F1 Season Buildup/Testing/Car Launches
- Thread starter Malt_Vinegar
- Start date
Deleted member 651465
D
Deleted member 651465
Racefans.net (F1Fanatic) have a good feature where you can scrub left/right and see the differences between the 2017 and 2018 cars.
McLaren model: https://www.racefans.net/2018/02/23/compare-mclarens-new-mcl33-for-2018-with-last-years-car/
McLaren model: https://www.racefans.net/2018/02/23/compare-mclarens-new-mcl33-for-2018-with-last-years-car/
Associate
Looks a bit odd with a lack of title/sidepod sponsor, just sponsors with small amounts of writing over the car. Will be interesting to see what the cars look like on Monday when they have the extra aero parts on.
The McLaren with its shorter wheelbase has to be pretty strong in Hungary and Monaco.
Its 2018 version is optimised for the faster corners.
What's the link for Ferrari?
Edit: this https://www.racefans.net/2018/02/22...last-years-chassis/ferrari-comparison-header/
https://www.racefans.net/2018/02/22/compare-ferraris-new-2018-f1-car-with-last-years-chassis/
Soldato
That McLaren is crying out for a title sponsor. Shame we don't expect to see one this season. I wonder if it is a bit of a worry that the aero seems rather basic 9I appreciate that this is launch only) and the front suspension isn't as high as Red Bull and Mercedes have evolved to.
Seeing halo on a car every time I look at one is an assault on aesthetics. It is here but I don't accept that it isn't going anywhere. Toto's quote yesterday about wanting to chainsaw it off summed it up, and Darren Heath summed up his views again today
I'm an F1 fan and a consumer, and I'll happily keep banging on about how terrible halo is for the sport. Just don't read it if you don't want to get bored. Sadly I and others don't have that luxury when watching the cars.
In the pinnacle of motorsport, the expectation is that driver safety can be achieved with at least a nod to aesthetics. They've managed it elsewhere on the car, and other series have done so too.
Seeing halo on a car every time I look at one is an assault on aesthetics. It is here but I don't accept that it isn't going anywhere. Toto's quote yesterday about wanting to chainsaw it off summed it up, and Darren Heath summed up his views again today
I'm an F1 fan and a consumer, and I'll happily keep banging on about how terrible halo is for the sport. Just don't read it if you don't want to get bored. Sadly I and others don't have that luxury when watching the cars.
In the pinnacle of motorsport, the expectation is that driver safety can be achieved with at least a nod to aesthetics. They've managed it elsewhere on the car, and other series have done so too.
I might be missing something rather naively, but why don't McLaren temporarily fill the space with a large manufacturer logo to fill the void? 
I'm sure It will soon get filled if the car is mixing it up at the sharp end of the grid...
I wish cars reverted to using coloured hubs, going back to the nineties when Benetton B195 (white), Ferrari F310 (gold) looked really good. I suppose this is a weight saving measure?
Lastly, Halo - I agree with Lauda, just not a fan. I wonder when watching TV if it will be as easy to identify team mates? Will they eventually have to change the colour scheme so Halo's are (for example) painted to match the driver's helmet? Probably not, just wondering aloud.
I'm sure It will soon get filled if the car is mixing it up at the sharp end of the grid...
I wish cars reverted to using coloured hubs, going back to the nineties when Benetton B195 (white), Ferrari F310 (gold) looked really good. I suppose this is a weight saving measure?
Lastly, Halo - I agree with Lauda, just not a fan. I wonder when watching TV if it will be as easy to identify team mates? Will they eventually have to change the colour scheme so Halo's are (for example) painted to match the driver's helmet? Probably not, just wondering aloud.
Soldato
Is anyone actually a fan of the HALO? Literally, has any interview or soundbite come from anyone saying they like it and think it's a good solution?
I support it IF its purpose is to save drivers lives.
The worst bit about the mclaren is lack of mclaren branding. There’s one tiny logo on the nose - and I mean tiny. “Renault” on the engine cover is the dominant manufacturer name. This is what makes it look so low rent. Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo on the back of the rear wings of those cars is awesome.
Autosport are saying the McLaren looks intricate and advanced aero wise. So I guess I called it wrong. Perhaps looking basic means it's working well and extra details to correct flow is not needed as much?
Soldato
I don’t find it boring. I find it reassuring that I’m not on my own with my thoughts. And it’s a massive change to the aesthetics of the cars. So it will be a talking point with lots of people moaning throughout this entire season at least. Better get used to it
Everyone that hates it better get used to it too!I don’t find it boring. I find it reassuring that I’m not on my own with my thoughts. And it’s a massive change to the aesthetics of the cars. So it will be a talking point with lots of people moaning throughout this entire season at least. Better get used to it
Soldato
My only concern is how long it's going to be before it's removed or at least made less of an eyesore. We had to put up with grooved tyres for 10 years and that was bad enough, and not just for aesthetics.
Soldato
Its probably the car i'm most impressed with so far, so clean and tightly sculpted, thats some serious effort to getting as much air to the rear wing/diffuser as possible, the rad area looks so compact, i hope they dont suffer from heat issues on hotter tracks, and that trick looking rear suspension wishbone setup has me intrigued.
To be fair last years car (chassis) was quite impressive despite the engine. I genuinely hope this years Renault delivers for them and they have a strong year. I would love it if they do a 2nd season of Grand Prix Driver charting the exploits of the change to Renault and the forth coming tests/start of season. Dont get me wrong i'm not expecting a fairy tale "Brawn 09" style season, but to see McLaren back up bothering the first few rows would be epic.
Soldato
Zak has been pretty open in sharing that he's not expecting a title sponsor this season.
Soldato
They look smaller than Red Bull's and you'd think RBR know a thing or two about cooling the Renualt engine.
McLaren's always seemed to have low rake and stiff suspension, so it will be interesting to see the change in concept works for them.
I'm scepticle that they can develop a car to compete with the top three after years of running around at the back. Yes that was mainly due to the crappy engine, but a better engine will show up more flaws in the chassis.
The packaging at the back of the Mercedes is size -1, it's so tiny. I saw the shots from above and it really shows just how small it is and how large the floor looks as a result.
They must have a real lid on the cooling to get it so tight.
I guess also it will help with getting the weight down to allow effective ballasting.
They must have a real lid on the cooling to get it so tight.
I guess also it will help with getting the weight down to allow effective ballasting.
Soldato
It's Gary Anderson, so take it with a bucketful of salt.
It does have some nice detail in front of the sidepods, but if it's easy to just look at it and understand how it all works together then Gary Anderson would today be a lead designer in a top team.
Hopefully McLaren can slot in just behind the three and take the challenge to them occasionally as the season goes on.
Remember it's longer than most cars though, so it doesn't need to be as wide to fit in the power train. The Ferrari is longer this year too, but they've taken a different approach (where the air is focused under the engine cover rather than next to it - not dissimilar space saving but a different take on feeding the rear).