McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes (pre-launch speculation)

[onewingedangel]

Even if the exhaust position is mandated, you could control the exhaust flow either through sculptured bodywork or directing airflow upstream.

If the exhaust can be used to energise the flow coming through the u-pods it could more efficiently drive the beam-wing and diffuser - or could possibly be used to more effectively extract air from the central cooling exit and blow inder the rear-wing to reduce pressure under the wing increasing downforce without increasing drag.

[ringo]

Whatever it is, it will be easily copied.
It wont be unique to the chassis because of the rules. As soon as one team gets a eureka moment, the others wont think twice to copy it this year.

Expect to see a lot of exhuast hole stickers in winter testing.

[timbo]

Expect to see a lot of exhuast hole stickers in winter testing.

I had impression that the exhaust location is pretty much mandated, no?

[Javert]

If they keep -26 pods, assuming no low noses next year I would say areas of improvement could be

- the rear pull-rod: it's already good, but it is new concept for them and can be improved with a better understandment of Pirelli
- the nose: with a higher nose they could get better flow under the car, like Red Bull (and also Ferrari)
- the suspensions, in general: RB7 seems to have an active rake system, maybe they should try to copy it
- the chassis: as already said by others, -26 have been compromised by their initial (Octopus?) exhaust system and can be improved (gearbox for example)
- sidepods: with a tighter design they could get better flow around the pods and better df
- (?) beam wing design: someone told beam wing in -26 is linked to the crash structure so it has been homologated ... if it's true, then an area where you can find df is here.
Those little wings above the beam wing, seen sometimes on -26, seem a basilar way to find more DF with U pods so they could invest here also

Not a little work to do but at least weaknesses of the car are known

[beelsebob]

- the nose: with a higher nose they could get better flow under the car, like Red Bull (and also Ferrari)

1) This is banned next year, all noses have to be below half the height of a rear wheel.
2) I doubt it would give them an advantage anyway, it's not like they've not seen that ferrari and red bull have had high noses for the last few years, I'm sure they'll have tried it.

- the suspensions, in general: RB7 seems to have an active rake system, maybe they should try to copy it

If they did, it would be *very* illegal, do you have anything to demonstrate that they might be doing this, or any understanding of how?

[chepoi]

- the nose: with a higher nose they could get better flow under the car, like Red Bull (and also Ferrari)

1) This is banned next year, all noses have to be below half the height of a rear wheel.
2) I doubt it would give them an advantage anyway, it's not like they've not seen that ferrari and red bull have had high noses for the last few years, I'm sure they'll have tried it.

- the suspensions, in general: RB7 seems to have an active rake system, maybe they should try to copy it

If they did, it would be *very* illegal, do you have anything to demonstrate that they might be doing this, or any understanding of how?

if i'm not mistaken... if the nose regulation for 2012 implemented, from my point of view is Mclaren don't have to make any changes on the nose height. look like it's already 2012 regulation compatible. what say you?

[raymondu999]

I haven't seen the 2012 regulations for the nose chassis height anywhere. Chepoi, do you have them somewhere?

[astracrazy]

It must be close

[ajprice]

2012 nose height is the tip of the nose at no more than half the height of a wheel and tyre, according th this thread - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10774

So the McLaren will have to go a little lower than it is now, something like the height of the Brawn nose looks like it would be within 2012 regs.

[ESPImperium]

Nose tip is to be in line with the front axle height whitch is pretty much the same as all the teams use the same wheels.

The McLaren MP4/24 nose box i belive is legal, but id anticipate McLaren (and the other teams) to look at a MP4/23 style low thin shape and not the high fat style.

The only team to have a legal nose box for 2012 is Hispania at present, Virgin if they went to their start season box they would be legal as well to my eye.

[thatnoone]

[raymondu999]

I think the IndyCar nose isn't actually legal for next year

[megasyxx]

Image

oh my....what kind of a car is that?!?!?! is it ugly or I am a chinaman?

[imightbewrong]

oh my....what kind of a car is that?!?!?! is it ugly or I am a chinaman?

2012 Indycar

[matt21]

I haven't seen the 2012 regulations for the nose chassis height anywhere. Chepoi, do you have them somewhere?

New rule in 2012:

ARTICLE 21 : CHANGES FOR 2012
21.1 Changes to Article 3.7.9 :
3.7.9 No bodywork situated more than 1950mm forward of rear face of the cockpit entry template may be more than 550mm above the reference plane.