MP4-18

[GaySchumi 0]

Follow the yellow brick road : Or in this case : the link :

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html?ht...520155803.shtml

The nose is definitely something that stands out, besides that, I can't tell much of a diff, tried zooming into it, but lost too much rez !

EDIT : The air intake on the engine cover's gone back to the triangular design rather than the circular one, can't tell what difference that'll make though, should've taken Engineering in college !

Maybe more tomorrow ...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/photos/2003/i...m-mclaren.shtml

Theres a gallery! Oh man that car looks sweet, definitely goes beyond the Ferrari in pure nice looking machinery IMO, and that is not a biased opinion. I love the new front and rear wings, some real nice curves Also, take a look at how compact the rear end is - smaller even than the Ferrari it would seem! The front is also long to say the least

Also, I can't really tell, but does it look to you guys that the entire front wing assembly seems to be almost integrated into the nose? It looks to be right under the nose, not hanging down too much... I'd love to see a picture taken right from the front.

[nichosnz 0]

I think the nose is quite ugly so thin and looks like it will break of at any moment, wait a minute I am a Ferrari fan let me rephrase. I think the nose is beautiful so thin and looks like it will break of at any moment.

About the rear Jens where are you talking the very rear lookes bigger than Ferraris to me, although just forward where it is curving in looks smaller, is that where you are refering.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That's what I meant, I guess it was worded wrong

Here's a HUGE picture I found of it:

http://www.formula-one.net/pics03/velke/20-05-1b.jpg

You can see a lot more detail on that, check out how the rear suspension cuts through the bodywork in the back.. wicked!

[pumpdoc 2]

If it is a long WB car re: what happend when Williams tried that a cpl. yrs. back I seem to recall that it drove like a whale on some circuts the rear tubb area looks pretty slimm what would you expect after swiping the gear man from FERRARI That schnoooooozzzz kind of reminds me of Jimmy Durante Well its put up or shut up time for the lads from Woking-------------tisk tisk tisk tisk just not what I expected, the chassis rules have been to stable past cpl. of years I think FERRARI might have got the biggest bump w/F2002 and not much remained to be rung out aero wise times will tell off to work I go see ya in 10-12 hrs by then times and observations should be more complete

[GaySchumi 0]

Personally, I wouldn't say the car's aesthetically very pleasing, especially with the old maxim : If it looks good ....

But when Adrian Newey says that this is the car he's spent the most amount of R & D on, you'd better believe this car's going to be fast, ugly or not ! BTW anybody remember the McLaren 'MP4/10' from 1995 ? It didn't last too long, that was one UGLY car !

Here's the times for today courtesy F1racing.net, looks like the MP4/18's just running systems checks as they said ...

Place Driver Team Time laps

1 K. Raikkonen McLaren 1.11.255 84

2 J.P. Montoya Williams 1.11.453 91

3 D. Coulthard McLaren 1.11.527 91

4 M. Gene Williams 1.12.033 107

5 O. Panis Toyota 1.12.858 68

6 A. McNish Renault 1.13.062 96

7 A. Wurz McLaren (MP4/18) 1.16.118 17

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It is not a test, it is a shakedown, so technically systems check where the car is not pushed. Don't look for times yet, because what they're doing is making sure that everything inside gels and is how it should be. No mechanical problems so far, only a faulty sensor that was fixed in five minutes. Seventeen trouble free laps is not bad, and I can't wait to see the times when they really test it!

[pumpdoc 2]

Shake down...... I read a bit where it was said it may not debut till Nurbrgring---that would be a bonus for my trip, to see it's race debut..speaking of trip-- the other half says we can't fly on the same plane!!! this terrorist crap....,. grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!! I can't belive they will hold a race in Bharain they will go ballistic over the grid girls or they will just look likie KKK members covered head to toe in their Burkas.......Jens you must be glad to be out of this mad house?????? well pip pip an toodlllllllsssss till Monaco see if Davie boy can pull another one out he needs it. (but you won't catch me crying if he don't) mmmmmm just a thought its been a while since a car has gone for a salt bath nagh not even a Minardi could be that un-lucky......well its off to N. Dakota for 5-7 days of work-n-fun right!! they said there is still snow on the ground... i'm from S. Calif. what the 'ell is snow???????? bye

[nichosnz 0]

I heard that the first outing (this one) would be 3 day and that they would not be going for a 'time' at any stage during this period.

