Quick News:

Ferrari has signed a sponsorship agreement with Weichai Power.The agreement with one of China’s largest manufacturers of diesel engines and machinery vehicles is for 4 years and will run until 2016. Weichai Power, a part of the Weichai Group, is the first Ferrari sponsor of the People’s Republic of China.

Marrusia: Rumours are emerging Louis Razia is replacing Timo Glock. TBC

McLaren’s big launch:

Nostalgia reigns: The big launch today with an emotive and haunting piece on Bruce McLaren, speaking as though from beyond the grave he spelled out his vision for McLaren which is still clear today. Then we were privileged to see this CanAm-winning M8D driven into MTC, the car which Bruce was killed by during testing at Goodward.

Where’s Paddy: As predicted a couple of days ago by TJ13, Paddy was not part of the launch of McLaren’s MP4-28. Martin commented on the Paddy speculation following the ‘reveal’,

“The one certainty is that Paddy will be part of the team for the rest of this year,” he said. “It is less certain beyond that but hopefully it is something we will have more certainty on in the future. Clearly there is a lot of media interest and I think it’s good Paddy concentrates on doing his job. He doesn’t want to be a distraction so at his own election he felt it was inappropriate for him to be here.”

The MP4-28

Now that it appears are doing their big ‘unveils’ with ‘plastic’ mock up cars missing most of the new aero designs, I think McLaren got this about right. Fabulous nostalgic memories and 10 seconds on the model MP4-28. Though under the skin as Jenson said there are some very big differences.

Luca de Montezemolo suggested other teams would follow Ferrari’s leap into the pull-rod suspension systems, and it appears McLaren have done just this. If you look at the pictures below you will see the nose is higher than last years model and so is the chassis. This will give better airflow under the car.

I remember Gary Anderson being critical of the restrictive opportunities for the underflow at the launch in 2012. The reason this could not be altered on the MP4-27 was that some things are so fundamental to the platform the car will operate on, they cannot be changed.

There appears to be a lot more curved bodywork mouldings at the to direct the air to the right place at the rear of the car. Gary Anderson says this too, “The sidepods have been moved backwards, giving better airflow, and the back has been focused on maximising that flow.

“The driveshaft and lower wishbone have been packaged in one element and the rear bodywork is heavily scooped out to make the most of the downforce-producing ‘coke-bottle’ area between the rear wheels. The idea is to separate that airflow from the exhaust gases, which McLaren have continued to treat in the way they did last year, rather than using Red Bull-style tunnels.

“McLaren are one of the few teams to have small-diameter exhaust exits, which gives faster airflow and therefore more downforce when they hit the aerodynamically shaped rear brake ducts. Overall, McLaren look to have made a good step forward.”

I have to say, I’m genuinely starting to feel excited about Jerez next week. The tingles are beginning, and we are not far now from the end of the ‘silly’ season and the beginning of the track action. Bring It On!!!

source: DieHard_F1_Fan

New Suspension:

MP4-28 Detailed Specifications: