They had that overlapping bit before.

Why is the middle part of the diffuser blanked off??? Looking at the upper part of the centre???

It's not blanked off when the use the 2009 wing http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/122557

Sorry, but the flap addition has only been present on the 2009 setup wing - it certainly wasn't present on the MP4/23B test car at the Algarve test in December:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wenny_wu/3209...57612747405786/

The blanking plate on the center part of the diffuser is likely there to better simulate the drag profile of the final 2009 aero arrangement. As many here have speculated, it implies that the Melbourne car will feature a different rear diffuser in addition to a different rear wing.

(I know, I know, quoting myself, I'll go blind ...)

It certainly seems that although McMerc were using a more powerful rear wing they compromised their diffuser to compensate.. A good, perhaps 15%, of the Diffuser is blanked there.. (2009 Test Wing)

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news...216104942.shtml

interview with de la rosa for diario sport
http://www.sportlifepress.com/index.php?op...2066&Itemid=286

My money would be on the engineers knowing exactly what they were doing and the PR guys answering the questions not really understanding and blagging it.

I´m always surprised how detailed the information here in the forum is...thank you very much...

Can you translate it lucky?

use google, if you have some paragraph difficulty i'll try to help

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev...history_state0=

Cheers lukywill.

Finally, the interview fully translated.

SLP: Do you start form zero?

PDLR: It's a historic year in F1 regarding changes, the biggest since I've joined it. The teams knows where we stand regarding our level of competence, but we don't have reference points and we almost only have theoretical data about our potential and it can't give a good idea of what has been improved. At Mclaren we have done a good job up until now, but we don't know how we are when compared with our rivals and from a driver’s point of view this is a very interesting situation as we do have to adapt to so many new things.

SLP: Aerodynamics do change radically, with a dropped and bigger front wing and a raised and shortened rear wing. How does it affect the driving styles?

PDLR: It actually doesn't change too much, for the most incredible that it might sound. Our style won't be that different and when we compare the data from last year with the one from this year the speeds and braking points are very close as although we lost too much down force (with the lost of the appendices and constraints to the wings), we've regained so much more mechanical grip, due to the slicks. Bearing in mind all this, lap times will be very similar to last year and I have to recognize that it's been much easier to adapt to the car-tyre match than I thought that it would be.

SLP: There has been such a big reduction on testing, both on days and on mileage...

PDLR: Each time there's less km's to do on track, but it doesn't imply that we are working less. I've been working more with the team than last year, be it on the factory or in the simulator. That said, there's been many years that I've been the top test driver for the tam and it gives me lots of pride that this is the 9th Mclaren that I've driven. Our communion is so high (drivers with engineers) that throughout this years that whenever I get to the pits with a certain expression, they already know what I mean.

SLP: The top teams are already preparing themselves intensively for the first race. What has drawn your attention? Are there any real differences in between the cars that seem simply identical?

PDLR: The most radical presented is Renault, specially due to its big front end, which I quite like. The rest of tha cars seem to be very clear, given the aero ban, all as an F3 car. The problems those cars have are related to the rear wing (being high and short) that delivers too less of an aggression, from a visual point fof view, when compared with the 2008's. We will sure get used to them, but last year cars were more beautiful.

SLP: Mclaren is testing the MP4/24 with last year's rear wing which is not allowed to race this year...

PDLR: We search for a reference point, doing comparisons, with last year's data, once we don't have any reference points, we do have to base ourselves on last year's data. In any case, we don't take them for granted and we always do it with REAL DOWNFORCE LOADS for this exercise, otherwise we would be losing time masking ourselves something.

SLP: Is KERS something pendant?

PDLR: At late December we made testes with this systems and step by step we've trying and introducing it into the MP4/24. The objective is to work so that it can be ready for the first race, as it's a new element and givers a danger regarding reliability as it's very complicated system. We are not only working regarding improving the car's performance, but also its reliability.

SLP: The FIA allows for 5 test sessions (4 group tests and one private one) in between the start of the year and the first race. Do you have to arrive at Melbourne with all the homework done or will there be any time to make up for?

