thats what I thought too!!! looks different...

'Why have it at all' is probably a better question.

The 2009 package allows the diffuser across the width of the car, which means the infill piece must compromise the downforce available from the centre of the diffuser...or...it is covering up something novel. This makes most sense to me.

They want to keep their diffuser hidden until Melbourne to prevent anyone copying. So they cover it. Then they realise that this causes a problem with the 2009 wing because they just don't give the right levels of downforce together. So they fling the 2008 wing on instead. That way, the reduced diffuser but better wing work together reasonably well to approximate 2009.

All guesswork from me, as usual.

maybe the exhaust will end up there, and there are much smaller sidepods hidden under those big chunky ones

This was from Portimao on 21 Jan

a different cover, but still a cover

it almost looks like they are getting ready to adopt the Williams style diffuser???

Quite likely I would have thought.

anyone got a link to a williams diffuser to compare

got one

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/947/fw31rearfe2.jpg

http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/02/18/mcla...ting-at-kemble/

Is this the new rear wing?

It's the same rear wing of last test at Jerez

the rear looks the same diffuser etc.

Never mind the diffusor. What's that cage behind the front wheel?

Forgive me if this doubles up on the other thread going, but this seems the best place to pick the brains of those who've been monitoring the MP4-23 closley.

1) What is the cage? TV or film camera mounting? Or some kind of flow meter?

2) What is the matt black scoop on the outside of the sidepod, just back from the opening? Is this KERS cooling?

but if he is being pulled by a van how can they measure any aero data when they are going 40-50km/h

1 - Camera device someone reckons
2 - Interim device to cool down KERS. McLaren experienced problems with this early on.

That's my guess..

So still now wonder-working high-downforce rear-wing for MP4-24?

Maybe the high downforce element we're still awaiting is not a rear wing, but a diffuser. Maybe the 2009 rear wing is already complete.

It must be a mighty large camera given the size of that mount.

Most TV cameras are much smaller these days.

Unless, of course, it is using film.

I wonder if Sir Jackie was consulted...

Well, for an advertisement, they won't want feed of a quality like the picture quality of the standard on-board camera!

killfile, excellent information! Thank you very much.

Were you, by chance, at the test?

The bird cage is a probably a mounting aero testing. The car was also fitted with a similar array of pressure taps in front of the airbox inlet. The ‘bird’ is a bundle of transparent tubing curled up and possibly not in use, while the airbox inlet test was being conducted. No doubt these tubes would have been fitted to the cross bracing inside the ‘birdcage’ on subsequent runs. The ‘birdcage was fitted behind the front wing and this is most likely due to the fact that McLaren has fitted the extended wheel fairings, so they were checking the flow off the wheel matched to what they were expecting. This also tallies with the ‘flow vis’ test in Jerez last week. This sort of test is common at tests and especially at private tests 9such as straightline testing), so don’t jump to conclusions that Mac have a problem, this is just the level of detail teams need to go through to be sure their tunnel and CFD tests are accurate.

Scarbs

Detailed as ususal, keep posting on this thread

Thanks for the analysis Scarbs.

As with your work on autosport.com, it is always worth reading.

Had to pull my post temporarily, but here it is, updated and everything (Of course, now it just looks like I'm copying scarbs )

What they're doing is mapping the flow off the wheel as it heads towards the sidepod so they can see if it matches up with their CFD data. The area around the wheel is the most complex part of a CFD model because the flow there is so turbulent. Ideally you'd model this very closely - and they do, half the cells in the mesh will be around the wheels - but if you want to get reasonably quick results you have to simplify, and because of the chaotic behaviour of fluid flows you can end up with the model occasionally giving some very odd results, hence the need to validate them like this.

The frame is the mounting bracket for an array of hot-wire anemometers, which (although not fitted in the picture) will each be measuring the airspeed as it comes off the front of the wheel. This is usually done in a full-scale tunnel, but thanks the FIA's brilliant cost-saving plans, they now need to do it on tarmac. It's nothing unusual, and I'm sure all the other teams are doing it too - Mclaren just happened to get snapped in the process.