The MP4/10 lasted 4 races. 2 races on its own then Hakkinen had the 10 and Mansell the 10B for the next 2, even the 10B wasn't the last of the season the 10C was introduced at round 13 (of 17) with Mark Blundell, whilst Hakkinen stayed with the 10B, then at the next race (14) they had the 10C. But it is not over yet McLaren switched back to the 10B for the final 3 races. Some kind of Ginx in the Mac 10.

[GaySchumi 0]

The jinx was that an overweight Mansell drove the first one No news From Paul Ricard, seems Mac have developed 2 gearbox systems concurrently, one of which is rather conventional, and the other - not. They're obviously not pussyfooting around about getting back that WCC !!

Oh Jens, Do you see any exhausts on the car or have I gone blind ? I think It might be melded into the engine cover, looking at that magnified picture you posted, its not inplain sight anywhere ...

[nichosnz 0]

Maybe it exits out the diffuser like the 'old days'. Or is obscured in the photo by the winglet.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yea, I was wondering about that too, I can't see a damned thing resembling exhaust, and so far have not been able to catch a pic from behind anywhere so I can't tell. I'm guessing that they are under those winglets or somewhere further below, because I cant see a thing!

They had problems today with something heating the bodywork around the exhaust, wherever that is. Cooled it down with fire extinguishers just in case, and Wurz only completed 10 laps today, albeit a five lap run in the evening. Tomorrow they're at it again, trying some higher fuel runs reportedly. They have Barcelona all to themselves after Monaco, and that is when they're getting down and dirty with Kimi and David behind the wheel of two new chassis

[nichosnz 0]

I wonder what the chances of a 15 year old design doing well are. Adrian Newey has admitted that the MP4/18 is based of his Leyton House days in the late 80's.

What's up with that?

[pumpdoc 2]

Yep the spent hydrocarbons exit via pipes on either side of the rear (red) light parallel with the difuser the better to "cook" the twin clutch carbon fiber trans hehehe oh! the present trans is alum./current internals the duel clutch cf is prob. giving them fits as it has anyone else thats try'd to go the carbon fiber route Stewart????? Jackie was just ahead of his time and funding to make a proper go of it

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It really depends, the Leyton House had some good concepts but I think with modern technology they have been put to better use. Honestly, next week's test at Barcelona will be decisive, if things go good, then things look good, if not, then things look delayed...

[nichosnz 0]

They have already made some stupid mistakes with front wing set up possibilities and with quality control.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I wish I could have a look to see under the skin of the Mclaren, have a look at the suspension and mechanical grip components. With the fancy aerodynamic solutions I hope the car isn't too reliant on just aero, because while aero is important, you can never count out mechanical grip!!

[GaySchumi 0]

Jeez, the suspense is killing me, I wish they'd release numbers, or even pictures , I'm referring to the barcelona test, which started yesterday, all they gave a stupid PR blurb

[nichosnz 0]

That's McLaren for you!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Mclaren is such a business, they really cannot help but do this whole PR annoyance! No one can get anywhere near the track, but they say something will be made public on Friday... meh.. it'll probably say "This week we completed some laps, can't tell you how many though."

[GaySchumi 0]

www.F1Central.net have a meager 14 photos online. Rumors abound on forums the net over, that Kimi Heavily crashed the car, and is hurt, reportedly stated in a Finnish Newspaper .... Any news you can help us out with Jens ? I'm choking on a lack of Information here ....

[nichosnz 0]

I heard a report saying that he felt the car just get better and better, so sounds to me like no accident, or he talked to the press before the end of the day, which is unusual for a McLaren driver.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Crash indeed, Kimi went off at the last turn at the Catalunya circuit. He isn't hurt, and will be racing in Canada, but the car was damaged a bit, but repaired already. Initial reports were worse, but you know how the press is these days

[GaySchumi 0]

Norbert haug says Silverstone, YES SILVERSTONE is going to be the debut !!! Aaaaaarrrrrgggghhhh!!! Two more races !!! The air is thinning .... everything's getting dark ....

[nichosnz 0]

Yes and even then, even with McLaren (and Ferrari) it will take a race or two to get the most out of the car.