Tweet— Twitter API (@user) date Not an awful lot on show, the diffuser has been completely blanked. The only thing that stood out for me are the long trailing vanes coming from the side pod back along the edge of the floor
That one in particular is just a render, overall just general concepts to be seen, which is pretty much the same as last year. Not expecting anything exciting this year, I seem to remember that the teams aren't allowed to homologate a new monocoque so the overall design is locked in.
I'm more related than you'd know In the McLaren Unboxing clips on, pretty sure Lando gave Danny dibs on driving first, they spoke of a filming day on the launch as the car wasn't at MTC but on the way to Silverstone.
I wonder how much wiggle room McLaren will be able to get with the switch to Merc. While last years designs have been locked in I think McLaren were allowed a bit of leniency due to the engine swap. I doubt anything revolutionary but if any team is going to do anything, McLaren have a small oppertunity. Gary Anderson on Race podcast seem to suggest that sealing the gap between the floor is key and McLaren havent shown their hand. Their overall concept is very simple so expect and upgrade for testing. He also made note that setups that heavily relied on outwash going round the back tyre may struggle as they dont have the space to get as big an effect this year.
They'll get a little leeway I'm sure - perhaps being allowed to move mounting points around etc, but I'd be surprised if they get a clean sheet for the monocoque. But yes, as usual the "launch" cars aren't anything like what'll be at testing, never mind the grid at the first race.
James Key mentions that they spent development tokens on the adaption with assistance from Brixworth since engines have been homologated.
There will be a lot of changes needed for cooling. Air box and vents on the side are the most noticable. Hopefully it hasnt hurt them this season. In other news albert park reprofile going ahead. Resurfacing might add an interesting element to a usually boring affair only made marginally exciting by the pecking order not being established at that point https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/albert-park-layout-2021-australian-gp/5416110/amp/
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-le-mans-hypercar-entry/ Ferrari are going back to sports cars. Slowly but surely the big teams are finding ways to spend all that extra money they suddenly have floating about.
It'll be interesting to see how the LMDh category gets on overall, although I'm lamenting the loss of LMP1 as it's awesome
I quite like how the new Hypercars look like a cross between the modern and older (2001-2010) LMP900/GTP/LMP1 cars. Hopefully the BOP rules stop everyone getting Peugeot or Porsched. My dream outcome would be a return to the golden days of Group C when the entire 50 car grid at Le Mans was prototypes, no GTs to be seen. Although maybe a 50/50 split Hypercars and GT3s would be more realistic.
Yeh wasn't overly impressed that they've basically rolled an LMP1 into the new class. Whilst they'll have a big jump-start, at least there'll be other teams to race against. The Glikenhaus looks like an extreme version on the Ultima GTR.
So the cars are coming and we've got. Spoiler: Spoilered for wall of images. Sauber Romeo, Alpha Tarui, Red Bull Mclaren, Mercedes and Alpine So far all of them are lookers. Taking bets for who out of Haas, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Williams releases a design fail into the wild. Although the Alpine logo keeps making me think Stark Industries.
The white bits on the AlphaTauri somehow look exactly like the plastic on an unpainted toy car. (yes, I know that is just the render)
i do like the look of them, the 'squareness' of the wing end plates and more simple bargeboards looks good and simple compared to the OMG STICK WINGLETS EVERYWHERE!!! that we have seen recently
Aston Martin is out and it's lovely too. Although Papa Stroll's running his gob and declaring they intend to be champions within 5 years. Presumably with a new driver line up by then.
