[video]http://www.twitvid.com/NLDQ1[/video] Anyone else seen this? I heard a lot about their new end plates but not much has been mentioned about this hinge design. Looks like it flattens the wing at speed and would therefore allow greater straight line speed, perhaps the endplates are a part of this design. Seems it must have passed the FIA tests though if it was raced.
Interesting. Not sure what to make of the vid as it isn't particularly good quality so it's hard to infer anything from it. McLaren were burning up their rear tyres in Valencia so presumably they need to concentrate on rear downforce more than anything.
Agreed, they need a rear upgrade, but as mentioned on other articles it was a condition of track and temp that narrowed their setup window. Just found this on Scarbs going over the flexi wing in detail, even shows the video I linked! http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/mclaren-european-gp-wing-movement/ Given the RB was almost 3s off the pace in FP1 and it was rumoured Vettel was running the Silverstone setup, I wonder how this will effect their setup window from next race onwards?
They might of just tested a new upgrade or something, I don't know if they have to reveal what they're are using to the press.
Many thanks for that link Bob Bobbinz. It's easier to spot when you know what to look for! Interesting that McLaren have gone for a method that sheds downforce rather than creates it as Red Bull have done with theirs. One might assume that this is indirectly an admission by McLaren that they can't get theirs to flex downwards, so they've decided to go the other way.
McLaren drivers both commented on loss of rear downforce. Also it was interesting to note Mercedes (same engine) pulled away from McL after any bend/cornering.
I think this is designed at balancing the car and straight line speed rather than trying to beat RB in the corners where they excel. Rather than an admission of failure perhaps McLaren have decided that their car will have a similar amount of reward downforce as many of the other front runners from Silverstone onwards and are therefore not looking to the rear to make improvements? Vettels RB definatly didn't look too hot in FP1.
I am not entirely sure that Mclaren should concentrate on trying to match RB's rear downforce levels because they are never going to match them and it might weaken areas in which the Mclaren is strong, maybe the only way in which they will be able to challenge RB is if they go another way in their car strenghts.
I wonder whether the changes made for Valencia were a bit desperate? (or even conservative?) Hamilton wanted more risk taking, an interesting view. Does that suggest dissent back in the factory?
So they basically have a sort of DRS on the front wing?? might this be a problem in high speed corners and entering breaking zones? Also aren't they better off focusing on downforce and mechanical grip? In either case it doesn't look like it is flatening much and doesn't appear to give much of a staight line performance advantage
What springs to my mind is does this come under the definition of flexible body work or movable body work? From the short clip I'd say it was moving more than flexing.
McLaren have always struggled with rear downforce for the last 10 years or so, look at their results in Brazil for example, the perfect acid test for rear grip. They have made innovative sidepods which are suppose to channel air flow to the diffuser more efficiently than standard sidepods on every other car in F1. I dont understand why they are not gaining a big advatage from doing this. Also whats going on with the whole octo exhaust system which they spent the whole of pre season testing trying out. Lets see at Silverstone though. Maybe they will suprise us (i feel i say this before every race though lol)
They have struggled with rear downforce all season but have still managed to have good weekends. Silverstone have high speed corners where Mclaren have really been lacking pace and Red Bull have been dominant. I think this ban on the blown diffuser will hurt them less than it will to Red Bull, I remember Newey saying his design of the car was based around the diffuser so Silverstone should be much closer regarding qualifying and race.
Not sure anymore, Red Bull have revealed that they use "cold blowing" more than "hot blowing" since it overheats the structure. They may get less downforce, but it's more reliable and more importantly, the FIA can't touch it. If anything Red Bull could lose nothing while McLaren would lose a second a lap, pulling them into the clutches of the midfield.
Horner says these things because he loves talking to the media and to protect the team he will not go out and say we will be 1-2 seconds off the pace. Sorry but most of the times I really don't believe him, I have a different view on it.
if you were part of a racing team, would you go and tell anybopdy outside that team what it was yu were doing, or would you just say the first thing that came into your head and hope to throw the competition of the track, if only for a few days? I never trust anything they do or say, it all comes down to the chequered flag on Sunday.
