grip. Let's say for ships and giggles that the Red Bull makes between 5-10kg more downforce below 100km/h than the McLaren, and 15kg more downforce at 120km/h, and 30kg more at 140km/h, then 20kg more at 160km/h and between 180-220 the downforce is a wash, but after 220 the McLaren has more drag because it has to run higher wing angles to make up for the downforce deficit in low speeds(because that's where you gain and lose the most time).

If you're losing .3 seconds in the slow stuff because your downforce isn't kicking in yet, while another car is already making useful downforce you're going to get dusted. But you could be right, and it's just a platform issue.

They have a double DRS at SPA, Pit straight and the Kemmel straight. The pit straight is rather short so you won't pay the price during the race (you don't get up to a fast enough speed for a big wing to hurt) Kemmel is a different story. It's the straight following eau rouge and it's long and nasty. They will not lose time there in Quali but will during the race.

My concern is actually Blanchimont it's a flat out curve/kink that is taken in excess of 320 KPH. How much wing do you take off to maximize the speed in this section (turns 16 and 17) and minimize time lost in to make the series of curves that make up sector 2. Basically the more DF you have the faster you go in Sector 2 , while that same DF hurts sector 3.


https://www.racefans.net/f1-information ... formation/

[godlameroso]

Again the speed range may allow them to run a little less wing, because sector 2 is all mid/high speed corners, the really slow stuff like La Source and the bus stop aero won't make much of a difference, they will probably lose out at the top of the hill but will claw some time back on the way down.

[Del Boy]

The problem is the aero under the car isn't as good as the A class cars. So they have to compensate for this deficiency by running more aggressive wing angles, mechanically the car works. No one in McLaren is even hinting at a mechanical deficiency. The aero works well in a very narrow speed range, none of the tracks have the majority of corners in this speed range. The A class teams have aero that works better at lower speeds, and allows them to run less aggressive wing angles, which means less drag at speed.

Running more wing could be a solution for a lack of mechnical grip. They're having problems at lower speeds, which suggests they lack mechnical grip as well.

Mechanical grip, in other words grip provided by the suspension and the mechanical aspects of the car isn't and hasn't been the problem. It's getting the aero to work at lower speeds, they can't with their current setup so they have no low speed grip. Let's say for ships and giggles that the Red Bull makes between 5-10kg more downforce below 100km/h than the McLaren, and 15kg more downforce at 120km/h, and 30kg more at 140km/h, then 20kg more at 160km/h and between 180-220 the downforce is a wash, but after 220 the McLaren has more drag because it has to run higher wing angles to make up for the downforce deficit in low speeds(because that's where you gain and lose the most time).
If you're losing .3 seconds in the slow stuff because your downforce isn't kicking in yet, while another car is already making useful downforce you're going to get dusted. But you could be right, and it's just a platform issue.

Surely the aerodynamic part that is not working is the rear diffuser, that's the holy grail of downforce because its comes drag free (apart from a small amount of friction and tyre resistance).

[M840TR]

Again the speed range may allow them to run a little less wing, because sector 2 is all mid/high speed corners, the really slow stuff like La Source and the bus stop aero won't make much of a difference, they will probably lose out at the top of the hill but will claw some time back on the way down.

Underestimating the engine power deficit.