This doesn't seem worth a thread on its own but there is no other thread that is right for it so, I just read this on autosport: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96295 "Only around six per cent of this year's car will be carried across to McLaren's 2012 challenger, which Neale hopes will match the expectations of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton." Is 6% the usual amount of transfer from 1 car to the next in relatively stable regulations? Everyone keeps saying they need to evolve their car (Like Red-Bull have been doing since 2009) instead of starting from scratch like they did this year and last year. But 6%?? Doesn't sound like much. I wonder how much % Red-Bull have been transferring.
6% - ****ing hell! Sounds like the 2012 machine is not an evolution of the MP4-26 - which is a shame for McLaren fans because their current design has a lot of untapped potential. But hey, maybe they've found something big, something that they'd need to design the whole car around (hence only 6% to be carried to next year). Very interested to see what McLaren come up with.
Well the car has been built around the blown diffuser so that is about 50% of the car gone. But 6%?! That has annoyed me big time if they are saying that it will be basically a nrw car.
6% by what though, mass, parts, area? It already sounds like a completely new car, but 6% could mean as little as the seat, nuts, bolts and bearings!
Nothing like a bit of sporting hyperbole. I think the genetic difference between humans and chimpanzees is something like 2%.
I hope he's just bluffing, 6% sounds crazy, unless this car was designed around the octo exhaust (which failed) and they just did a great job adjusting it to the EBD. Pre-season testing will be interesting.
6% parts. I very much doubt it's a bluff. It is the way of McLaren to begin with a relatively clean slate but to continue to develop hard through a season, come what may. This is in stark contrast to Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, which are essentially as follows: Red Bull have the luxury of being so far ahead that they can cease development of a car early, thereby transferring impetus to the following year's car. Mercedes have the foresight to admit defeat, and are also quick to transfer the emphasis to the following year when this becomes obvious. Ferrari try both of the above whenever possible, but obviously do not have the luxury of Red Bull's advantage. They also tend to fight a forlorn battle for longer than Mercedes I very much doubt it.
Thanks for all your comments people, just a little taster for next time - my next thread will be titled "7%??"
Let's be honest, much will change with body work, even if slight it will 100% different. The engine will be different as will the gearbox. With no blown diffuser that will impact a lot. Gear ratios differ with each race anyway so we need to question the impact of software and the flex in the body as key differentiators I suspect. Kers and horse power will have an impact obviously. I reckon mclaren have learnt a lot from last year.
