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McLaren has implemented several improvements to its Formula 1 car since the middle of last year, and it seems that all of them have had a positive impact on performance. This demonstrates that the team has a strong technical understanding of its car, both in its current state and in terms of what needs to progress. Once again, McLaren brought a comprehensive package of developments to Miami last weekend, accelerating them compared to the original target in Imola. The update was fully installed on Lando Norris’ car, while Oscar Piastri’s car received a part of it. This was a bold move by McLaren, considering the limited time available to optimize the setup with the new parts. As I mentioned before, when implementing improvements, it’s best to start from the front and work backward. This approach maximizes the benefits gained from the improvements. Unfortunately, once you finish, it’s time to start over, just like repainting the Sydney Harbor Bridge – when one can of paint runs out, you simply grab another one and keep going.
Below, you will find McLaren’s description of the developments provided to the FIA, along with my own analysis of each section.
McLaren claims that the completely redesigned geometry of the front wing leads to a significant improvement in flow control. This, combined with the updated front corner and front suspension, results in an overall increase in downforce.
When analyzing the comparison of the front wings, several subtle changes can be observed. The leading edge highlighted in blue appears to be flatter, closer to the ground. Moving outwards, it seems that the leading edge of the more advanced element, highlighted with a green arrow, is slightly raised. The rear edge of the new version is marked in orange, while the previous version is shown in orange and magenta. Under the magenta section, there is a gurney flap, which teams typically use in that area when they have difficulties with front aerodynamic pressure, especially at low speeds. Interestingly, McLaren seems not to need it in the new version. Additionally, there is a change in the nose profile where it meets the second element of the front wing, with the new version extending a bit further forward and overlapping the leading edge of that element.
All these changes aim to improve the airflow under the wing, thus enhancing wing performance and increasing mass flow to the central section of the floor leading edge.
According to McLaren, the new front suspension geometry was designed to complement the new front wing and improve flow conditions.
From an aerodynamic standpoint, this can be seen as profile and location optimization. As the airflow exits the rear edge of the front wing, the suspension linkage works to realign this flow towards downstream aerodynamic components. The goal is to ensure that this optimization does not interfere with the performance of the front wing. Essentially, it involves manipulating the vortex to improve its angle of attack towards the sidepod and floor leading edge.
McLaren explains that the new front brake duct was designed to fit the new front wing and improve flow conditions.
The front wheel fairing and front brake duct are responsible for capturing the flow displaced by the front tire and redirecting it to the void behind the tire. This helps improve airflow to the leading edge of the sidepod and the floor, reduces tire turbulence, and potentially decreases drag. The design of the brake cooling duct itself is quite complex, with multiple ducts within ducts following different directions. Understanding the internal flow within the brake ducts has significantly improved, resulting in smaller inlet sizes compared to previous years.
McLaren claims that the revised floor, together with the new sidepod inlet and bodywork, increases overall downforce in all conditions.
It is challenging to visually identify all the changes that make up a new floor. However, in conjunction with the changes in the sidepod entry, McLaren has managed to open up the front part of the sidepod undercut. These small changes contribute to a more robust airflow structure around the sidepod, making it less sensitive to turbulent airflow when in traffic or crosswinds. The front corner cleaning device of the floor, highlighted with a red ellipse, consists of two angled fins that create vortices, similar to a Dyson vacuum cleaner. These vortices help to extract airflow more efficiently from this area. The end of the leading edge dividers, indicated by a blue arrow, is not clearly visible in the old version, possibly due to the angle. Ensuring that the end of these dividers and the vortex generators work together optimally helps to improve the consistency of airflow in this area of the floor. There also appears to be a small curved section on the rear edge of the floor, highlighted with a green ellipse. This section helps to connect the floor to the inner tire jet, which is the airflow displaced when the tire rotates on the track surface. It plays a crucial role in diffuser performance and can also contribute to drag reduction.
According to McLaren, the new sidepod entry was designed to complement the change in the entry flow and, together with the bodywork, improves the flow towards the rear of the car.
