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[burneyk]

i like it, I like the 2 intakes on either side. they are jet like.

[Kiwi_Chris]

god i hope its as fast as it looks... even the most die hard Ferrari fan has to admit its a stunning looking car

[Mick]

I'm really impressed by the new McLaren runner. It looks the best McLaren design since around 2000 and is probably the most visually pleasing car so far regarding the 2009 launches. The MP4-24 looks a very simplistic, sleek and eye catching race car. Getting rid of all the stick on aerodynamics is in my opinion, attributing to far better looking models in 2009.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Technical analysis: McLaren MP4-24

By Craig Scarborough Friday, January 16th 2009, 13:37 GMT

McLaren have revealed their car for the 2009 world championship: the MP4/24 not only has to meet the new regulations, but also the standard its title-winning predecessor set.

After over 18 months of development, the team have gone back to review every element of the new package to ensure the grip from slick tyres and reduced aerodynamics are maximised. As a result, the McLaren appears to be more developed than its peers and exploits some different concepts in its aerodynamics.

Starting with an all-new monocoque the car sports a highly-raised front chassis section, with a rounded drooping nose at its tip. The nose is long and its underside features a scalloped shape, akin to Renault's R28, which should work to reduce pressure and increase downforce under the nose cone.

Already debuted in testing, the front wing is a more complex affair than seen elsewhere so far, with a two-element flap. Interestingly, only the upper element of the flap moves as allowed under the adjustable front wing rule for 2009: this is controlled by a switch on the steering wheel.

Only a simple bargeboard was fitted to the car for the launch, while the front splitter features a clever T-shaped fence to recoup some of the losses from not having more bodywork in this area.

But it's the sidepods that are the biggest divergence from designs seen so far. McLaren have chosen the keep the sidepods tall and slim: this maximises the space between the rear wheels and, in order to allow sufficient cooling area, the exit to the bottle zone curves outwards at floor level. The exhaust outlets are a distinctive feature, being placed high and far back.

At this stage the removeable panels do not feature any hot air outlets, but the lack of any other exits suggests this might change when the car starts testing in warmer climes. Aiding the airflow out of the back of the sidepod and improving flow over the diffuser the gearbox fairing converges into a sharp "V" shape at the rear of the car.

The upper bodywork echoes the MP4-23, with the complex undercut roll structure and humped tail fin. Again, the rear wing features some concepts from its predecessor, with the endplates merging into the flap and three slots to reduce drag, which will be critical now that the wing is narrower and steeper.

Having made huge improvements to its engine through 2008, the car carries the same power unit revised to meet the reduction in revs and extended life. The engine also connects the KERS motor/generator to the carbon gearbox, the motor unit sitting within the niche in the back of the monocoque where the oil tank usually sits. This has required the resiting of the oil tank.

KERS also needs the car to carry a power control unit and batteries to control and store the power from the motor generator. These will be sited within the sidepods: the left hand one features an extra inlet to cool them.

As McLaren are so advanced with their 2009 project, the launch car was the second chassis to be built up, as the first chassis is already in Portugal, ready for its shakedown with Pedro de la Rosa tomorrow.

McLaren will only make five chassis, compared to the usual six, this year due to the limitations in track testing.

[KyrosV]

I wouldnt get too caried away, im expecting tricks up other teams sleeves for 2009. i.e. Renault, BMW and williams. Next week is going to be exciting!

[madbrad]

I'd like to see the airbox fins banned. The airboxes look much nicer in their natural shape.

[7UpJordan]

I'd like to see the airbox fins banned. The airboxes look much nicer in their natural shape.

I think they have. You're probably getting them confused with the T-cams on top of the airbox.

[racechick]

Can't wait to see how these cars run!! McLaren looks gorgeous! Lets hope it runs as well as it looks. Everything is up in the air, so all very exciting, McLaren have the best technological infrastructure but in this climate a small team working on a hunch could come good. OOOOOOO! cant wait!!!!!

[nudge1964]

from mclaren site
"After a delayed start to the day, the test team conducted 18 laps in the MP4-24 during a private test, Pedro setting a best time of 1m 28.719s on his 13th lap. Pedro resumes the car’s pre-season programme at Portimao on Monday and Tuesday before handing over to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday. Heikki Kovalainen will conclude the four-day test session on Thursday.


thats a damn quick time isnt it?

[Denthúl]

from mclaren site
"After a delayed start to the day, the test team conducted 18 laps in the MP4-24 during a private test, Pedro setting a best time of 1m 28.719s on his 13th lap. Pedro resumes the car’s pre-season programme at Portimao on Monday and Tuesday before handing over to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday. Heikki Kovalainen will conclude the four-day test session on Thursday.


thats a damn quick time isnt it?

About a tenth faster than his time in the hybrid McLaren. But seeing as it's the only new car to have run at the circuit (assuming that was, indeed, at Portimao) it is hard to tell whether that is fast or not. :/

[nudge1964]

i realise there no direct comparason other than typical times for hybred cars....but i thought generally they were doing 1m30s, the best time i could find for pedro in the mclaren hybred was 1m28.99, set on 17th dec. of course slicks is a variable which makes comparing even more tricky.
I think what i meant was, thats damn quick for out the box shakedown, not ultimate pace

[madbrad]

I'd like to see the airbox fins banned. The airboxes look much nicer in their natural shape.

I think they have. You're probably getting them confused with the T-cams on top of the airbox.

Nope, for once I'm not confusing anything with anything. I mean the rear/top edge of the airbox, that corner is extended in a thin flat "sail" that in profile enlarges the visual size of it, and adds advertising space. Some of them even had a perfectly horizontal top edge. The shark fin. This car still has a bit of it.

[7UpJordan]

I'd like to see the airbox fins banned. The airboxes look much nicer in their natural shape.

I think they have. You're probably getting them confused with the T-cams on top of the airbox.

Nope, for once I'm not confusing anything with anything. I mean the rear/top edge of the airbox, that corner is extended in a thin flat "sail" that in profile enlarges the visual size of it, and adds advertising space. Some of them even had a perfectly horizontal top edge. The shark fin. This car still has a bit of it.

I just hope we don't see any more of those ugly shark fins like the one Red Bull introduced.

[McLaren Fan]

I just hope we don't see any more of those ugly shark fins like the one Red Bull introduced.

Ahem:

[f1ea]

The small rear wing is there to create less turbulence for the car following intern the wider front wing is to give more downforce while following a car!

I'd rather the small rear wing than the twin CDW wing they were contemplating

I understand the point, what i say is that with 08's dependance on aerodynamic forces such aditional turbulence was relevant.... but maybe under 09's specs (the big FW and slicks) such extra turbulence could have been meaningless.