McLaren MCL33

[M840TR]

In itself, it adds drag, but by cleaning up the boundary layer it can reduce drag downstream.

What do you mean by boundary layer?

[redmaxver]

In itself, it adds drag, but by cleaning up the boundary layer it can reduce drag downstream.

What do you mean by boundary layer?

In this context its the specific layer of air that is in contact with the car. As the air comes up over the nose/similar part of the car, the boundary layer can detach from the car. This in essence would leave what is essentially a very small vacuum / disturbed air and in the end adds to drag. The S-duct can help control this boundary layer a little better.

EDIT: It helps control the boundary layer because the air coming out of the S-duct is pretty much guaranteed to be laminar rather than turbulent. So they can basically "clean up" the boundary layer as Phillip quite rightly says.

[henra]

EDIT: It helps control the boundary layer because the air coming out of the S-duct is pretty much guaranteed to be laminar rather than turbulent. So they can basically "clean up" the boundary layer as Phillip quite rightly says.

Plus (and that is even more the reason for the S-Duct) they extract a good part of the Boundary Layer on the underside of the Nose thereby reducing the thickness of the Boundary Layer in that area and thereby cleansing (read: having more high speed air flow and less of the slow shear layer) the air flow towards the very important Tray/Bargeboard area.
This reduces drag but more importantly brings more high speed airflow to the part of the car where the really efficient Downforce is produced.

[Thunder]

Some Off Topic Posts have been removed. Please post performance Speculation and Race / Qualy analysis in the Team Thread.

[GoranF1]

Current Mclaren Aerodynamiscist claims they already have S duct......where in the hell???

[GoranF1]

[media]https://twitter.com/ivanlda/status/9858 ... 52002?s=19[/media]

[radosav]

https://twitter.com/ivanlda/status/9858 ... 52002?s=19

What do they have?

[GoranF1]

https://twitter.com/ivanlda/status/9858 ... 52002?s=19

What do they have?

Already have s duct

[Big Tea]

https://twitter.com/ivanlda/status/9858 ... 52002?s=19

What do they have?

Already have s duct

But its on the nose being tested, not the one on the car? If they have it is something new.

[PhillipM]

Pretty much, it was tested pre-season but they haven't run with it.

[Thunder]

Posts about the Work environment at McLaren have been moved to the Team Thread.

[Marco Alves]

Real 2018 McLaren to debut at Spanish GP - Boullier

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mcla ... 27228/?s=1

[hecan]

Real 2018 McLaren to debut at Spanish GP - Boullier

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mcla ... 27228/?s=1

It was obvious from the start the car was the one from 2017 but with certain upgrades. They would have been in great financial problems if they had to follow the path of Force India, only changing chassis every two years. My hipothesis would be that the late implementation of the engine, and lack of sponsors, made all development slow down. At least I think they're trying some of the new parts on track before the launch, which is good.

[Andres125sx]

Do you guys think that their concept is flawed and it takes more than just upgrades to make the car work and be on the level of the top 3?

I think we should see the concept before judging

As they´ve stated repeatedly, current car is basically a 2018 adapted MCL32, the new concept has not been track tested yet, it´s expected for Spain

[Jackles-UK]

https://twitter.com/mclarenf1/status/98 ... 13664?s=21

Nice close up of the nose showing the pitfalls of running in traffic!