PDLR: This is a delicate matter. There are teams that have problems in order to arrive at Australia with KERS and if they don't make it in time, they will have to put it on their cars at some time, without having track tested it. Without testing, all that you are not able to do before the first race will be very difficult to introduce latter on and therefore it generates many doubts. It will be complicated to have done all our homework and especially with the changes regarding testing that we've spoken about.

SLP: Are Mclaren and Ferrari a step ahead of the others? The teams that historically have always been at the front maintained their form, being it the first or the last race…

PDLR: At first sight I don’t know as we don’t have any established references, but at the end of the season I guarantee they will be the same. With so many changes what is being provoked is that gap in between the bigger and smaller will be expanded as there’s no cheaper way of making a car evolve than on track and the bigger teams this year can use better their simulation tools and the smaller teams will be handicapped as they do not have them,

SLP: Fernando Alonso and Renault can fight for the championship? Can they gather the moment they had at the end of last season? Are they references to have bearing in mind the big changes we’ve had on the cars?

PDLR: Yes, and for some reasons. Firstly, on the last 2008 races they refound a winning form which certainly has been carried over into the R29, what’s very important. Secondly, Renault is the only engine that has been unfreezed and as max revs were reduced from 19,000 to 18,000 they could have adjusted the power band, an option that the others did not have. And also, I’ve always said that Fernando’s driving style is the best of the grid, together with the one from Lewis Hamilton. Those are 3 very important elements when you consider if someone has or not the possibility to fight for the championships, but I think they have those and they will be very competitive since the first race.

SLP: You clearly show that you’re very pride of being a Mclaren driver, but it’s evident that it was a bit annoying when Force India opted to keep Fisichella and Sutil. What keeps you strong and full of hope at the team?

PDLR: I don’t have a car for March, 29th at Melbourne, but it’s clear for me that if I ever want to become a racing F1 driver I have to be with Mclaren being a test driver and reserve driver, as if something happens it’s gonna be me who drives the car and this is important in order to you keep your motivation high. On the other side, I am at a winning squad. Even if I don’t personally win, the team wins and therefore I win also. For me it’s very important to work at a team that wins races, that always fight for victories and that for me this is mentally “basic”.

SLP: Is it bad not to have Ron Dennis there?

PDLR: Not at all. The team won’t change because Martin Whitmarsh has been coming from Ron’s right hand for the last 20 years. The team has re-structured itself, but it won’t change that much because my daily basis has always been with Martin and our relationship is very good, with a big display of mutual confidence. Whitmarsh is a big leader, trust on my job and we talk/call on a daily basis, being his philosophy very close to the one of Ron Dennis, taking care of everything, until the smallest detail.

AFCA has said that Bridgestone only brought one compound to Jerez. You shouldn't be carried over by the information the spanish sites made last week. The tyre marks were being tested, not the tyre compounds.

1- Good to read that KERS has been able to deliver its full power.

2- Obviously the rearwing fuss was only made because Alonso was close to Lewis on the timming pages. Nothing to worry about.

3- If there's more power to come, that's good news. Maybe there will be so extra tenths coming.

3.1- Well, let's just hope the 2006 engine problems don't come back.

3.2- Still, that engine ran for 1500+ kms which is more or less what they will be required to do next season.

Yeh. It's game on. Bring on the next test at Jerez. And hopefully more updates.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_new...es_art_id=37009

according to that 3 compounds were being tested at Jerez

I didn't say only one compound was brought to Jerez.

for paffett4F1 & rodlamas for the infos and translating.

http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2004

Im still confused at this 'blanked' talk, that diffuser has been run all week, even with the 09 wing.

In Scarbs' article linked by Mika Mika: "McLaren also ran with an infill panel fitted to the centre of the diffuser. This reduced the volume in the middle of the floor, which would theoretically reduce downforce as the part appears to be an add-on. This may be an interim part, linked to the use of the wider 2008 rear wing."

Testing on the 3rd week of March has been nominated "Group Test Five" and therefore Mclaren has updated its testing schedule.

Mar 1-4 - Jerez - Group Test Three

1st March - Drivers TBC
2nd March - Drivers TBC
3rd March - Drivers TBC
4th March - Drivers TBC
5th March - Drivers TBC ???????

