McLaren MP4-28 Mercedes

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Is the engine cover new or my eyes are tricking me?

No it's new as is the bodywork around the exhausts. Much tighter now.


via techF1LES

[Pup]

I was going to say it looked like they'd added the hump rather than reduce the bodywork, though it's hard to tell from the angle. Since they've moved the exhaust outlet forward, it's possible that the rerouting of the exhaust required the hump.

[wesley123]

The bodywork around where the engine is placed is indeed much tighter.

Also it seems like the exhaust has been bought a bit forward

[Pup]

You beat me to my edit.

[ringo]

Yes as suspected, i figured tha tailpipe was a bit to low and in the way of the sidepod flow.
However this is just a small piece of the puzzle. The car is magnificent in turn 7 according to Martin Brundle but it's not good anywhere else. They need a FRIC suspension right about now, but i dont even think FRIC would work if the suspension is basically nonexistent. Mclaren seem to be so stiff the suspension is the tyres themselves. haha.

[Drewd11]

P3: Button wants a ride height change.
27 minutes left.
What do you think the odds are that he gets out again this session?

I stand by my initial view that the main problem on the Mclaren is that they cant easily change front suspension setup because of the difficulties with making pull-rod front suspension adjustments.
Everyone who says front wing should be first and foremost in their research department is right, but not by anything but chance. They need to change that nose-cone immediately to get the turning vanes off the monocoque and onto the nose-cone to make suspension changes happen faster. My bet? Button wont get out for another 15-20 minutes, and Checo had to drastically change his setup for q3 because they don't have the capacity to get a suspension change during a session and still get out before the end of the session.
EDIT: I stand corrected, it only took 13 minutes. Having said that, Alonso had a torsion bar change that took 3 minutes.

[Owen.C93]

P3: Button wants a ride height change.
27 minutes left.
What do you think the odds are that he gets out again this session?

I stand by my initial view that the main problem on the Mclaren is that they cant easily change front suspension setup because of the difficulties with making pull-rod front suspension adjustments.
Everyone who says front wing should be first and foremost in their research department is right, but not by anything but chance. They need to change that nose-cone immediately to get the turning vanes off the monocoque and onto the nose-cone to make suspension changes happen faster. My bet? Button wont get out for another 15-20 minutes, and Checo had to drastically change his setup for q3 because they don't have the capacity to get a suspension change during a session and still get out before the end of the session.
EDIT: I stand corrected, it only took 13 minutes. Having said that, Alonso had a torsion bar change that took 3 minutes.

Torsion bars slot in and out. Ride height can be done via an adjuster on the push/pull rod itself.

[Pup]

They need to change that nose-cone immediately to get the turning vanes off the monocoque and onto the nose-cone to make suspension changes happen faster.

The turning vanes are already on the nose cone. They made the change at the last Barcelona test, I believe.

[ringo]

The damping is a problem too. Car looks like it has a lot of vibration, which will mess with the transients of the aerodynamics.
Hence the pitch sensitivity. Imagine the down-force levels fluttering up and down? Should be destabilizing for the driver.

[kalinka]

Is the engine cover new or my eyes are tricking me?

No it's new as is the bodywork around the exhausts. Much tighter now.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BHqz7zICEAE5vdD.jpg
via techF1LES

It's only the view-angle or they changed the upper suspension pick-up point position ?

[Crucial_Xtreme]

It's only the view-angle or they changed the upper suspension pick-up point position ?

It's definitely not the viewing angle, the sidepods have been reshaped as noted by Scarbs, Gary Anderson & the official F1 site(Piola).

Scarbs via AutoSport

The MP4-28 featured substantially revised sidepods. The car also appeared to test some parts briefly seen in Malaysia and a new front ride height set-up.

In order to gain a more powerful Coanda effect from the exhausts sealing the diffuser, the sidepods have been reshaped. The top surface now sweeps down more steeply. This lower sidepod line requires a large bulge to clear the engine and exhausts.

The exhaust outlet also appears to have been brought forward. This should have the effect of making the diffuser less sensitive to the car being on or off throttle.
Link

F1.com

To reduce the pitch sensitivity problem with their car, in China McLaren have cut sections from the sides of the rear diffuser. This may reduce the ultimate amount of downforce available, but brings improved driveability for Button and Perez. This modification is accompanied by a totally new sidepod design around the exhaust area.
Link

And GA mentioned the new sidepods in practice.

[Lycoming]

Imagine the down-force levels fluttering up and down? Should be destabilizing for the driver.

Possibly worse for the tires.

[Pup]

I don't think the suspension has changed though.

This may reduce the ultimate amount of downforce available, but brings improved driveability for Button and Perez.

Improved, perhaps - but still doing its best porpoise imitation...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52XGpW-1SRc[/youtube]

[wesley123]

Wow

That car is wobbling all around, and note how there is no suspension movement at all.

[Just_a_fan]

@Pup: there's a fair bit of flex in the tea tray leading edge too by the look of it in that slow-mo video