Mclaren MCL40

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SilviuAgo
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Front suspensions in 2025 πŸ†š front suspensions in 2026 by the race.
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venkyhere
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Gridlock
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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From testing coverage, as far as I can tell, McLaren seem the only team intent on leaf-blowering the "driver cooling" hole in the very front, even when there's also a cooling hose directly into the cockpit Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Gridlock wrote: ↑
13 Feb 2026, 18:34
From testing coverage, as far as I can tell, McLaren seem the only team intent on leaf-blowering the "driver cooling" hole in the very front, even when there's also a cooling hose directly into the cockpit Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―
I assume they cool the system that activates the upper flaps. There's no other point. There's nothing else to cool in that area when the car is in the pits. Or maybe the McLaren drivers have very hot feet. :D

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_cerber1
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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AR3-GP
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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They closed off the cooling slots?
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AR3-GP
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Emag wrote: ↑
13 Feb 2026, 23:24
They closed off the cooling slots?
The "new" one has no chimney, but a larger opening in the back. The "old" one has a smaller rear exit, but with cooling chimney on the sharkfin area. For now I would assume simple test items, rather than any permanent change.
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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AR3-GP wrote: ↑
13 Feb 2026, 23:30
Emag wrote: ↑
13 Feb 2026, 23:24
They closed off the cooling slots?
The "new" one has no chimney, but a larger opening in the back. The "old" one has a smaller rear exit, but with cooling chimney on the sharkfin area. For now I would assume simple test items, rather than any permanent change.
Ah true, I missed the expansion of the opening. Agreed, probably just testing different engine covers.
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AR3-GP
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Farnborough wrote: ↑
12 Feb 2026, 09:09
AR3-GP wrote: ↑
12 Feb 2026, 01:43
Mclaren moves the entire flap including the center section when they activate the active aero.
https://i.postimg.cc/zf9C0bt3/image.png
The repair patch looks like they've experienced too much movement or signifying a minor level of integrity failure local to that wing mount pylon.
You can see how much the mainplane flexes at the moment that the active aero opens and closes in this hot lap .Watch the left side in front of the halo.



Therefore I am not surprised that Mclaren required additional reinforcement at the connection of the pylons to the nose.

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PlatinumZealot
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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SilviuAgo wrote: ↑
11 Feb 2026, 16:37
Diffuser comparison:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA4P1H1bQAA ... ame=medium
Source: Fulvio Vigilante
I think people confused the higher positioned lower brake duct winglet on the McLaren as forming a wide gaping mousehoule. I am even now questioning if the car even has any mousehouse at all.
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Emag
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑
14 Feb 2026, 12:06
SilviuAgo wrote: ↑
11 Feb 2026, 16:37
Diffuser comparison:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA4P1H1bQAA ... ame=medium
Source: Fulvio Vigilante
I think people confused the higher positioned lower brake duct winglet on the McLaren as forming a wide gaping mousehoule. I am even now questioning if the car even has any mousehouse at all.
I think this β€œdebate” was already settled. There were some angles that were a bit confusing, but with better pictures later on it was cleared. McLaren don’t have the diffuser cut.
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PlatinumZealot
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Interesting. There is no mouse hole. What I see is they have raised the lower edge of side wall of the diffuser to introduce energy in a different way from the mousehoule. The walls of the rear brake ducts are also serve as either a side expansion of the diffuser or just opening some area to manage vortices better. But either way it is not a mousehole but a diffrent approach to maximizing the energy and volume of the diffuser.
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_cerber1
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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=P~
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SilviuAgo
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