Fernando Alonso, McLaren, Hungaroring, 2018

McLaren to address car’s drag weakness in Russia

2018 Russian Grand Prix

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McLaren intends to use set-ups it developed during the Italian Grand Prix weekend to address its problems with excessive drag at the Russian Grand Prix.

Unlike the previous round in Singapore, the Sochi circuit features several long straights which could expose the MCL33’s poor straight line speed. Fernando Alonso said the team had worked on this at Monza, the fastest track on the calendar.

“Some of the ideas we tested in Monza – it seems that we improved on Saturday – were more for drag reduction. So it will be implemented I think on the next races.

“Russia will be hopefully the first opportunity to revisit some of those set-ups.”

McLaren sporting director Gil de Ferran said the new set-ups were a result of the team “exploring different spaces” with its car.

“We’re always trying to do the best we can trying to step forward,” he said. “We’re trying to bring a little bit of aero development every race.

“But that’s not the only thing. We’re exploring different spaces. Like Fernando said in Monza we decided to take a completely different direction and it worked out well for that type of track. Maybe we’ll try a similar direction again in Russia.”

However the team’s focus is now on its new chassis for the 2019 F1 season. De Ferran said the team is “full-on on next year’s car.”

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14 comments on “McLaren to address car’s drag weakness in Russia”

  1. I’d love to know if the McLaren engineers actually know where they went wrong. Even if it is too late to change (maybe too much needs to change) but are they just sat there, itching to get on with the 2019* car knowing what areas were at fault.

    *I realise the 2019 car will be mostly designed by now.

    1. We can only hope that McLaren has really found where they went wrong @tonyyeb, because it is just sad and a waste of talent to see them wondering at their own car being just about good enough for Q2 on many occasions despite having a very solid team of drivers (and engineers) trying to get the max out of it.

      Badly needed. But since they have found their problems for the last 4-6 years now, only to come up with a car that has as many, or more issues, probably sometimes the same issues, I remain sceptical.

      1. Well it was all the engine’s fault before… @bascb

        1. Same comments again and again. Not in the least bit interesting, smart or funny.

        2. 5-6 years ago it was not (yet) blamed on the engine though

  2. I saw the headline and though perhaps its time to get Grayson Perry in as a consultant…. ;)

    1. The papaya orange would match his eyes . . .

  3. The Sochi Autodrom has too many corners for a Monza-style rear wing configuration, so not really worth it.

    1. Well, if even in the corners you’re carrying more drag than needed for the necessary downforce it’s still going to be a problem.

    2. I don’t think this is anythign about tring to run a monza like setup at all @jerejj, just that at Monza McLaren experimented to try lower drag solutions – since there are large stretches to gather data on stabe drag. And the ideas they came up with can first be used here, probably since they wouldn’t have been of too much use in Singapore (if they would even have been ready in time for shipping)

  4. Please, please Mclaren get something that works. There is definitely some decent engineering going on judging by the concepts others have copied it just doesn’t seem to integrate that well.

    1. @stjs16, as you note, it seems that there are design elements on McLaren’s car that are being copied by others, including both Ferrari and Mercedes (Ferrari have recently started using parts that are similar to the rear wing on McLaren’s car), but the design as a whole does still seem to be encountering issues.

  5. McLaren box and “Address” car to Red Bull and ask for help :)

  6. Mclaren have not produced a front running car since 2012 for god sake, in 2013 and 2014 they had Merc engines and still were nowhere. I will be shocked if Mclaren challenge the top 3 teams in 2019. Put a Ferrari engine in the car they still wont challenge, bottom line is they have not been able to build a top car for many years now.

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