F1 Fanatic

112 comments on McLaren cover least test distance with new car

1. 

   jp said on 13th March 2011, 14:47

   well for sure this year mclaren will be no where near the top for monte carlo. their wheel base is just way too big to run well there. Conversly spa may be their best race. i feel like Mclaren will be like for india was a couple of years ago when it had all the straight line speed…

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2. 

   wasiF1 said on 13th March 2011, 15:05

   Mclaren may need to pay for that low numbers,nice to see Sauber & Torro Rosso have picked up good mileage along with Schumacher to whom everyone will be looking forward.

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3. 

   Bosco said on 13th March 2011, 15:43

   Where are the numbers for the MP4-26, only last years testing numbers are shown?

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   • 

     BasCB (@bascb) said on 13th March 2011, 17:21

     It is there, 6th line from the bottom:
     McLaren MP4-26 785 3,601.28

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4. 

   Fixy (@fixy) said on 13th March 2011, 17:09

   Yay! Ferrari and Massa first!

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   • 

     bananarama said on 13th March 2011, 18:38

     Yay, Massa beat Alonso .. when did we ever see that?!
     (I’m just kidding :-P)

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5. 

   Dave said on 13th March 2011, 17:34

   The mp4-25 was built around an aggressive double diffuser which would explain a radical redesign, both the Ferrari and the Red Bull had efficient designs from front to rear not relying on a diffuser as theirs being among the simplest of the front running teams.

   This would explain the radical Mclaren design as it required a clean slate to build on in the following seasons. I have confidence Mclaren will eventually come good but probably won’t be challenging the top two at the start of the season. I also highly doubt they have produced another turkey like the mp4-24.

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   • 

     DeadManWoking said on 13th March 2011, 18:50

     There’s only going to be one more season for these cars after this one, then it’s all change for 2013.

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6. 

   Ralph Schumacher said on 13th March 2011, 18:27

   i’m sure the MP426 will eventually come right. I have to be. I am a McLaren fan. However, would it be wrong to say that some races, especially the first 4 or so will be won purely on tyre strategy? I cant help but think that the faster a car is, the harsher it will be on the tyres. If the redbull is lapping 8tenths faster than the Mclaren, after a gruelling 50 odd laps, it might require an extra tyre change in comparison to a car that was a second slower per lap.
   #justathought

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   • 

     DeadManWoking said on 13th March 2011, 18:48

     A second slower a lap is a minute or so in the race and an extra tire stop takes less than half that.

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   • 

     Icthyes said on 13th March 2011, 19:52

     Maybe the opposite actually and I fear for the McLaren in this respect, that wheelbase is pretty long and may result in them chewing up their tyres faster.

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7. 

   AH said on 13th March 2011, 20:21

   Keith,

   Apologies if it’s not allowed, but this is link of a podcast from BBC: Midweek Motorsports, with Nick Damon and Anthony Davidson.

   http://audio.mpix.org.uk/specials/2011/2011_f1_preview.mp3

   Some interesting views on McLaren and their car design (from 30 min).

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   • 

     Journeyer said on 14th March 2011, 7:04

     This is actually from Radio Le Mans, not the BBC. Still, should be a good listen. Thanks!

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   • 

     MacademiaNut said on 14th March 2011, 12:18

     Certainly pains a bleak picture for McLaren.

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     • 

       MacademiaNut said on 14th March 2011, 12:18

       oops.. paints

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   • 

     BasCB (@bascb) said on 15th March 2011, 10:18

     Really nice to listen to that, thanks for posting it.

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8. 

   Rob Wilson said on 13th March 2011, 20:21

   2010 is the last time McLaren will have numbers 1 & 2 on their car.

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   • 

     andrewf1 said on 14th March 2011, 2:47

     lol

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     • 

       andrewf1 said on 14th March 2011, 2:48

       oh i forgot the world ends in 2012. you might be right

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9. 

   AH said on 13th March 2011, 20:24

   It appears that they have serious issues with their exhaust. The car is design around it, while they can’t make it work due to the hot gasses. As a McLAren fan, I hope they can solve it asap.

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10. 

    JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1) said on 13th March 2011, 23:44

    @Icthyes
    Actually, the long wheel base was meant to help with tyre degradation, not hinder it, in the rear I believe.

    @Ralph Schumacher
    As good lap times mainly come from good downforce, the likelihood is that the slower cars, which have less downforce will be equally as bad, if not worse on their tyres due to lower grip levels.

    I read somewhere that the problem with these tyres wasn’t overheating (degradation), and therefore the rules that apply are different to previous seasons.

    Obviously, there are more variables in tyre degradation than downforce though, and maybe, just maybe that what McLaren’s car design was based around. It could well be a slower car, which is easier on its tyres. Although, for that to pay off, then they’d realistically need to still be within half a second or so to leapfrog the leaders by doing one less stop.

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11. 

    Ralph Schumacher said on 14th March 2011, 1:28

    still alot of unknowns about the cars of 2011 and how they’ll handle under the circumstances. It’s going to be a cracker of a season…

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12. 

    mash26 said on 14th March 2011, 2:46

    Its now clear that had they simply stuck to their programme with the 25 they would have maintained their momentum past germany, certainly long enough to secure both titles. But you can’t fault them for trying(EBD). Its the complete opposite this year though coz they clearly need to simplify.
    What a pity.

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13. 

    Liviu said on 14th March 2011, 20:04

    Keith, you got Massa on number one with 774 laps (3,501) and Alonso second with 789 laps (3,483). Is this possible?

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    • 

      BasCB (@bascb) said on 15th March 2011, 10:23

      Thats because different tracks have different lap lenghts (Valencia 4.005km, Jerez 4.428km, Barcelona 4.655km). So while Alonso did more laps he did many of those on shorter tracks, while Massa covered more total Km in testing!

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      • 

        Liviu said on 15th March 2011, 11:01

        Thanks BasCB, that clears it up!

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14. 

    welshie said on 15th March 2011, 19:13

    I just think that we should not be fooled totally by testing, Mclaren knew all along they would miss firts test and admit they have only really been datya gathering for the simulator, even Button admits that despite outward problems there is pace in the car, wait for Australia, both Mclarens will be challnging for podium, by 3rd or 4th race they will be right on it

    Reply

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