Mclaren MCL40

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Nicktendo86
Nicktendo86
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Dr Obbs says there is a diffuser cutout. I can’t see it but he’s insisting it is there

https://x.com/dr_obbs/status/2016591820 ... 9iyhp-jHmg

FNTC
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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I think its just the space between the outside of the diffuser and the other strakes, not a hole in the actual diffuser

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organic
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Nicktendo86 wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 21:56
Dr Obbs says there is a diffuser cutout. I can’t see it but he’s insisting it is there

https://x.com/dr_obbs/status/2016591820 ... 9iyhp-jHmg
The thing he believes/has highlighted as the cutout is just the diffuser winglet

Emag
Emag
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Joined: 11 Feb 2019, 14:56

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Nicktendo86 wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 21:56
Dr Obbs says there is a diffuser cutout. I can’t see it but he’s insisting it is there

https://x.com/dr_obbs/status/2016591820 ... 9iyhp-jHmg

It is a bit weird honestly, I can't 100% confirm what exactly they're doing here.

But, it seems like they might be "extending" this bit from outer floor into the cut of the diffuser as a strake? So it looks like a full piece. I am trying to find some images of other cars from this angle to confirm.
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Badger
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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His evidence for that is that "it's there", and he draws a line where there is nothing. Sometimes I feel like these "analysts" are just engagement farming, telling fans what they want to hear. If you can't see it... Image

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organic
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Badger wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 22:07
His evidence for that is that "it's there", and he draws a line where there is nothing. Sometimes I feel like these "analysts" are just engagement farming, telling fans what they want to hear. If you can't see it... https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_xaag9XwAA ... name=large
I think brakeboosted has a view that clears up the issue quite easily.

Image

We're seeing the leading edge of the diffuser winglets

The carbon is really quite reflective

Emag
Emag
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Badger wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 22:07
His evidence for that is that "it's there", and he draws a line where there is nothing. Sometimes I feel like these "analysts" are just engagement farming, telling fans what they want to hear. If you can't see it... https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_xaag9XwAA ... name=large
I think he is trying to make this point :

Image

But even if it is like this, I don't think it's in the same spirit with what the others are doing.
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Badger
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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organic wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 22:17
Badger wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 22:07
His evidence for that is that "it's there", and he draws a line where there is nothing. Sometimes I feel like these "analysts" are just engagement farming, telling fans what they want to hear. If you can't see it... https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_xaag9XwAA ... name=large
I think brakeboosted has a view that clears up the issue quite easily.

https://i.ibb.co/PG3jpYGN/20260128-201645.jpg

We're seeing the leading edge of the diffuser winglets

The carbon is really quite reflective
That's a standard part afaik. And you can clearly see the diffuser wall extending backwards, it doesn't have a hole in it.

vorticism
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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The diffuser Fence (FIA's term) is more outboard than others hence it's visible behind the foxhole.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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deadhead
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Joined: 08 Apr 2022, 20:24

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Showing the real deal in the renders is pretty cool

Image
Image

LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Nicktendo86 wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 21:56
Dr Obbs says there is a diffuser cutout. I can’t see it but he’s insisting it is there

https://x.com/dr_obbs/status/2016591820 ... 9iyhp-jHmg
He say: “Also a curious triangular shape to the diffuser winglet. You can see this at the rear of the car. I'm assuming that's the winglet, because I won't think the diffuser sidewall is allowed to be this angled”.

It's not the mouse hole that many have raised, but rather the shape of the diffuser at the rear, where he mentioned a triangular shape. My point is that the side view most likely points not to the diffuser geometry, but to the flaps and vertical elements of the brake ducts. Typically, the geometry of the diffuser's trailing edge is always strictly vertical relative to the longitudinal axis of the chassis.

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SiLo
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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The airbox is not only big, it’s big quite a long way back too.
Felipe Baby!

Emag
Emag
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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SiLo wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 23:03
The airbox is not only big, it’s big quite a long way back too.
I suppose they had to do it because the undercut is quite massive (you can refer to another post I made in the previous page).

Would be interesting to see a comparison between the RedBull's centerline and McLaren's.
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Avocado
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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SiLo
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Emag wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 23:07
SiLo wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 23:03
The airbox is not only big, it’s big quite a long way back too.
I suppose they had to do it because the undercut is quite massive (you can refer to another post I made in the previous page).

Would be interesting to see a comparison between the RedBull's centerline and McLaren's.
I didn’t mean the airbox was rearwards, more that it’s big and has volume quite a lot towards the rear (for clarity)
Felipe Baby!