P1racenews AI automatic summary:
If it hadn’t been confirmed already, McLaren is now undoubtedly Red Bull’s closest challenger. Gary Anderson explains how its new F1 front wing works and the other major parts of the aero it’s working with that have improved its performance
McLaren’s impressive development progress in the past 18 months was highlighted by the introduction of a new front wing in Austria that almost led Lando Norris to the team’s second Formula 1 victory this season. Developing a racing car is challenging, especially F1’s ground-effect cars with conflicting low-speed and high-speed corner characteristics and restricted weight distribution changes by the FIA since 2011. McLaren stands out for its understanding and implementation of necessary aerodynamic changes to improve performance in all types of corners. Adjusting front and rear ride heights, steering angles, and underfloor splitters play crucial roles in optimizing downforce distribution and stability in varying corner speeds. Ferrari and Mercedes serve as contrasting examples of the impact of development directions on car performance, highlighting the complexity and importance of aerodynamic understanding in Formula 1 racing.
