2022 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

[SmallSoldier]

Btw, how is it that KMag got to keep his Q3 times after causing a red flag in Q2?

For starters he didn't crash, he spun and saved it before he hit the barriers. He didn't ask for a red flag and, frankly, it didn't need to be a red flag. Are we to penalise the drivers for a trigger happy race director who throws a red when yellows would have been sufficient?

I agree with you, however last time I checked the rules were quite clear, If you cause a red flag, you’re done for qualifying.

Are you sure? I don’t think that rule was implemented… It was discussed after Charles incident in Monaco last year, but not implemented.

[djos]

You might be correct, it was talked about in June last year, but I can’t find anything since.

[Darth-Piekus]

I don't think I'm gonna watch the Sprint Race. I was never a fan of that type. Instead I'm gonna take a noon nap. Good luck to both drivers. I hope both cars are okay and I wish both both drivers to at least keep their positions at worst of gain a place at the start.

[mwillems]

Interestingly and contrary to what the season has implied so far (albeit in changeable conditions of course)… The MCL36 was actually faster in the corners than the RB18 and the F1-75… Their laps on Q2 with Soft Tires showed that McLaren is losing most of their time on the straights.

A combination of more downforce/drag and how the changeable conditions distort the data may be behind it, but there is definitely improvement:

https://i.imgur.com/41szVrr.jpg

They still have the same huge rear wing they have run all season so they seems to be able to claw the DF back albeit at the cost of drag. Its nice to know that any improvement to the floor will effectively also reduce drag through setup. Double benefits for any floor improvements we bring.

Every team is running a large wing this weekend though, with the rain every single team was running a high downforce configuration… There may be more drag in the McLaren and in previous races they clearly were using a larger wing than others, but not this weekend… We shouldn’t forget that there definitely seem to be something going on with the PU too.

To be fair I didn't check the other wings, just that Maccas was still the massive one so that may well be true. Are the other teams configured for max rear wing as we are?

With regards to the engine, Merc themselves have said that it is only 1-2 tenths off but certainly something doesn't feel quite right. Looking at the telemetry from the previous page, Mclarens straight line speed is on a par until it reaches 250kph, it's a very specific number... Could be drag, but I suppose could also be struggling when moving into top gear?

[SmallSoldier]

They still have the same huge rear wing they have run all season so they seems to be able to claw the DF back albeit at the cost of drag. Its nice to know that any improvement to the floor will effectively also reduce drag through setup. Double benefits for any floor improvements we bring.

Every team is running a large wing this weekend though, with the rain every single team was running a high downforce configuration… There may be more drag in the McLaren and in previous races they clearly were using a larger wing than others, but not this weekend… We shouldn’t forget that there definitely seem to be something going on with the PU too.

To be fair I didn't check the other wings, just that Maccas was still the massive one so that may well be true. Are the other teams configured for max rear wing as we are?

With regards to the engine, Merc themselves have said that it is only 1-2 tenths off but certainly something doesn't feel quite right. Looking at the telemetry from the previous page, Mclarens straight line speed is on a par until it reaches 250kph, it's a very specific number... Could be drag, but I suppose could also be struggling when moving into top gear?

If you consider that Imola is not necessarily an easy track to overtake and the fact that it was expected to be a wet qualifying, most (can’t say all, haven’t checked) teams used a high downforce configuration in order to qualify as high as possible (critical in this track)… The only one that I remember seeing with an skinnier rear wing was Hamilton.

The lack of top speed or how it tapers towards the end of the straights seems more a deployment issue than outright lack of power (although, both would have a negative impact in top speed, considering the drag of the cars)… The MCL36 could very well be more draggy and therefore losing top speed and that would explain the difference on the straights, but the improvement in cornering speed isn’t because they run a larger wing only, there is a setup / having the tires in the window component that is creating the difference

[mwillems]

Every team is running a large wing this weekend though, with the rain every single team was running a high downforce configuration… There may be more drag in the McLaren and in previous races they clearly were using a larger wing than others, but not this weekend… We shouldn’t forget that there definitely seem to be something going on with the PU too.

To be fair I didn't check the other wings, just that Maccas was still the massive one so that may well be true. Are the other teams configured for max rear wing as we are?

With regards to the engine, Merc themselves have said that it is only 1-2 tenths off but certainly something doesn't feel quite right. Looking at the telemetry from the previous page, Mclarens straight line speed is on a par until it reaches 250kph, it's a very specific number... Could be drag, but I suppose could also be struggling when moving into top gear?

