Mclaren MCL40

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haza
haza
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Joined: 18 May 2015, 23:14

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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https://x.com/soymotor/status/2016472191668220298?s=46

Looks to be a hole of some description by the rear tyre

HungarianRacer
HungarianRacer
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Joined: 25 Jun 2019, 12:26

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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des_1986 wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:21
HungarianRacer wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 12:55
https://i.postimg.cc/63NqRpZG/17695947297275.webp

Not to be a party pooper, but what makes this front wing "enormously more complex than any other 2026 wing" exactly? The massive downwashing canards?
In 2022, the Mercedes W13 launched with exceptionally outboard-biased front wing cord lenghts too very similar to this, yet "boring", evenly-loaded wings ended up the winning concept, just saying...
Is it just me, or are all the front wing elements connected to each other? Wonder how they'll work with the active aero?
You should discuss this with others in the Mercedes W17 thread, but yes, not only the uppermost flap is the only movable element on the Merc's front wing, it actually has a fixed middle part under the nosecone that doesn't even move at all (flap split into 3).

Others (like this McLaren) have the cord lenght generally minimized under the nosecone.

EDIT: Oh, you quoted my other comment with the McLaren image linked, I got mixed up.

No, I don't think the front wing elemnts are "connected" to eachother, maybe explain what you mean in further detail(?)
Last edited by HungarianRacer on 28 Jan 2026, 13:32, edited 2 times in total.

haza
haza
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Re: Mclaren MCL40

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monkeyboy1976
monkeyboy1976
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Joined: 12 Jan 2006, 17:00
Location: Midlands, UK

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Image
Image

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Guacamole wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:24
I'm a bit underwhelmed. Bit weird to be, as it is extremely early days, I'd just expected a more visibly developed car I guess? More akin Mercedes and Red Bull. It might be a whole different car in a week or 2, it just feels a bit off?
The front wing, sidepods, and engine hood are well-designed. The rear cooling area looks taut and compact. The remaining components will be easier to develop as the season progresses. The bargeboards, floor edging, and other elements will be changed many times. It's possible the team will decide to use a mouse hole in the diffuser area.

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MrGapes
34
Joined: 10 Mar 2021, 09:24

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Image

Looks slotted unless im looking at something else

LionsHeart
LionsHeart
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Joined: 09 Mar 2023, 19:21

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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des_1986 wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:21
HungarianRacer wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 12:55
https://i.postimg.cc/63NqRpZG/17695947297275.webp

Not to be a party pooper, but what makes this front wing "enormously more complex than any other 2026 wing" exactly? The massive downwashing canards?
In 2022, the Mercedes W13 launched with exceptionally outboard-biased front wing cord lenghts too very similar to this, yet "boring", evenly-loaded wings ended up the winning concept, just saying...
Is it just me, or are all the front wing elements connected to each other? Wonder how they'll work with the active aero?
Good point. By magic. In official McLaren photos, a cable or metal rod is visible under the nose cone. It appears to be the connection to the upper flaps. But looking at the overall mounting, it looks like a single wing with no moving parts. It looks both curious and strange.

haza
haza
7
Joined: 18 May 2015, 23:14

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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MrGapes wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:35
https://imgbb.com/

Looks slotted unless im looking at something else
Almost certain there’s a slot I can see the track through the diffuser

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organic
1141
Joined: 08 Jan 2022, 02:24
Location: Cambridge, UK

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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haza wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:38
MrGapes wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:35
https://imgbb.com/

Looks slotted unless im looking at something else
Almost certain there’s a slot I can see the track through the diffuser
There's a slot in the rear part of the floor ahead of the rear tyre to renergise the rear corner of the floor, but I can't see a diffuser slot or cutout

Emag
Emag
133
Joined: 11 Feb 2019, 14:56

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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haza wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:38
MrGapes wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:35
https://imgbb.com/

Looks slotted unless im looking at something else
Almost certain there’s a slot I can see the track through the diffuser
You mean this bit here right? It looks a bit strange but the quality is quite bad to be certain about it. Could be a reflection.

Image
Developer of F1InsightsHub

des_1986
des_1986
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Joined: 10 May 2019, 22:41

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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LionsHeart wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:37
des_1986 wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:21
HungarianRacer wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 12:55
https://i.postimg.cc/63NqRpZG/17695947297275.webp

Not to be a party pooper, but what makes this front wing "enormously more complex than any other 2026 wing" exactly? The massive downwashing canards?
In 2022, the Mercedes W13 launched with exceptionally outboard-biased front wing cord lenghts too very similar to this, yet "boring", evenly-loaded wings ended up the winning concept, just saying...
Is it just me, or are all the front wing elements connected to each other? Wonder how they'll work with the active aero?
Good point. By magic. In official McLaren photos, a cable or metal rod is visible under the nose cone. It appears to be the connection to the upper flaps. But looking at the overall mounting, it looks like a single wing with no moving parts. It looks both curious and strange.
Yeah, that's what I thought. There are some pictures just posted of the car coming out of the pits and it's much clearer to see.. all 3 elements of the front wing are connected to each other with those little loop struts.. must just be a development front wing perhaps

Peter Ian Staker
Peter Ian Staker
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Joined: 16 Feb 2022, 16:20

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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HungarianRacer wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:20
Peter Ian Staker wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:16
Emag wrote:
28 Jan 2026, 13:12


https://i.postimg.cc/1tBgRkzw/image.png

No slotted diffuser.

The "bargeboard's" bottom section seems segmented.
I don't think you would be able to see a slotted diffuser from this angle.
With the holes Red Bull and Mercedes cut in their's? Are you kidding me?
Here's the Merc from a more forward-facing angle:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_vcBHaWYAA ... ame=medium
Nowhere near the same angle. You wouldn't be able to see the track surface through the diffuser if the Merc was as side-facing as the McLaren.

Badger
Badger
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Joined: 22 Sep 2025, 17:00

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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You should be able to see it clearly in this picture. It's not there.
Image

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Darth-Piekus
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Joined: 28 Apr 2018, 15:27
Location: Greece

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Does it even need a mousehole? Who says they don't have another solution?

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De Wet
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Joined: 03 Jan 2024, 13:32

Re: Mclaren MCL40

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Looks can be deceiving. [-o< [-o<