Analysis
Formula 1 Spanish GP
McLaren's striking Spanish GP upgrade in detail
McLaren introduced its major Formula 1 upgrade package in the first free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix, with both Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne running its extravagant new nose.
Matt Somerfield
Edited: May 11, 2018, 2:14 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The team described the upgraded car as its real 2018 challenger earlier in the season, and the modified nose takes several cues from rival cars.
The nose tip extension, which overcomes the requirement for a low nose, has an opening at the front like the one used by Red Bull since the start of last season.
McLaren has also been influenced by this year's Sauber, introducing a pair of channels either side of the nose that allow airflow to move under it.
Both of these solutions are an attempt by McLaren to make the lower surface 'invisible' from an aerodynamic perspective, while meeting the cross-sectional area criteria of the regulations.
McLaren MCL33 technical detail
Photo by: Mark Sutton
The elongated and holed front wing pillars have been cast aside, replaced by a set of pillars that converge on a Mercedes style cape.
This funnels and realigns the airflow so it can be better utilised by the new turning vanes mounted beneath the chassis.
Although the nose design features a collection of design ideas already seen on other cars, there is a novelty in that the main body is flanked by a pair of panels that give a more decisive direction to the airflow passing around the nose.
The complexity of the nose package shows how hard McLaren is pushing to close the gap to the front of the midfield, given how difficult it will have been to design such a structure to pass the mandatory crash tests.
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL33 with flo-vis
Photo by: Edd Straw
Both cars both ran with new sidepod deflectors, adding a forward elements that stretches down to the floor's 'axehead' in order to limit the disturbance caused by the front tyre wake.
The bargeboards themselves are untouched at this stage, but the team ran with flo-vis paint in that area to evaluate whether the nose is delivering the performance promised by CFD and the windtunnel.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article 2019 F1 wing changes based on "immature research" - Horner
Next article Magnussen reprimanded for "dangerous" Leclerc block
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Somerfield
Gallery: How F1 tech evolved during the 2024 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
Gallery: How F1 tech evolved during the 2024 season
How McLaren’s rear wing push changed the game in F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
How McLaren’s rear wing push changed the game in F1
How 2026 F1 rules will help avoid identikit designs
Formula 1
Formula 1
How 2026 F1 rules will help avoid identikit designs
More from
McLaren
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
10 h
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Latest news
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
52 min
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe