2018 McLaren F1 Team - Renault

[F1NAC]

Not sure the drag problem as solved because Alonso mentioned after the race (on team website race review) he couldn't get past Leclerc because they still lack speed on straights

Wasn't there onboard with ALO, when he overtook Leclerc, while using DRS Leclerc was actually gaining when they were side by side

He overtook Leclerc just after VSC ended. I don't think DRS is enabled so soon after.

He didn't have DRS open my bad. I was confused because I've heard team radio of ALO and his engineer was telling him that DRS is enable..

[mwillems]

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has dismissed suggestions that he could be stepping down at the Woking-based outfit anytime soon.

McLaren's fortunes have greatly improved this season following its switch from Honda to Renault power. But the team's inability to challenge the front-runners despite its pre-season confidence has pundits suggesting that Boullier's executive role could be in jeopardy.

McLaren recently parted ways with its chief technical officer Tim Goss, but any reshuffling at the top likely won't include Boullier's demotion, according to the man himself.

Spanish GP weekend confirms McLaren improvement - Alonso
"Yes, I believe it," Boullier said in Spain when asked if he still believed he could steer McLaren back to the top end of the grid.

"In the past I have managed, revitalised and restructured several teams, and I have won with all of them in all categories, I know my job, we have to make sure that we can do it."

Boullier hinted that further changes could be in the works at Woking if it meant improving the squad's performance level.

"I believe in the people we have, I believe in the managers, you always want strong leadership, good combination, be as flexible as possible, they look like generic words, but we do have to address our issues if we think we have left some.

http://www.f1i.com/news/303875-no-stepp ... laren.html

I feel like the top 3 have their advantages over all other teams is down to suspension and wing flex. I'm probably wrong, but its my gut feeling where the mclaren is lacking.

Does anyone know if the mclaren has a hydraulic heave damper? RB, Merc and ferrari seem to have very advanced hydraulic heave dampers.
Also does anyone know if mclaren or has an onboard of the mclaren front wing at speed? Ferrari seem to be able to achieve quite a bit of flex while still passing scrutineering (https://streamable.com/c97zs)

They have quite a different rear suspension compared to the others.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13458 ... suspension

I'm probably completely wrong but I had been thinking about the rear suspension, and a lot of the commentary regarding it and I had some thoughts/questions.

Since the rear suspension will have more flex in it than a standard setup, is it possible that in order to get it to reach optimal flex and offer the right traction levels, that it requires more downforce than a standard set up? i.e. the more load on the suspension, the less movement and more stability at higher speeds, will still offering a softer touch in slower corners, giving the car and more rounded approach to tracks with fast and slow corners. It does seem like Mclaren are pushing to energise the floor more than anything else (If you think that the outer nostrils are blowing under the cape) with the new nose. Is this a possibility at all or pure rubbish?

[rogazilla]

I see many people referring to Vandoorne's performance as the metric to the real McLaren one lap pace. How absurd... The best approach to determine maximum performance of the car is to take the best sectors of the fastest driver and combine them. No driver can outdrive a car... Fundamental physics...

He said that Van and Gastley were equivalent drivers(You can't really compare Gas to ALO) . Therefore It's a fair comparison. It might also be that they were both as good in Spain as they were in Bahrain, the only difference is the upgrade.

Assumption + Guessing + Speculation = Bullshit.

Please guys this is F1Technical not a random Facebook fan page.

EXACTLY! I would expect people here can perform logical thinking and thoughts...

No driver can out drive a car but not every driver can take the car to its maximum. If Gas and Alo are on the same level as a driver then the comparison of the car would make sense. If you think Alo and Gas is in the same league then you are a massive TR biased fan. You don't need to be an Alonso fan to realize his driving compare to Gas. All the comparison has to have some constant and the next best thing we have is Van vs Gas. I am glad the upgrade works but just being realistic that it is not a huge leap and to be honest in the last 20 years, how many huge leap a team can have from 1 upgrade mid season? It doesn't happen that often. I am glad this seem to be a workable direction and looking forward to the next upgrades.

I will caution on the Canada and Monaco upgrade though, the characteristic is so different, the upgrade on both track probably not really evolution, especially Monaco usually gets its own package. I would like to see if rear suspensions changes to deal with tires and we can see how the car does mechanical grip wise. Canada we can see how they address down force and drag!

[diffuser]

SPEED TRAP KM/H
1 11 S. PEREZ 326.0
2 31 E. OCON 324.7
3 5 S. VETTEL 323.5
4 44 L. HAMILTON 322.5
5 77 V. BOTTAS 322.3
6 35 S. SIROTKIN 322.0
7 8 R. GROSJEAN 321.9
8 10 P. GASLY 321.1
9 20 K. MAGNUSSEN 321.0
10 9 M. ERICSSON 320.6
11 16 C. LECLERC 320.1
12 7 K. RAIKKONEN 319.3
13 18 L. STROLL 318.5
14 33 M. VERSTAPPEN 318.2
15 3 D. RICCIARDO 318.0
16 55 C. SAINZ 314.6
17 14 F. ALONSO 313.8
18 2 S. VANDOORNE 312.3
19 27 N. HULKENBERG 309.8

