[smr2018test]
McLaren say a wheel nut problem caused Fernando Alonso’s spin just six laps into the first test session of the new season.
A right-rear wheel failure pitched Alonso off at the final corner at the Circuit de Catalunya. The team had Alonso’s car back on track before the lunch break.
“We had a wheel nut issue,” explained the team’s group executive director Zak Brown.
“It’s what testing is for. I think all the teams will have a variety of issues throughout testing, it’s exactly what it’s for. We’ll lose very little time. No big deal at all.”
The team is under particularly intense scrutiny as it seeks to recover from a poor 2017 campaign which led it to split from power unit supplier Honda. However Brown said the surprise setback had caused “no drama” at the team.
“In the garage everyone’s quite relaxed, getting on with it. It’s quite an easy fix that we’re doing to get back out on track.”
“I think this team’s quite used to having public pressure and having eyes on us. We enjoy that. We like to step up to the plate and thrive on the opportunity. We’re not feeling any added pressure that we don’t already put on ourselves.”
Alonso’s setback limited him to just 10 laps during the morning’s running at the track, the fewest of any driver.
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MazdaChris (@mazdachris)
26th February 2018, 12:51
It’s fair enough really. I know it seems like a pretty bad way to start the year, but every team will lose some time at some point due to a niggly issue or other. It’s bad timing, but actually there are plenty of reasons to be positive. It looks like the car was running well until that point, and McLaren have to take some heart from the mileage and pace shown by Renault and Red Bull Racing – if there’s one big question mark it’s over the quality of the Renault engine and so far there are no reasons to be worried.
Let’s see what the afternoon holds.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
26th February 2018, 13:04
“A wheel nut, the nut retaining mechanism and half a stub axle. So the axle failed.” – Scarborough
Photo
MazdaChris (@mazdachris)
26th February 2018, 13:12
@ruliemaulana Great photo, and that’s got to be a bit more of a worry in that case. Am I right in thinking that the wheel was on the outside of the corner when the stub axle failed? Suggests the grip may literally have pulled the wheel right off the hub, meaning the part may not be strong enough.
Might have just been a manufacturing defect though.
nase
26th February 2018, 18:00
@mazdachris
It was on the inside. Which is more consistent with being pulled off by the grip, if you think about it.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
27th February 2018, 0:26
Nice find. Brown was super defensive in his comments, no need for it, this stuff happens, psychologically it’s tough, STR managed a lot of laps.
Matt
27th February 2018, 12:00
if you scroll down on that twitter citation, you can see the part alonso is holding identified. It is not a wheel nut but it might as well be, it´s a guide to allow smooth transition of the rim onto the brakes
Robbie (@robbie)
26th February 2018, 13:17
This is exactly the right time for this to happen.
bosyber (@bosyber)
26th February 2018, 13:45
Pretty much,yeah
nase
26th February 2018, 13:52
@robbie
The perfect time would’ve been sometime in the late afternoon. But yeah, better to have such an issue in testing than during qualifying.
Patrick (@anunaki)
26th February 2018, 13:51
Nothing is a big deal at McLaren these years
FlatSix (@)
26th February 2018, 13:52
$1 million to screw on a Halo, budget cuts were made on wheelknut screws as a result.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
26th February 2018, 14:19
Are McLaren still hurting for sponsors? Those swathes of orange look… empty.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
26th February 2018, 14:31
@phylyp Maybe a Surfing outfitter? Seeing how often their cars end up beached…
Phylyp (@phylyp)
26th February 2018, 14:41
@mrboerns – LOL.
On a tangential note, it is quite amusing (in a good-natured way) to see that Toro Rosso are racking up a massive number of laps on that Honda engine on day 1 of testing.
MazdaChris (@mazdachris)
26th February 2018, 15:02
@phylyp The Mclaren has more sponsors than the Mercedes, they just don’t have a main title sponsor, and their plain livery makes it very obvious. If they had some stripes like the Mercedes or the Williams, it’d be less noticeable.
Personally, especially in these days of the halo, I’d insist on them having massive white roundels on the sides with the driver numbers in big black characters.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
26th February 2018, 15:14
That would work very well with the orange, @mazdachris and would have a cool retro feel to it.
Apexor
27th February 2018, 5:25
If you go to their website, they have 24 sponsors listed.
Man United_Vettel (@siegfreyco)
26th February 2018, 15:01
Oh, the irony when Toro Rosso gifted a journalist 1 signed wheel nut.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
26th February 2018, 15:38
Ah, so the half axles were not uprated to deal with the Renault PU’s torque? ;-)
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
26th February 2018, 17:08
Lol, this is my thought exactly.
Sumedh
26th February 2018, 17:09
More like, the McLaren’s chassis produces so much mechanical and aerodynamic grip that even its own wheel nut can’t handle it.
Apexor
27th February 2018, 5:26
McLaren got screwed by Honda again.
Dam you Honda!!!
sumedh
27th February 2018, 16:07
Now another issue. It looks like the exhaust is burning the sensors, electronics and engine cover.
But I am sure the electronics packaging and engine cover design are absolutely correct and the entire fault is of the engine. Right Mclaren?