The main objective behind most of these developments is to reduce and raise the input of the sidepod. The cooling airflow, highlighted with yellow arrows, is not useful for generating aerodynamic pressure. By increasing the mass flow through the undercut of the front corner of the sidepod, the overall aerodynamic pressure of the floor can be increased, creating a more effective and consistent vortex sealing system at the outer edge of the floor. This design change also reduces the impact of front wheel turbulence, especially at high steering angles, and improves consistency when affected by traffic turbulence.
McLaren explains that the new bodywork and engine cover improve flow efficiency and conditioning, along with the sidepod input.
Optimizing the engine cover and the bottle area is aligned with the changes made to the sidepod undercut. The goal is to improve surface flow and maintain consistency throughout the car. This approach involves making incremental improvements throughout the car without drastically changing the aerodynamic philosophy.
McLaren states that, with the new body shape, the cooling opening range has been updated to accommodate the change in the overall flow field.
The cooling inlet plates, highlighted with a red ellipse, appear to have been enlarged to match the reduced size of the inlet. Balancing the size of the inlet and the opening plates is a challenging task. Keeping the inlet as small as possible ensures consistent performance at different speeds, but there is a limit to how small it can be. The opening plate is not the only cooling area, as there are twin pipes highlighted with green arrows coming out of the back of the engine cover. These adjustable cooling outlets increase pressure drop through the radiator core, improving cooling efficiency. However, larger outlets also increase drag, requiring a compromise between cooling and aerodynamic performance.
McLaren explains that the rear suspension has been upgraded to accommodate the change in inlet flow conditions and improve downforce generation through the new rear brake duct geometry.
Similar to the front suspension, the rear suspension link has been redesigned to optimize airflow in specific areas. By minimizing blockages caused by suspension members, overall mass flow can travel faster, resulting in an increase in potential aerodynamic pressure.
McLaren states that the new rear brake duct geometry benefits from an improvement in inlet flow and results in an overall gain in downforce.
The directional fins on the rear brake ducts play a critical role in braking stability, as they generate aerodynamic pressure on the vertical support assembly and the rear tire. Although the load is relatively small, it has an immediate impact without delay during suspension movement, providing stability when the driver applies the brakes.
The McLaren explains that a new unloaded rear wing was designed to efficiently distribute the load between the rear wing and the rear wing, adapted to the characteristics of the track.
As McLaren highlights, the rear wing is more of a specific requirement of the circuit than part of the overall development package. It functions similarly to the rear wing, but is less aggressive. The angle of the front attachment to the impact structure, highlighted with a blue ellipse, appears to have been slightly reduced to suit the long straights in Miami. Although it will take a few more races to determine if these developments are enough to consistently put McLaren on the podium, winning in Miami will undoubtedly provide the team with the motivation to keep moving forward.
© 2024
The world of sports is full of emotions and twists, and 2024 will be no different. This year, fans can expect great competitions and exciting moments. Let’s take a look at some of the top sports news for this year.
In soccer, the World Cup will be the most anticipated event. The best national teams in the world will face off in an epic battle for the title. It will be a month full of exciting games, intense rivalries, and exceptional talents on the field. Soccer fans won’t want to miss a moment of this competition.
In basketball, the NBA promises another season full of incredible plays and fierce rivalries. The best players in the world will be in action, showcasing their skills and competing for the coveted NBA title. Fans can expect great games and unforgettable moments.
In tennis, the Grand Slams will continue to be the most important events of the year. The best tennis players in the world will face off on the court, vying for the title of champion. Fans can expect exciting matches, powerful strokes, and moments of pure emotion.
In addition to these sports, many other exciting competitions and events are scheduled to take place in 2024. The world of sports never stops, always surprising us with incredible and historic moments. Get ready for a year full of action and excitement!
Stay up to date on all sports news throughout the year, closely follow the competitions and tournaments that interest you the most. Don’t miss a moment of your favorite sports and make the most of all the emotions that 2024 has to offer.
