McLaren vs Ferrari start video
In the ongoing discussion over how fast – or not – the McLaren MP4-24 is, this video shot at the Barcelona test session earlier this week has attracted a lot of attention:
It shows Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari doing simulated starts together. Although Raikkonen starts behind the McLaren he is well ahead as the two head out of sight.
This has being seized by some on as conclusive proof that McLaren have massive rear grip problems and are going to be annihilated at Melbourne in two weeks’ time. James Allen describes the Ferrari’s “fantastic grip off the line and it’s the first part of the start which makes the difference.”
But it looks pretty clear to me that the Ferrari begins its start before the McLaren does. At 0’12 on the video Raikkonen is moving but Kovalainen isn’t.
Even if the start was being controlled by the lights on the gantry (it’s not clear if it is or not) that doesn’t necessarily mean Raikkonen didn’t make his getaway first – perhaps to put a bit of psychological pressure on his fellow Finn.
To the list of things we don’t know about this video we can the following: what if Raikkonen’s start was aided by a fully-charged KERS and Kovalainen’s wasn’t?
The debate over McLaren’s form is going to rage on until the season finally gets going. From the testing times and reports it does look as though all is not well with the MP4-24. But I’m not sure this start is quite the damning piece of evidence some think it is.
What do you make of the video?
SamS said on 12th March 2009, 9:23
If this is a true representation then it is really worrying. Honestly I think they are sandbagging
TommyB said on 12th March 2009, 9:28
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear :(
Madurai said on 12th March 2009, 9:29
What if the Mclaren lagging behind?It can be added in WHAT IFs?.James allen was present in the circuit at that time.
chaostheory said on 12th March 2009, 9:29
They sounds amazing on this video.
And I hope McLaren will be in midfield this season; Lewis needs such experience :P
Paul Sainsbury said on 12th March 2009, 10:48
I think in many ways it would indeed be good to have Lewis in a midfield car, if for no other reason than to finally shut up the ‘Lewis isn’t all that special’ brigade. (Not that I am accusing chaostheory of being one of those).
Although these people display an almost comical ignorance of the sport, I think it would be a relief for those with a little more knowledge, and indeed, probably Lewis himself, to demonstrate that unique talent in an average car, much like Alonso did towards the end of last year. And we know LH was better than Fernando in equal cars, so it really could be fun to watch……..:)
Tone said on 12th March 2009, 9:29
I really do believe Mc Laren has serious problems with Rear Grip. In testing they have been using their 2008 rear wing spec which produces more downforce than the 2009 rear wing spec. Ron also has said in one article that they still have aero stuff that they did not show yet and that the rear wing spec they have for the 2009 season has pretty much similar aspect as the 2008 rear wing. I mean Come On! It’s weeks only and it’s prolly the last testing they have so you might wanna get a chance to know the performance of your car. It’s not really a tiny winglet that you can put on the race weekend itself? A rear wing is a major part! It’s not an upgrade.
True that we can’t really tell the real story behind this video about how the start went on. If say Mclaren has a serious problem with Rear Grip, I don’t think it’s that much of a difference on that start. That is too much of a lack of grip if that’s really the case of Mc Laren.
I think the race will really tell the whole story. I can’t really wait to see the first race. :) I’m quite excited to know alot of teams are getting into the top list. It’s really going to be a great season if we see lots of changes in the podium. I’m a big Ferrari Fan… But I would also like to see Seb Vettel to win more races.
Australian GP! Here we come!
Adrian said on 12th March 2009, 11:25
McLaren are due to test next week in Jerez along with Williams, BrawnGP and Renault…
If they’re still not setting top times, then I think they definately have problems…
Terry Fabulous said on 12th March 2009, 9:32
I agree with you SamS, It is hard to believe that there is going to be THAT much difference between the two of them off the start.
Alastair said on 12th March 2009, 9:34
Vid’s gone :(
Perhaps Heikki just got a bad start. I don’t see how rear wing or diffuser problems are going to affect the way a car starts.
Scott Joslin said on 12th March 2009, 10:38
I agree with you Alastair, the speeds would be too slow for the rear wing or diffuser problems that everyone is speculating about to effect the take off from the line.
Also, remember if Mclaren are having problems with grip / downforce from the rear end this again does not make sense for a straight line test such as the video above.
Grip squares with drag (Brundle always used to say this) so if Mclaren have poor grip then it will have low drag – and paradoxically be quick in a straight line.
Keith’s point is corret, we don’t know if the Ferrari was using Kers, also if they were testing to get off the line, what was stopping Kovi leveling off on the throtle after the launch sequence. Plus and a key point I am not sure that has already been made or not, but Kovi was on the dirty side of the track, and I doubt there would be any rubber on that side and there will be plenty of dust.
Arnet said on 12th March 2009, 9:36
That was not a true head to head test of off the line acceleration. When was the last time you saw a Ferrari cream a McLaren like that off the start line? The sound and fury was awesome, but that wasn’t the shape of things to come. Too much going on behind the scenes to draw any real conclusions from. I’d love to be a fly on the wall of only one team this and next week.
Loki said on 12th March 2009, 10:54
“When was the last time you saw a Ferrari cream a McLaren like that off the start line?”
Hungary 2008 :D . . .and not just one McLaren, either ;-)
But yeah, I’d take this with a pinch of salt. I still maintain McLaren will be up there somewhere come Australia.
Les said on 12th March 2009, 9:39
I’m not going to make a judgement on this video as Raikonnen clearly made a better start than Heikki.
Alastair said on 12th March 2009, 9:44
OK, I’ve seen the vid now. Kimi definitely gets a better start but he does start from quite a few places behind Heikki and seems to build up speed a bit later.
Perhaps this is the off-year that Mclaren were supposed to have had last year?
Moolander said on 12th March 2009, 9:50
I predict McLaren will show up at next week test with a Williams/Toyota-style diffuser. I guess a 2008-spec wing would be more representative of the kind of coupling effect those diffusers might produce
patrickl said on 12th March 2009, 9:55
Indeed, “what if” kovalainen simply messed up his start?
How would their problems with the rear wheel aerodynamics have an influence on the start?
PJA said on 12th March 2009, 10:16
I don’t know if I am looking at it wrong but Kovalainen seems to be on the centre of the track with less rubber laid down and Raikkonen seems to be on the racing line.
But as others have said there are too many unknowns (fuel load, tyres, KERS etc) to draw any meaningful conclusions from the footage.
Chalky said on 12th March 2009, 10:52
Looks like Heiki eases off once the initial start has taken place. Kimi, just keeps his foot down.
Too many unknowns to draw any conclusion here.
B said on 12th March 2009, 16:35
Agreed.
Tim said on 12th March 2009, 10:57
One practice start doesn’t doom McLaren’s 2009 season as there were a huge number of variables in play.
McLaren does seem to be struggling somewhat but it would be foolish to write them off before the season has even started. If any team has the analytical resources to understand and overcome a problem then it’s the one that lives at the McLaren Technology Centre. This wouldn’t the first time a team has struggled to hook up their new car in testing or even in the early part of the year. This time last year, BMW Sauber were struggling to hook up their 2008 car but made the front row in Melbourne. McLaren were nowhere in the first race of 2005 because of tyre problems in qualifying but were devastatingly quick just a few rounds later.
The rumours suggest McLaren is struggling to reconcile windtunnel figures with actual performance. If the team has a windtunnel calibration issue then the problem could be very serious indeed. If the issue is less fundamental the team should be able to resolve it relatively quickly.
We’ll only really know the answer in two weeks – as the old saying goes, when the flag drops…