This year Formula 1 is resetting, everything is new again. As a result of massive rule changes, teams are completely revamping their cars. Once of the biggest changes on the grid in 2017 will come from McLaren Honda with the launch tonight of thier MCL32.
Check out the amazing plethora of carbon fibre pieces on that front wing assembly. Perhaps the most impressive section is the 4-part connection between the new arrow-shaped front wing and the body or nose of the car. Its completely unique and something we’ve never seen before.
Frankly it kind of reminds you of Neo’s lips from the matrix.
As with everything in F1, the top tier of motorsport technology and innovation, its not by accident, completely thought out, rigorously tested in computer simulations and the multi-veined front wing mount is done to help control air flow over the car’s body and into the air intakes.
Close up with the @McLarenF1 #MCL32 pic.twitter.com/S8hJjzrTxy
— Sarah Merritt (@Sareyware) February 24, 2017
We’ve now seen a number of the entrants for the F1 2017 grid revealled and the instant reaction to the McLaren Honda MCL32 has got fans excited, perhaps more than any other.
The livery is a striking orange, black and white combination, which is a bold statement over last year’s almost entirely black appearance. This is like McLaren and Honda standing up and announcing to pit lane, in 2017 they’re here and ready to be counted at the pointy end of the race.
If you’re reading this, I’ll go ahead an assume you’re interested in the technical detail and thankfully, McLaren-Honda have provided it in spades.
CHASSIS
| Monocoque | Carbon-fibre composite, incorporating driver controls and fuel cell |
| Safety structures | Cockpit survival cell incorporating impact resistant construction and anti-penetration panels, front impact structure, prescribed side impact structures, integrated rear impact structure, front and rear roll structures |
| Bodywork | Carbon-fibre composite, including engine cover, sidepods, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing with driver-operated drag reduction system |
| Front suspension | Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system |
| Rear suspension | Carbon-fibre wishbone and pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system |
| Weight | Overall vehicle weight 728kg (including driver, excluding fuel) |
| Weight distribution between 45.3% and 46.3% | |
| Electronics | McLaren Applied Technologies. Including chassis control, power unit control, data acquisition, sensors, data analysis and telemetry |
| Instruments | McLaren Applied Technologies dashboard |
| Greases & Fluids | Castrol grease and hydraulic oil |
| Brake system | Akebono brake calipers and master cylinders |
| Akebono ‘brake by wire’ rear brake control system | |
| Carbon discs and pads | |
| Steering | Power-assisted rack and pinion |
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero |
| Race wheels | Enkei |
| Garage Radio | Kenwood |
| Paint | AkzoNobel Car Refinishes system using Sikkens products |
| Cooling Systems | Calsonic Kansei water and oil cooling |
POWER UNIT
| Type | HONDA RA617H |
| Minimum weight | 145 kg |
| Primary PU components | Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) |
| Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K) | |
| Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H) | |
| Energy Store (ES) | |
| Turbocharger | |
| Control Electronics |
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
| Capacity | 1.6 litres |
| Cylinders | Six |
| Bank angle | 90 degree vee angle |
| No of valves | 24 |
| Max speed | 15,000 rpm |
| Max fuel flow rate | 100 kg/hour (above 10,500 rpm) |
| Fuel consumption | 105 kg ‘lights to flag’ regulated fuel capacity limit |
| Fuel injection | Direct injection, single injector per cylinder, 500 bar max |
| Pressure charging | Single-stage compressor and exhaust turbine, common shaft |
| Fuel & Lubricant | BP Castrol |
ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM
| Architecture | Integrated Hybrid energy recovery via Motor Generator Units |
| Crankshaft coupled electrical MGU-K | |
| Turbocharger coupled electrical MGU-H | |
| Energy Store | Lithium-Ion battery, between 20 and 25 kg |
| Maximum energy storage, 4 MJ per lap | |
| MGU-K | Maximum speed, 50,000 rpm |
| Maximum power, 120 kW | |
| Maximum energy recovery, 2 MJ per lap | |
| Maximum energy deployment, 4 MJ per lap | |
| MGU-H | Maximum speed 125,000 rpm |
| Maximum power, unlimited | |
| Maximum energy recovery, unlimited | |
| Maximum energy deployment, unlimited |
TRANSMISSION
| Gearbox | Carbon-fibre composite main case, longitudinally mounted |
| Gear ratios | Eight forward and one reverse |
| Gear selection | Electro-hydraulically operated seamless shift |
| Differential | Epicyclic differential withmulti-platelimited slipclutch |
| Clutch | Electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate |
| Lubricant | Castrol |
If you missed the live stream reveal, it was streamed on Facebook and is now available on-demand.
