Not quite, the response to the MP4/24 was very mixed. More than a few commented that it looked "fat", and the forward placement of the driver was also commented on.

I think the upbeat tone of this thread is caused mainly because the statements from McLaren seem to be oozing confidence, and because this car seems to take radical/aggressive solutions compared to the very conventional MP4/24.

All: let's stick to the topic please.

the car has some interesting solutions to say the least.

cant wait till monday when we see the cars on track reading the diffuser article on autosport makes you think there will be a few eyebrows raised when we finally get to see the whole car uncovered.

various clearcoated top-end models with visible 3K weave from e.g. Colnago, Giant, DeRosa, Ridley, etc etc.

My understanding is that this outer, visible layer of carbon on these bicycles is purely for appearance. The carbon pattern on the McLaren floor looks like a cosmetic touch, to me, partly b/c no other car uses the same look. But I could be way off base here.

Actually, the 2004 (first part) Mclaren looked exactly like a very much failed car from 2003. Maybe it looked fast in the first tests on the tight Jerez circuit, and after that it looked slow and very unreliable in most of the rest of testing.

The car that was supposed to win the championship in 2004 was the radical Williams; if you want to slag off the MP4/25, that's the one you need to mention...

Red Bull RB5 had the same chequered weave pattern.

I look forward to the 32-point turns required to navigate Ste. Devote.... all kidding aside, I look forward to the 743-point turns required to navigate Ste. Devote...

Seriously, the car looks longer than the Ferrari by a kilometre! Do they have a fuel tank big enough for the entire SEASON?

WOW - I think the key element here is wheelbase. It appears both Ferrari and McLaren have decided to make their cars longer to accommodate the larger fuel tank. As an earlier poster had stated, tire wear will be critical this year. Perhaps someone with more experience can elaborate:

How will a long wheelbase change tire wear? Will it decrease tire wear? -- longer wheelbase translates to more stability, less loss of rear traction.

My guess: the car will have significant rear aero grip so they can add less mechanical rear grip (harder springs). This will allow them to take fast corners with little tire slip (less wear) - but when they need to take a hairpin, the rear end will step out.

Both Ferrari and McLaren have chosen this direction... so you have to think this is a logical interpretation of what to expect in 2010.

As usual, any corrections, comments appreciated.

Very impressive design, extreme in some parts. A very tight rear end, and next to nothing sidepods. It looks way more refined than the Ferrari, but the proof is in the pudding. I think the car would look miles better without the anvil wing.

First impression: ugly front! Nose looked like the renault of 09. But later on I have to admit: it's ok.

The rear is beautiful, especially the sidepods. The sharkfin is special but gives the car a lot of charisma, viewed sideways.

I hope the 25 impresses us. From launchlook on, I would think: 24 is much faster than 25. We all know that the 24 was slow, so let's hope this baby is freaking fast!

http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/2010/press...0/tech-spec.php

the rear (viewed from above) is really very tightly packed, I hope it doesn't bring any heating problems with it.

Anyone seen this tunnel underneath the nose? Amazing
http://images.gpupdate.net/large/144134.jpg

looks like is produces more downforce on the front wing

In my experience, a longer wheel base or at least, longer distance of the rear wheels from the CoG means less lateral force is needed from the wheels. But I think that this also leads to sometimes over exaggerated stepping out during the application of the throttle when the car is yawing. I think this is partly the reason for the shark fin cover; to try and make up for this tendency by providing air resistance.

Do you mean the big mouth?

Yes and how does the flow through the cooling system interact with it, if one looks to the Brawn and its smaller than usual air ducts with the full knowledge of exploiting the diffuser area, it may help significantly in allowing a smaller duct size because of the possibility of significantly improving airflow through the cooling system, that and better materials and or research in that area.

There's no tunnel, that's an optical illusion.

no no, it's transparent but it's there

Quiet! Don't alert the FIA to our illegal transparent bodywork!

hahaha, it's a hideous bus. So damn ugly It might be fast but we'll see that later.

I've been looking at the front nose even closer and i'm really surprised nobody else has noticed this!? EDIT : only a few eagle eye few have noticed this!

Take a look at the underneath of the nose. There is a splitter/scoop. These three pictures demonstrate it well, the 3rd picture showing the engineers hands inside it:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...0/01/mp4_25.jpg

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...25_studio-3.jpg

and

http://www.mclaren.com/photographic/plogge...00-img_3006.jpg

This is an extract from the MP4-25 tech spec off the McLaren website “Bodywork – Carbonfibre composite. Separate engine cover, sidepods and floor. Structural nose with intergral front wing. ” Note ‘Structural nose with INTERGRAL front wing’. Granted that could be just describing that the front wing is integral with the nose, but technically it is detachable and bolted together, so i think that is hinting towards the integral wing underneath the nose shown in the pictures.