If you consider that Imola is not necessarily an easy track to overtake and the fact that it was expected to be a wet qualifying, most (can’t say all, haven’t checked) teams used a high downforce configuration in order to qualify as high as possible (critical in this track)… The only one that I remember seeing with an skinnier rear wing was Hamilton.

The lack of top speed or how it tapers towards the end of the straights seems more a deployment issue than outright lack of power (although, both would have a negative impact in top speed, considering the drag of the cars)… The MCL36 could very well be more draggy and therefore losing top speed and that would explain the difference on the straights, but the improvement in cornering speed isn’t because they run a larger wing only, there is a setup / having the tires in the window component that is creating the difference

I'd seen deployment mentioned, but the fact that it happens at a very specific speed, at least at this track, suggested to me that something like a gear change was involved, since the cars would be exiting the corners at varying speeds and yet still bang on 250kph the car can't keep up.

[adrianjordan]

Btw, how is it that KMag got to keep his Q3 times after causing a red flag in Q2?

For starters he didn't crash, he spun and saved it before he hit the barriers. He didn't ask for a red flag and, frankly, it didn't need to be a red flag. Are we to penalise the drivers for a trigger happy race director who throws a red when yellows would have been sufficient?

I agree with you, however last time I checked the rules were quite clear, If you cause a red flag, you’re done for qualifying.

What rule is that?

Anyway, the race director caused the red flag by being trigger happy, so does that mean the race director has to sit out the rest of quali?

[SmallSoldier]

To be fair I didn't check the other wings, just that Maccas was still the massive one so that may well be true. Are the other teams configured for max rear wing as we are?

With regards to the engine, Merc themselves have said that it is only 1-2 tenths off but certainly something doesn't feel quite right. Looking at the telemetry from the previous page, Mclarens straight line speed is on a par until it reaches 250kph, it's a very specific number... Could be drag, but I suppose could also be struggling when moving into top gear?

If you consider that Imola is not necessarily an easy track to overtake and the fact that it was expected to be a wet qualifying, most (can’t say all, haven’t checked) teams used a high downforce configuration in order to qualify as high as possible (critical in this track)… The only one that I remember seeing with an skinnier rear wing was Hamilton.

The lack of top speed or how it tapers towards the end of the straights seems more a deployment issue than outright lack of power (although, both would have a negative impact in top speed, considering the drag of the cars)… The MCL36 could very well be more draggy and therefore losing top speed and that would explain the difference on the straights, but the improvement in cornering speed isn’t because they run a larger wing only, there is a setup / having the tires in the window component that is creating the difference

I'd seen deployment mentioned, but the fact that it happens at a very specific speed, at least at this track, suggested to me that something like a gear change was involved, since the cars would be exiting the corners at varying speeds and yet still bang on 250kph the car can't keep up.

In the Telemetry, it showed that while Charles and Max went into 8th gear on the main straight… Lando stayed in 7th gear all through (never went into 8th)… No idea the impact of this

[SmallSoldier]

For starters he didn't crash, he spun and saved it before he hit the barriers. He didn't ask for a red flag and, frankly, it didn't need to be a red flag. Are we to penalise the drivers for a trigger happy race director who throws a red when yellows would have been sufficient?

I agree with you, however last time I checked the rules were quite clear, If you cause a red flag, you’re done for qualifying.

What rule is that?

Anyway, the race director caused the red flag by being trigger happy, so does that mean the race director has to sit out the rest of quali?

All Red Flags were warranted given the conditions and the places in which drivers were stopped

[Xero]

Great launch from both cars. Danny unlucky to get squeezed, could have been 4th!

[SmallSoldier]

Great launch from both cars. Danny unlucky to get squeezed, could have been 4th!

I’m just happy he is still in the Sprint! Got contact with MAG on the front tire and with PER on the rear tire… That McLaren is a tank!

[Darth-Piekus]

I decided to see the sprint race since I couldn't sleep. Good launch by both cars continuing the tradition of good starts from last year. Thank god Danny Ric did not DNF from Perez's tyre touch.

I think today's best would be 4th and 6th as we can't battle Red Bull or Ferrari yet. They are at least half a second faster.

Hmm. Make that 5th and 6th as Sainz is reaching quickly.

[Xero]

Lando had no chance against Carlos. Would be worried about Bottas on Daniel if there were a few more laps.

[Darth-Piekus]

It was obvious we would not be able to match either Red Bull or Ferrari as they are still 1 second faster per lap. Still best of the rest for today(with the Alfa of Bottas being the only exception) I suppose and we've beaten the Mercedes.

[Emag]

Good pace in the beginning but they dropped off in the end. A lot of tire wear on those softs it seems. Bottas was catching up fast in the end.