Mar 9-12 - Barcelona - Group Test Four

9th March - Drivers TBC
10th March - Drivers TBC
11th March - Drivers TBC
12th March - Drivers TBC

Mar 15-18 - Jerez - Group Test Five

15th March - Drivers TBC
16th March - Drivers TBC
17th March - Drivers TBC
18th March - Drivers TBC

It wasn't blanked on the 2009 wing,
http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/122557

I think you will find if you mess with the contrast of the picture, and up the brightness, you will find it is exactly the same unfortuneately.

Sorry if its already been discussed - I must have missed it.

Seems McLarens wheel fairings are indeed legal and not just for testing.



http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2004

I really don`t think so.

I did there is no blanking panel as there is in the other picture... Scarbs mentioned it too in his artical.

someone posted a picture with upscaled brightness and it had the piece in the center that sort of, slopes back down towards the floor, with a little hole off center to one side?

That diffuser in more detail?

It looks like they have some instruments hidden in the difuser box, possiblt something that blow air above this center section of the diffuser panel, ...? Would this be related to Double Decker Diffuser? I mean otherwise this cm2 is too important!

This hole can just be mede for the engine starter.

im getting so confused, i think the picture where its 'blanked out' so to speak is an optical illusion and just too dark, either that or i need glasses.

lighter:

yessss i know that one, im talking about the 09 wing picture, it is running the same diffuser as that picture but it just can't be seen clearly cos its too dark, you follow?

Leave it with me.

Here you go:

It's the same no ?

this shold put to rest all these different diffuser theories then, they are the same, which is unfortunate.

Lewis shares his thoughts post Jerez

13th February 2009

Can you sum up this week’s test in Jerez?
“It was a positive test. The weather was great and stayed dry – which was the main thing because it allowed us to put plenty of miles on the car without any problems. We’re starting to get a proper feel for the new car now and I think we’ve got a very good basis for the year ahead. Obviously, we’re still working on a number of things, like KERS and understanding the slick tyres – but we’ve achieved everything we set out to do this week and we’ve got plenty of data to analyse before we come back to Jerez next month.”

Do the new rules make the car feel very different from last year’s?
“There is some difference: KERS makes the car feel different under braking, and we’re losing some of the top-end speed that we used to have in the fast corners. But we expected that. Since I first started driving the new car, I’ve said it feels very similar to last year’s car – and that’s still the same. And I know we’ve got plenty of new parts coming to the car over the next few weeks that will make a huge difference to the car’s overall pace.”

Can you predict yet how competitive Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be in Australia?
“I don’t think any team knows yet where it’s going to be in Melbourne. But I definitely think it’s going to be close! Over the winter there was a lot of talk about the new rules making the grid spread out – but from what I’ve seen that’s not going to happen. We don’t know what the others were doing, but for us, this week’s test wasn’t about setting fast times – it was about running the car reliably, getting KERS to work and learning about the new tyres over a long run, which is very important. Now we’re beginning to get a clearer idea of where we are with the car, we will start adding performance to it over the next few weeks.”

mclaren.com

Looks the same to my eye.

see Mika Mika? I dunno where this scarbs post is that you were talking about, but i think he may be mistaken? unless they changed the entire diffuser for a stint or something?

http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2004

pictures didnt lie? i just want someone to point out this 'infill' so i can be at rest and happy that mclaren ran with reduced diffuser performance cos that can only be a good thing.

All makes sense. The centre 'section' (with the hole in it), is the infil insert that reduces downforce.

then why run it WITH the 2009 wing too?

When you're testing you're trying to isolate the effect of one thing at one time so you can get a clear conclusion and then move on to the next thing. To change it out (along with the rear wing), may just create yet another variable to performance which complicates any comparision you're trying to make on the rear wing etc.

hmmm im not convinced, can we have any shots of the other cars diffuser to see if their middle section is similar at all to this? with the 'infill' piece? or if it does indeed go through to the floor, cos im sure that diffuser has been the same since launch.

or any shots from previous tests with the 24 that show the 'infill' piece not ythere? portimao for example?

Having looked at the Algarve shots (and done a similar picture contrast job on those) it looks to me like the diffuser has always had this infil piece. Why is that a problem?

this is getting as bad as is it "transparent"

well done to McLaren for producing the most confusing tests