2017 Mclaren F1 Team - Honda

[godlameroso]

Rough textures act like micro vortex generators, reducing skin drag by limiting the boundary layer on the solid surface.

[diffuser]

The other thing I was wondering is on these high rake cars the drag will vary. It must change as it squats at higher speeds ? The whole angle of attack of the rear wing. monkey seat and T wing will decrease by +2 degrees.

[stevesingo]

Yeah but, but, but... it has more drag, can't you see. Wing thickness don't you know...

[diffuser]

My point is there should be 3 numbers

• Pre Squat

• Post Squat

• DRS activated

BTW, I do understand that the rear springs are adjusted to the track. The speed that they start to squat will vary from track to track.

[Alonso Fan]

Yeah but, but, but... it has more drag, can't you see. Wing thickness don't you know...

Made me chuckle...

[Alonso Fan]

My point is there should be 3 numbers

• Pre Squat

• Post Squat

• DRS activated

BTW, I do understand that the rear springs are adjusted to the track. The speed that they start to squat will vary from track to track.

I think we should put this to rest. Unless we work in a team's aero department there is no way any of us will know such things. Before 2014 we used to talk about car performance as a whole. Now it's chassis vs engine. How many more factors for debate are we going to add?

[stevesingo]

At maximum speed on any track, the suspension will be fully compressed, so amongst the teams, comparing rake as an indicator of drag at top speed is largely irrelevant.

[diffuser]

At maximum speed on any track, the suspension will be fully compressed, so amongst the teams, comparing rake as an indicator of drag at top speed is largely irrelevant.

What's telling you the drag measurement is taken at full squat? Merc doesn't squat at all.

[stevesingo]

Nothing. What is the measurement anyway, anything in the public domain is unverifiable. All we know is top speed, and that at top speed the cars which run high rake tend to squat to negate the drag disadvantage.

Do you have evidence of the Merc not squatting at all?

[diffuser]

Nothing. What is the measurement anyway, anything in the public domain is unverifiable. All we know is top speed, and that at top speed the cars which run high rake tend to squat to negate the drag disadvantage.

Do you have evidence of the Merc not squatting at all?

Well just the small amount of rake they run. They're also known for running a very stiff suspension.

[marmer]

Rake would also work well with a stiff rear so it stays up and stable for the aero. Unless having a soft rear is so much better for mechanical grip.

[diffuser]

Rake would also work well with a stiff rear so it stays up and stable for the aero. Unless having a soft rear is so much better for mechanical grip.

Wrong....

High Rake, you adjust the rear springs of the car to squat at a speed that is slightly higher that the highest speed corner.

You want it to squat on anything over that,hence, reducing down force, drag, increasing top speed and acceleration.

Actually McLaren Run the most Rake, +2 Degrees and .5 degree more than RBR. You really don't want to do that cause you loose Mechanical grip but McLaren are over compensating for lack of power.

[dren]

Aren't you requiring that down force you are losing at speed to squat the car in the first place?

[diffuser]

1st off ...It was a RBR Idea. I presume PP and Newey were involved.

Lets just take a fictitious number 10. Lets say your fastest hi speed corner is 200KPH. At 205 KPH the car starts to generate 10 as you accelerate you'll generate > 10 but the car will start to squat and reduce the amount of DF the rear of the car generates. So again fictitious numbers lets say at 250KPH the rear of the car would normally generating 15 but because of the squat it's still generating 11 (or something like that). Since the Front wing is in front of the front wheels, lowering the back raises the front wing which will also reduce DF/Drag. The angle of attack of the splitter also is lowered, again decreasing DF/drag.


Here is a great shot I took from the Mclaren MCL32 honda forum that shows what rake does to the front wing. Compare the Merc to the Mclaren.

[marmer]

1st off ...It was a RBR Idea. I presume PP and Newey were involved.

Lets just take a fictitious number 10. Lets say your fastest hi speed corner is 200KPH. At 205 KPH the car starts to generate 10 as you accelerate you'll generate > 10 but the car will start to squat and reduce the amount of DF the rear of the car generates. So again fictitious numbers lets say at 250KPH the rear of the car would normally generating 15 but because of the squat it's still generating 11 (or something like that). Since the Front wing is in front of the front wheels, lowering the back raises the front wing which will also reduce DF/Drag. The angle of attack of the splitter also is lowered, again decreasing DF/drag.


Here is a great shot I took from the Mclaren MCL32 honda forum that shows what rake does to the front wing. Compare the Merc to the Mclaren.

Any rake the Merc could have will be affected in that shot by the drs so it's not quite a fare comparison