The tubes are attached to sensors on the bottom of the undertray, where they're designed to measure air pressure. They're nothing to do with the frame, other than it being a convenient place to be tied off while they're not being used.it

(The bit where the car is being towed is because the engine stalled - they aren't gathering any data - oops!)

thanks a lot killfile and scarbs

Good feedback, it indeed seems they are measuring air flow and deflection effects.

so.... are McLaren in trouble or not? Has anyones opinion altered today?

Seems they are making strenuous efforts lately and seemingly resorting to methods other teams are not, they're either going to be ******awesome of a disaster!

The only thing I'm worried about is the crankshaft, that paffet4f1 reported. Otherwise all the aero is going to change, kers seems OK as far as we can tell. I think a kers car will win in Melbourne, and the season, and Mac's seems as good as any.

My view is that you don't resort in such complex testing methods if you are in big trouble. They may seem to be trying a lot, but they will have to if they want to push forward with development. Post Melbourne, there will hardly be any opportunity. The times certainly did not look bad last week, so I think they are trying to understand what the tyres do to the aerodynamics of the car and how they might optimize it. Since they are going to limit wind tunnel and rig testing, these measures are one of the few opportunities to do so.

Mclaren have done nothing that is unusual. Ferrari will have done everything that Mclaren has done, except they did it in privacy at Mugello.

seconded. thank you.

I'm always amazed when reading comments like this from people who have no clue whatsover about technology and tools teams use in R&D.

Listen and learn from those who do have a clue and shut up, is my advise.

I think they are just trying hard to get all bases covered and make use of any possible development opportunity.


Im quietly confident that they will have a competitive, top end of the grid car.... just how competitive remains to be seen. I actually think there is a chance for them or any of the big teams to get everything right and dominate the rest considering the rule changes. My hope is they are doing all these 'weird stuff' to grab hold of that chance and be that team.

Jerez test report:

The conclusion of a highly productive second test for MP4-24 at the Circuito de Jerez in Andalucia, southern Spain. Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton shared driving duties, with Heikki heading up the test’s first two days and Lewis concluding the work on Thursday and Friday. While the opening day was briefly marred by a midday rainshower, the remainder of the programme was carried out under clear blue skies and warm sunshine, allowing the team to put some serious mileage on the new car. The majority of the four days was spent finessing the new car’s balance and set-up on slick tyres while also putting background miles on the KERS device – which proved largely trouble-free during all four days. The team carried out the majority of its running using a hybrid-spec 2008 rear wing in order to more effectively simulate expected downforce loads and will bring a raft of new components to next month’s test, back in Jerez.

Maybe try not being so up your own arse and think that maybe questions are asked so that those do have a clue will answer them, it be a very boring place if only people knowledgeable was allowed to post questions.

You did not care about the insights provided by Scrabs or Killfile cause even after that you continued trolling.

Wow, so asking people on what there opinions now are, is considered Trolling, sorry we are not all up to your standard of forum etiquette.

If this isn't a veiled dig at Vasselon I'll eat my codpiece.

I noticed that.

Sorry if it harms you sensibilities that people aren't allowed to ask questions of other forum members in a thread dedicated to a team that they support. The only person with a problem here is yourself, please try and sort rather then taking it out on others who posted a harmless post.

Mate, Chillax.

Little bit in Autosport (print) saying they thought the 08 rear wing was used on the McLaren to limit tyre degradation while the team focused on reliability (and didn't want the distraction of tyre problems) BUT it was just a theory. They also said basically no team has an obvious advantage and that it was boding for a 'classic' season... we'll see. I've heard that before. Hope so though.

Apparently Mclaren have got a massive update coming at the last test, something 'revolutionary' that they are saving till the last moment so no one can copy

:\ Sorry I'm a bit sceptical about this kind of thing.

you have a credible source for that?

I was just told that by someone who has been right about these things in the past, maybe hes right maybe hes not but i thought id just put it out there

I would say 90% of the teams will have a big update at the final two tests anyway

it could be true under the assumption though that they are releasing it because of having something (very) wrong with the current one

No need to be skeptical. Simon Lacey himself said that the launch package they are running now dates back to August 2008, the point they were at in there aero devlopment. That's more than half a year ago.

What they have in the tunnel now will surely be significantly different compared to 6 months ago.
Especially since this is no normal year-on-year devlopment.
2009 is a break from that and there are still many directions to explore aerodynamically.

Exactly. They will all turn up at that final test with significant revisions. I don't see McLaren holding any specific advantages.