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By bud
#54064
The McLaren Formula 1 team has now also shown its interest in the shark fin, which is currently also being used by a couple of other F1 teams. The new kind of engine cover was first introduced by Red Bull Racing. Lewis Hamilton is testing the new engine cover on Tuesday morning at Hockenheim.

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The teams currently using the shark fin engine cover are Red Bull, Renault, Force India and Toro Rosso. If the outcome of the test is positive the Woking based team will most likely use the new engine cover next week already at the German Grand Prix.
User avatar
By Rob-F1
#54066
Copy cats! :nono:
By Mikep99
#54114
Yeh McLaren are busy trying new things.

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User avatar
By texasmr2
#54126
Copy cats! :nono:


you serious?

Who the first team to utilize the 'shark fin'?


Redbull

Ah ok that's what I thought but could not confirm. Now I'm wondering, but not attacking :wink:, as to why you replied to Rob-F1's remark about McLaren being copy cats because basically every team after RedBull is in truth a copy cat right?
User avatar
By welshie
#54127
Yes . . . . Everybody copies everyone else.
#54129
McLaren have been trying a hell of a lot of new stuff recently. McLaren are brilliant at developing cars mid season, so the changes being made to the MP4-23 are not unexpected. In my own view, the MP4-23 has the potential to become the fastest car on the grid, but unfortunately the F2008 was faster out of the box and McLaren's drivers have not been able to take their chances. If Hamilton stops making his gaffes and if Kovalainen has a strong second part of the season, then McLaren could get back into the constructors' title battle again. There is hope. The car's development will keep McLaren in the race for the drivers' title without doubt.

Just to add a few more points against those people calling McLaren copy cats. First, there is nothing wrong with seeing designs with your own eyes in testing and during Grands Prix and then going on to research and develop that part. The FIA restated that last year. As I said at the start of this post, McLaren are good at developing cars in the middle of a season, so who's to say this was not a part of the team's own research anyway? Newey was at the team before, so maybe he raised the idea even then. Maybe Rob-F1 needs reminded of several occasions that Ferrari's photographers infiltrated the McLaren pit garages to take photographs of the cars. Yes, that's right. Illegal spying from Ferrari on several occasions. Also folks, don't you recall the MP4-10, designed in mid-1994:

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Thankfully the MP4-23 doesn't understeer like a fully-loaded shopping trolley like the MP4-10!
User avatar
By texasmr2
#54147
Damn where do you guy's find that stuff!! It now seem's that RedBull are the true copy cat's right? :wink:
User avatar
By bud
#54153
Damn where do you guy's find that stuff!! It now seem's that RedBull are the true copy cat's right? :wink:


Chris is a true McLaren Fan thats how he knows about it. :clap:
By Mikep99
#54376
More test photos

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