2009 Testing - March (Jerez & Barcelona)

[wesley123]

That's the reason why everybody is looking the nose of the Mclaren. What's that gadget¿?

Alot of fuss over nothing?

we can see Ferrari are running the same thing.

Mclaren are using the end plates to push air around the tires, so i am gussing this is helping with that maybe linking up with those odd hubs of theres.

They weren't making a fuss over that gadget. McLaren added a updated front wing. They are running a 4 plane wing now. Thats what had the other teams so interested. So all the fuss wasn't over nothing.

Woow, didnt notice.

That front wing is really great in details, look at the endplates, it has an edge just like on the barge boards.
Also it has an small fin in front of the third plane

[NormalChris]

"erm... what happened there then boys?"

would love to know what kind fo rear end/rear wing problems they are having..

Anyone find a good shot of the winglet/air management device on the sidepod?

edit: looks like it could be a kers duct

[i70q7m7ghw]

The pillars on the macca are also further appart and the nose has been ever so slighly resculpted.

[marinopc]

Fastest laps at Jerez this week:

1. Vettel Red Bull Racing 01:19.055
2. Glock Toyota 01:19.814
3. Alonso Renault 01:19.945
4. Heidfeld BMW Sauber 01:20.052
5. Massa Ferrari 01:20.238
6. Raikkonen Ferrari 01:20.250
7. Kovalainen Mclaren 01:20.535 ('08 wing)
8. Trulli Toyota 01:20.540
9. Sutil Force India 01:20.621
10. Kobayashi Toyota 01:20.699
11. Webber Red Bull Racing 01:20.894
12. Nakajima Williams 01:20.948
13. Kubica BMW Sauber 01:21.069
14. Rosberg Williams 01:21.171
15. Hamilton Mclaren 01:21.272 ('08 wing)
16. Fisichella Force India 01:21.584
17. De la Rosa Mclaren 01:21.831
18. Piquet Renault 01:22.011

(made by myself using official times)

Interesting to see Alonso on the top and Piquet the slowest one. Also Kubica was a little bit slow for the pace shown by Heidfeld today (seems the F1.09 works). And Hamilton third on the rear, incredible! Very interesting numbers!

[ISLAMATRON]

"the english" had a pretty impressive time 1:19.632 in Jerez earlier this month... shey should just back up to where they were then... or maybe they really arent in any trouble at all.

http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/jerez-feb09-13.php

[Spencifer_Murphy]

I really don't see how the fact they are doing flo-vis tests is conclusive proof they are having "Major Problems". I'll agree it doesn't look good for them but at the end of the day we know nothing. lol.

[MustGoFaster]

I'm not sure what to think. Things don't seem the greatest for them, but as pointed out by ISLAMATRON, they did post a decent time at the last test, but that was with the 2008 style rear wing. They could be sandbaging, or hiding a trick part. Only time will tell, we'll see in Q2 at Albert Park.

[kilcoo316]

"the english" had a pretty impressive time 1:19.632 in Jerez earlier this month... shey should just back up to where they were then... or maybe they really arent in any trouble at all.

http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/jerez-feb09-13.php

What kinda hybrid were they running then?

I quote:

The team carried out the majority of its running using a hybrid-spec 2008 rear wing in order to more effectively simulate expected downforce loads and will bring a raft of new components to next month’s test, back in Jerez.

Cross-referencing this weeks to that day:

Bourdais wasn't here.
Alonso went 1 tenth slower this week. (1:19.846 to 1:19.945)
Rosberg went 1 tenth quicker this week. (1:21.217 to 1:21.171)
Webber went 4 tenths quicker this week. (1:21.313 to 1:20.894)

"The english" meanwhile went, what, 1.6 second slower (1:19.632 to 1:21.272).


Where were the raft of new components... more worryingly, were was the performance of the raft of new components???


My ponderings:

Have they made a wrong turn in development? Hence why they fell back comparatively.

More worryingly - is there windtunnel up the creek? Hence the paint-balling.

Is there rear suspension and weight distribution all wrong - and the real reason they are running the 2008 wing is to protect the rear tyres? Hence why the wets are worn BALD in this pic!

[DaveKillens]

Does testing on the 2010 spec tires count against the mileage restrictions for 2009 testing?

[ISLAMATRON]

Is there rear suspension and weight distribution all wrong - and the real reason they are running the 2008 wing is to protect the rear tyres? Hence why the wets are worn BALD in this pic!

Those arent wets they are inters... but maybe thats why you put it in bold.

At this point we are still only specualating at why they are still running the 2008 rear wing. I think its because the car looks so much better with it. As you have pointed out that pic isnt worth much without the context surrounding it.

1.6 secs is a large gap... makes me think that they arent really going for speed this week.

[wesley123]

I think McLaren is hiidng something, they are way too slow wich isnt expected.
The first test they were pretty fast but now they are at the bottom, im sure that mclaren is hiding something.

[chasefreak]

wesley we all think the same .. and hope u are right
they may just pull out something during the last test....
but if they dont then tell mclaren tata goodbye

[Kester]

Is there rear suspension and weight distribution all wrong - and the real reason they are running the 2008 wing is to protect the rear tyres? Hence why the wets are worn BALD in this pic!

http://www.sutton-images.com/previews/djm0920ja63.jpg

Those arent wets they are inters... but maybe thats why you put it in bold.

Technically they are wets; you get slicks, wets and extreme wets.

[imightbewrong]

Is there rear suspension and weight distribution all wrong - and the real reason they are running the 2008 wing is to protect the rear tyres? Hence why the wets are worn BALD in this pic!

Thats a picture from the first tests in portimao, better res here:
http://premium.f1-live.com/f1/photos-hi ... po_125.jpg

hardly relevant a few tests later

[donskar]

Seems to be a lot of worry here that McL is having problems with their new car. As a lifelong Tifosi, I HOPE McL is in trouble, but I have the utmost respect for the men of Darth Vader -- they'll be there and they'll be tough. And if they do have a problem, there isn't a team around who can develop a car faster.