FINISH LINE KM/H
31 E. OCON 294.7
5 S. VETTEL 293.4
9 M. ERICSSON 293.3
77 V. BOTTAS 291.5
7 K. RAIKKONEN 291.4
20 K. MAGNUSSEN 291.3
44 L. HAMILTON 291.1
8 R. GROSJEAN 290.7
18 L. STROLL 289.9
11 S. PEREZ 289.6
35 S. SIROTKIN 289.3
16 C. LECLERC 289.2
3 D. RICCIARDO 288.0
33 M. VERSTAPPEN 287.1
14 F. ALONSO 287.0
10 P. GASLY 286.2
2 S. VANDOORNE 285.8
55 C. SAINZ 285.1
27 N. HULKENBERG 283.0

[diffuser]

EXACTLY! I would expect people here can perform logical thinking and thoughts...

No driver can out drive a car but not every driver can take the car to its maximum. If Gas and Alo are on the same level as a driver then the comparison of the car would make sense. If you think Alo and Gas is in the same league then you are a massive TR biased fan. You don't need to be an Alonso fan to realize his driving compare to Gas. All the comparison has to have some constant and the next best thing we have is Van vs Gas. I am glad the upgrade works but just being realistic that it is not a huge leap and to be honest in the last 20 years, how many huge leap a team can have from 1 upgrade mid season? It doesn't happen that often. I am glad this seem to be a workable direction and looking forward to the next upgrades.

I will caution on the Canada and Monaco upgrade though, the characteristic is so different, the upgrade on both track probably not really evolution, especially Monaco usually gets its own package. I would like to see if rear suspensions changes to deal with tires and we can see how the car does mechanical grip wise. Canada we can see how they address down force and drag!

You're making an assumption that those updates are track specific and not just general package upgrade. Considering that they are so far behind on Production, I doubt they had time to make track specific changes.

[ALO_Power]

Random thing, we got any good high-res wallpaper pic of Spain (with new-nose)?

[rogazilla]

Thats very true. Traditionally monaco gets one off package but this is not a typical time. Will look forward to it none the least.

[M840TR]

SPEED TRAP KM/H
1 11 S. PEREZ 326.0
2 31 E. OCON 324.7
3 5 S. VETTEL 323.5
4 44 L. HAMILTON 322.5
5 77 V. BOTTAS 322.3
6 35 S. SIROTKIN 322.0
7 8 R. GROSJEAN 321.9
8 10 P. GASLY 321.1
9 20 K. MAGNUSSEN 321.0
10 9 M. ERICSSON 320.6
11 16 C. LECLERC 320.1
12 7 K. RAIKKONEN 319.3
13 18 L. STROLL 318.5
14 33 M. VERSTAPPEN 318.2
15 3 D. RICCIARDO 318.0
16 55 C. SAINZ 314.6
17 14 F. ALONSO 313.8
18 2 S. VANDOORNE 312.3
19 27 N. HULKENBERG 309.8

FINISH LINE KM/H
31 E. OCON 294.7
5 S. VETTEL 293.4
9 M. ERICSSON 293.3
77 V. BOTTAS 291.5
7 K. RAIKKONEN 291.4
20 K. MAGNUSSEN 291.3
44 L. HAMILTON 291.1
8 R. GROSJEAN 290.7
18 L. STROLL 289.9
11 S. PEREZ 289.6
35 S. SIROTKIN 289.3
16 C. LECLERC 289.2
3 D. RICCIARDO 288.0
33 M. VERSTAPPEN 287.1
14 F. ALONSO 287.0
10 P. GASLY 286.2
2 S. VANDOORNE 285.8
55 C. SAINZ 285.1
27 N. HULKENBERG 283.0

Maybe we'l have to wait till Canada for a more representative picture of where they are with the drag issue

[mclaren111]

2 hours into the test and Van is still in garage !!

What the hell ??

[nirvaand]

Was just checking the ongoing test in Barcelona. Stoffel has only done a single installation lap till now, not looking good for McLaren. Plus, Lando seems to be running the old nose for some reason.

Edit: Stoffel finally leaving the garage again.

[radosav]

We are doomed. Doomed.

[Macklaren]

2 hours into the test and Van is still in garage !!

What the hell ??

This is a good sign. Points to big changes?

PS; or something to do with his race retirement

[Macklaren]

. Plus, Lando seems to be running the old nose for some reason.

Surely for back to back comparisons?

[M840TR]

https://twitter.com/AlbertFabrega/statu ... 4261682177
Mercedes have copied the vortex generators on top of the sidepod inlets from the Mclaren

[nirvaand]

https://twitter.com/AlbertFabrega/statu ... 4261682177
Mercedes have copied the vortex generators on top of the sidepod inlets from the Mclaren

So Ferrari has copied McLaren's front wing and floor, and now Mercedes has copied the vortex generators. Looks like a lot of McLaren's problems are more to do internally, they seem to have low traction and mechanical grip in slow corners, the car just doesn't ride the kerbs and seems to lack the mechanical grip to turn the car is a left-right chicane - also pointed out by Martin Brundle this weekend. Problems with suspension and weight distribution?