Quite an interesting feature, very similar i think to the old central ’spoon scoops’ of the pre 2009 regs front wings. Circumventing the regulation that limits the central 500mm section of the wing between the lowest plane and a set distance above it to be an aerodynamically neutral shape pre-determined by the FIA.

Another feature of it is that it aims airflow towards the sidepods, considering the intakes are unusually small, it could help force feed air into the ducts.
Two other points on this, it adds a structural cross brace between the two wing supports, effectively making the front wing stiffer and less likely to swing and move like the RB5 experienced last season. And also it makes the air flowing underneath it expand into a large space under the nose as it tapers upwards after the scoop, creating a low pressure sucking the car down, which Renault spoke off as a reason for their choice of a low nose in 2009.

So all in all, more downforce, more cooling and more structural support.

Been discussed ad nauseum. Nothing new. Williams ran an exact same appendage last year.

By looking fast i meany just the look of the car not on track testing.

And i have no need to slag off the new McLaren, just pointing out that looks don't make speed.

I expect Ferrari to protest the diffuser if they are slower than McLaren. At least at the presentations, the McLaren looks way more advanced than the Ferrari.

And as I pointed out, the MP4/19 looked literally like a car that was a year old (a virtual copy of the failed MP4/18). It looked old, rather than fast, going purely on looks.

Got a picture?

Yup, pathetic ...

http://www.mclaren.com/photographic/plogge...96-img_2960.jpg

Image caption: Her Majesty The Silver Beast of Celerity™, a.k.a. the Silverest Predator of Fastestness and Awesomeness™, right there, being the fastest even standing still.

Looks quite different (and ugly) a bit like MP4-10. Let's see if it goes as well as that one did.

I am sure Luca DM, will be calling stefano after the macca lauch "how come the mclaren seems very developed we had 2009 and the winter and ours looks patchtically short of new idea, what you been doing??? copying redbull and brawn and not thinking of any new concepts??"




i guess he wnt care if its quick

It´s hideous, but "looks faster" than the Ferrari, more evolved IMO. I hope i´m wrong.
Anvil wings should be banned.

MP 4-25 a.k.a. MP 4-4b

There seems to be a lot of misplaced bravado in this thread based on how the car looks.......... and I wouldn't underestimate Ferrari, or the rest. Lets wait until it hits the track before giving it

Thanks. So I would summise that less tire wear would occur (surprise surprise, both McLaren and Ferrari follow the logical design path).

On a second note - I think a long wheelbase will benefit those drivers with a smooth style (Button may fair well).

You guys should get out more and pay more attention to competitor's cars.

That Williams tunnel seems much smaller than the McLaren one.

The MP4-25 is so ugly that it looks scary fast.

I have Hamilton and Mclaren second favorites to win the championship behind Vettel and Red Bull.

Didn't get the chance to watch the launch live as we were at a meeting in the City () but since getting back i've had a good chance to really study her in some detail...

Have to say my first reaction was WTF as my eyes were immediately drawn to that monstrousity they call a shark fin, I never liked it on any of the other cars and I certainly don't like it on ours, however I understand that it's a fundamental part of the car and the more I look at it the more I appreciate the stunning colour scheme the boys at Woking used - massive to all the guys at MTC - if this thing goes as fast as it looks then we're in for a glorious season as McLaren fans!

To all McLaren fans - I hope (wish) MP4-25 will surprise everyone on the track, as it did today at fist look!!!

The feeling is good. The feeling is very good. But we'll see.

Even assuming the MP4-26 is as fast a beast as we wish, I wouldn't feel relieved because ferrari is struggling. First of all I rate them highest of our competitors and furthermore we don't know how the other teams are doing. Maybe Sauber and Manor are emerging as this years top dogs.

Just looking at that stealthy black geometric splitter sitting beneath the McLaren nose, already leads me to believe that the only hope for Ferrari and Alonso is either a complete rebuild or some cunning rule/regulation revision/intervention by Todt/FIA. And that is a lot of forward slashes!

A few piccies I took today:

Agree with that 100%, it's no fun if we're not racing Ferrari; they are the night to our day, our natural enemy and I hope they're alongside come March with Alonso leading the charge

Ok, the piccies have come out a bit small here, but the full lot are Here

you must be joking.

Good stuff adie, thank you!

That first shot is a cracker.
Great video here also for Mac fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSLA_2J7QYg

Already talking about 2011?

Thanks mate.

I still have the originals so if you want any copies for wallpapers etc drop me a PM...

Cool. Thanks
Just out of interest, how was the 'vibe' at the launch? Did the mood seem positive, upbeat?