Thread: McLaren go high nosed

Originally Posted by Knock-on

McLaren set to switch to higher nose in Spanish Grand Prix - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

I hope the advantage offsets the sight of it. Can't stand high noses and the old one made the car the best looking one the grid.

Is that it in the picture? Still looks aesthetically pleasing to me.

Any McLaren looks pleasing When you get close up and examine a McLaren in minute detail, you appreciate why they are the best F1 manufacturer on the grid (imho of course). The build quality is exceptional and where a Ferrari (for example) might have little blemishes or slight imperfections in the carbon finishing, the McLaren always stands out as beautifully finished.

Looking at the whole car though, I just prefer the mid nose sweeping up as it just accentuates the lines more but I suppose you have to go with the times and I'll get used to it

Originally Posted by Knock-on

Any McLaren looks pleasing When you get close up and examine a McLaren in minute detail, you appreciate why they are the best F1 manufacturer on the grid (imho of course). The build quality is exceptional and where a Ferrari (for example) might have little blemishes or slight imperfections in the carbon finishing, the McLaren always stands out as beautifully finished.

Looking at the whole car though, I just prefer the mid nose sweeping up as it just accentuates the lines more but I suppose you have to go with the times and I'll get used to it

I'd be hardpressed to tell the difference even in HD on my big screen when they're whizzing past the camera at 200MPH....

Originally Posted by Knock-on

McLaren set to switch to higher nose in Spanish Grand Prix - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

I hope the advantage offsets the sight of it. Can't stand high noses and the old one made the car the best looking one the grid.

agreed

saw the one pick and it was not as bad as the others

Originally Posted by Malbec

I'd be hardpressed to tell the difference even in HD on my big screen when they're whizzing past the camera at 200MPH....

I would never make such a claim unless I had intimate working knowledge of the actual cars.

a nice sized picture, sometimes I wonder how good the track vision is of these drivers
the one thing about the older cars from just a few years ago was that drivers had a better view of everything.

I must admit I don't really like it. Personally, I'm already used to platypus-style noses, but the McLaren's new nose looks uglier to me. It looks as if it's bent...

Originally Posted by Knock-on

I would never make such a claim unless I had intimate working knowledge of the actual cars.

That wasn't what I meant.

For almost all people watching the sport I doubt the change will be noticeable at all. Even knowing that McLaren have switched to a higher nose the picture you posted a link to looks little different to what they had before to me, although I don't follow such technical changes closely any more.

Originally Posted by henners88

You think this subtle design is somehow uglier than the platypus-style noses on other teams cars because it looks bent? Would you prefer it to look like it had been stamped on and not to follow the already sleek lines of the car then?

As I said, it's just a matter of being used to stuff. Give me two races and I'll find it much nicer.

The platypus-style noses make those old bucktoothed Williams noses look good.

Here are both. I think McLaren is going for a small gain. It seems to me that they have made somewhat of a compromise gain. This feature should help in the front down force efficiency while giving back just a little drag.
If you want to work the tires right, you need the down-force; in the most consistent way which is at the center of the car. The higher the nose the faster and less disturbed the air is going to the floor and splitter and allows the FW to work better by the nose being farther from it.
This nose may also be race specific, and shows that McLaren may only be looking for .1 to .2 second gain P/L., and demonstrates they haven’t been just sitting on their hands.
And yes McLaren make very attractive F1 cars, even I will admit that

Originally Posted by Dr Giacomo Rappaccini

Here are both. I think McLaren is going for a small gain. It seems to me that they have made somewhat of a compromise gain. This feature should help in the front down force efficiency while giving back just a little drag.
If you want to work the tires right, you need the down-force; in the most consistent way which is at the center of the car. The higher the nose the faster and less disturbed the air is going to the floor and splitter and allows the FW to work better by the nose being farther from it.
This nose may also be race specific, and shows that McLaren may only be looking for .1 to .2 second gain P/L., and demonstrates they haven’t been just sitting on their hands.
And yes McLaren make very attractive F1 cars, even I will admit that

Nice one - thanks for the comparison images.

Looks like McLaren are planning a big change to their car this year. Watching/listening to the Beeb coverage, looks like the Macca's are testing vision comparisons for the drivers, should they build a car with a much higher chassis.

In fact, the Friday sessions really are getting interesting with the level development the teams are researching for. Great stuff!

Originally Posted by truefan72

a nice sized picture, sometimes I wonder how good the track vision is of these drivers
the one thing about the older cars from just a few years ago was that drivers had a better view of everything.

This morning they were also running an additional bar across the nose, to test the effect on driver visibility of an even higher chassis. For the design of next year's car apparently.

Originally Posted by SGWilko

Nice one - thanks for the comparison images.

Looks like McLaren are planning a big change to their car this year. Watching/listening to the Beeb coverage, looks like the Macca's are testing vision comparisons for the drivers, should they build a car with a much higher chassis.

In fact, the Friday sessions really are getting interesting with the level development the teams are researching for. Great stuff!

All of the Friday’s sessions have been revealing I have caught them all. It's 3:00 am and I’m looking forward to a cracking FP2

Are you already complaining? Unless it rains on sunday some teams will be sorted out after FP2,
like I think Renault will I mean Lotus. Grosjean has kept me in the FGP Fight he's turning out to be my best pick

Great comparison photos and still a great looking car.

Originally Posted by truefan72

a nice sized picture, sometimes I wonder how good the track vision is of these drivers
the one thing about the older cars from just a few years ago was that drivers had a better view of everything.

So true !

Here's a great little youtube video talking just about this very topic with Nico Rosberg...

Nico Rosberg explains his driving position - YouTube

Originally Posted by call_me_andrew

The platypus-style noses make those old bucktoothed Williams noses look good.

I still like this design...