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View Full Version : Why is McLaren so slow this year...



rage2
03-24-2009, 10:38 AM
Well, answers are slowly coming out.


McLaren brought updates to the front wing, the diffusor and (Haug: ) ''smaller parts everywhere for more downforce.'' On a three lap qualifying simulation Kovalainen managed to go under the 1:18 barrier at Jerez, but Nakajima did a laptime half a second faster than that still. ''You shouldn't read too much into that. It's well possible that the track had gotten a second faster. What you should be reading into are the statements from the drivers.''

The drivers said the balance was good...Kovalainen also did 8 lap runs with acceptable tyre wear. At the beginning of the test Hamilton had the same experience with a very full fuel tank. However, in comparison with the competitors McLaren lacks grip by 20%. Meanwhile the reasons behind it come to the surface.

In several meetings of the FOTA the teams have revealed information/data about their aerodynamic research, this is to be a basis to work on a savings plan. Anyway, designing/developing the new car it turns out that in 2008 McLaren didn't use their windtunnel and CFD resources as effectively as the other manufacturer teams at all. Only Toro Rosso and Force India were behind McLaren on this unofficial list.

Apperantly the engineers assumed that the first data that their computer models came up with, would be adequate to form a strong basis. Anaylising things, they oriented themselves on the improvements made year after year, new part after new part under the old regulations. In recent years these improvements were always good enough to stay at the (very) front. But doing so they completely underestimated that the new regulations require greater steps in development. This false estimation has lead to the aerodynamics of the MP4-24 not working as they should. This has surprised everyone, not even the team itself would have thought they could miscalculate in such a way.

Haug is a bit more optimistic after the Jerez test: ''We've found a little bit. But our expectations remain modest.'' Knowing what a strong team McLaren is, all of the competirors expect the Woking-based team to bounce back at some stage during the year. ''They don't write us off.''
It's the 2004 season/MP4-19 all over again :(. Wonder when we'll see the MP4-24b?

Eleanor
03-24-2009, 10:56 AM
Ouch, and with the first race only days away and reduced in-season testing, it looks like a rough year for McLaren.

Think they'll use some of the testing this season to prepare for '10?

Go Kimi! :D

Team_Mclaren
03-24-2009, 11:10 AM
^^ there will be no "normal" in season testing sessions.

Everyone knows they are slow, but as anyone has said, Mclaren has too much money and talent to leave them biting dust the entire season. Its a matter of how soon they can find the speed to get back in front.

forkdork
03-24-2009, 12:37 PM
Time to see how Hamilton does in an underperforming car. It'll be interesting to watch for sure.

Eleanor
03-24-2009, 12:39 PM
Originally posted by Team_Mclaren
Its a matter of how soon they can find the speed to get back in front. Where will they find the speed? I'm not super familiar with rules/regulations, but how can they find speed without massive amounts of testing which they can't do.

rage2
03-24-2009, 01:38 PM
Originally posted by Eleanor
Where will they find the speed? I'm not super familiar with rules/regulations, but how can they find speed without massive amounts of testing which they can't do.
It's all about the CFD modelling and simulations at this point. They've worked hard on understanding and fixing the track test data vs CFD model (flo-vis pretty much every single session) that they should be able to do most of the development without any track time. That's assuming they DO understand where the calculations went wrong.

Eleanor
03-24-2009, 03:22 PM
^ So they're not allowed track time, but they can still run simulations during the season? Are there any restrictions on modifications during the year?

DJ Lazy
03-24-2009, 06:41 PM
Originally posted by Eleanor
^ So they're not allowed track time, but they can still run simulations during the season? Are there any restrictions on modifications during the year?

As far as I know, they can make any changes they want through the season as long as those changes fall within the specified regulations for this season.

Chandler_Racing
03-24-2009, 06:48 PM
Originally posted by Eleanor
Where will they find the speed?

Maybe they will happen to stumble on a copy of Brawn's "secret technical documents" that will not be "as widely disseminated in the organization as they had foreseen."

Mibz
03-24-2009, 07:57 PM
On a three lap qualifying simulation Kovalainen managed to go under the 1:18 barrier at Jerez, but Nakajima did a laptime half a second faster than that still.Using a diffuser that has been speculated to give exactly a half second advantage. Seems fine to me.

I think people are worrying about nothing. McLaren will have one driver, barring DQs and crashes, finish in the top 4 in Melbourne. Just wait until qualifying, everything will go back to normal.

rage2
03-24-2009, 08:53 PM
One can certainly hope. It's just that McLaren, in all their interviews, PR, and previews have stated that they'll be in the last 1/3 of the field. Of course, they could be bluffing...

http://www.mclaren.com/in-depth/bluffers-guide.php

WTF is a bluffer's guide? haha

The Cosworth
03-24-2009, 09:02 PM
Sounds like mis-information to me. I think the will be slower, but not that slow

Mibz
03-24-2009, 10:28 PM
Originally posted by rage2
WTF is a bluffer's guide? haha For people who want/need to seem like they know what they're talking about but have no idea.

It's like that episode of The IT Crowd:
"Did you see that ludicrous display last night?"
"Thing about Arsenal is they always try to walk it"

The Cosworth
03-25-2009, 03:53 PM
Originally posted by Mibz
For people who want/need to seem like they know what they're talking about but have no idea.

It's like that episode of The IT Crowd:
"Did you see that ludicrous display last night?"
"Thing about Arsenal is they always try to walk it"

dont get cockney neck now