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McLaren Introduces Major Body Package Changes for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Confirmed
In Short: McLaren has introduced a major new body package for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the most visible changes being the sidepods, sidepod intakes, engine cover, and the profile of the airbox intake/rollover bar fairing.
According to The Race, McLaren's changes are similar to those Audi has been running since the start of the season, allowing for revisions to the outlet louvres.
The Race noted that if some of the required cooling airflow has been moved from the sidepod intake to the airbox intake, the impact on performance might be less dramatic.
The Race's analysis suggests that McLaren's changes were likely rushed for the Baku race, as straightline speed is crucial for laptime in Azerbaijan.
The new package is described as 'brutal' and 'bodged-on,' indicating a significant departure from previous designs.
In the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris lost out to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli due to the timing of a virtual safety car, finishing third.
What this adds
The extent to which the new body package will improve McLaren's performance in future races remains to be seen.
The specific impact of the changes on McLaren's overall performance and competitiveness has not yet been fully assessed.
What's confirmed
- According to The Race, McLaren's changes are similar to those Audi has been running since the start of the season, allowing for revisions to the outlet louvres.
- The Race noted that if some of the required cooling airflow has been moved from the sidepod intake to the airbox intake, the impact on performance might be less dramatic.
- The Race's analysis suggests that McLaren's changes were likely rushed for the Baku race, as straightline speed is crucial for laptime in Azerbaijan.
- The new package is described as 'brutal' and 'bodged-on,' indicating a significant departure from previous designs.
- In the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris lost out to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli due to the timing of a virtual safety car, finishing third.
What's still developing
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- This sidepod change has also allowed it to revise the outlet louvres.
- For the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it has introduced more or less a complete new body package, the most visible elements of which are the sidepods, sidepod intakes, engine cover and the profile of the airbox intake/rollover bar fairing.
- McLaren has very seldom been up there as far as straightline speed is concerned, so I'm pretty sure this package was rushed through for Baku - as straightline speed there is a prime mover as far as laptime is concerned.
- It's a fairly brutal change and you might call it a bodged-on blanking panel.
- At the front, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who had been running fourth before the VSC, stayed out, having started the race on hard tyres rather than the mediums chosen by Antonelli and Norris and the softs Verstappen had.
- Norris was able to recover only to third around the new Madring track in Madrid where overtaking is next to impossible.