- 09 May 13, 03:18#357749The problem for McLaren is the sheer number of upgrades they will be bringing. Some people have called it a "B" spec car. The one thing they don't want is rain on Friday.
Interesting to read about McLaren talking about "correlation" issues. This year is so mirroring Ferrari's 2012 for them. Bearing in mind that McLaren are the recognized leaders in CFD technology and implementation.
I've said this many times last year about SF and after the launches this year, the move to pull-rod front suspension is a bigger than expected change. The benefits are there, but they are hard to harness and control. It took Ferrari half a season to get last years car under control and what did we read about - correlation issues. But, most significantly, they kept the pull-rod front. This should be heartening for McLaren fans. Once they understand the radically different front geometry they have they will be able to unleash its potential. Look at Ferrari's start to 2012 compared to 2013.
Why is pull-rod proving such a big step? Well, IMO its a combination of factors. With no testing, teams are heavily reliant on comparison data and "baselines". As cars have had little scope for change over the past few years, these comparisons have become tighter and finer. Throw a radical change in there a-la pull-rod front and you have to throw out all your baselines and recent data. And remember, it's not just the airflow differences you see at the front, but it totally effects the airflow over every part of the rest of the car - pods, nose, floor, diffuser, exhaust, rear wing etc. And now go back to the fact that you don't have empirical data/baselines to start with.
A couple of things I know:-
1) McLaren are too good a team, with all the right resources, not to come to terms with this. Whether they take giant steps here or in the next few races of over the season I can't be sure, but they will get it
2) Ferrari went through worse last year and yet all along they knew there were very big rewards once they got it right. That's why the F138 started so well this year and I believe there is a lot more to come.
Footnote:- 2014 there will be 2 teams with front pull-rod current experience/knowledge. Anyone else who wants to go down that route will have to come to grips with a new donk and a changed front geometry. That would be huge given the miniscule on track testing allowed.
"He was the fastest driver I ever saw - faster even than Fangio"
________________________- Mike Hawthorn on Alberto Ascari 
. Also played devils advocate and gone for Perez to beat him as well 
ah well it's only money.
although I support button as a driver, I find it funny when you're bashing him.
- By darwin dali
