McLaren MP4-28 launch

Mostly every one is assuming there's no modesty panel just looking at it, including me. But a few people I trust very much are saying yes, but they could still be wrong of course. If I had to bet on it I'd say no just 'cause visually it makes no sense, but whatevs! We'll see.
 
Would you be able to tell by looking? I'd be surprised if McLaren went with the modesty panel... unless it's to shave a few pounds off for ballast.

Scarbs has been predicting the big teams might just waste a little money on the pullrods, so it's no surprise.

EDIT: In the high-res photo, you can see a demarcation line where the step should be, but it continues down and seems to simply be the seam for the removable nosecone.
 
It does look incredibly similar to last years car.

That is what I like to see. Aggressive re-designs are very risky. Considering how competitive last years car was, it is a good move to keep it relatively similar, at least aerodynamically. Mechanically though, they have made some changes. The pull-rod front suspension is a big change, which will make it more difficult to find a well balanced setup (As Ferrari found out at the start of last year). Jenson may be in for a tough year if they don't solve this problem quickly.
 
Wardez
Follow up tweet from Scarbs insisting it's a modesty panel, currently asking him to how we can discern it:
https://twitter.com/ScarbsF1/status/296955537126457344
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how he can tell from that angle. Especially when the underside of the nose rises up in such a way that if there was no modesty plate, the flattened nose structure would be incredibly thin - too thin to support the front wing.
 
Seems they're asking in the comments what the benefit is... a modesty panel allows you to have a smooth nose higher up than you could without. The modesty panel isn't a stiff or strong piece, so it can be higher than the regular nose. If the nose is raised beyond the allowable limit, then the part beyond the limit is a modesty panel.

Of course, since we can't actually eyeball how high the nose is, we'll have to take Scarbs' word on it for now.
 
A3z7IsHCAAAzuwY.jpg+large.jpg


I think I understand it. We keep looking for lines, like it would be just tacked on to the existing stepped nosecone, but it's built right in! No line necessary, kind of like a crumple zone. The nose cone is semi-hollow. The "panel" part is throwing every one off.
 
It's safety regulation so the nose (the hard part of the nose) isn't high enough to cut above other cars and potentially hit drivers. Stepped noses weren't specifically mandated of course, just the lower height, the step was just a popular solution. The FIA reacted to that by coming up with the modesty panel option, just for aesthetic. And McLaren cares about that.

After this happened:
schumacher.jpg


And boom, we have our answer:
https://twitter.com/ScarbsF1/status/296969371765571584

With a nice comparison image to see what he means:
R4k5g2L.jpg


The important part, the bulkhead, right before where the nose attaches, must be a certain height. Last year, it was lower. They raised it for the MP4-28 and thus, need the step.

And I'm right in saying the modesty "panel" is structural:
https://twitter.com/ScarbsF1/status/296970493498638336

niky
Seems they're asking in the comments what the benefit is... a modesty panel allows you to have a smooth nose higher up than you could without. The modesty panel isn't a stiff or strong piece, so it can be higher than the regular nose. If the nose is raised beyond the allowable limit, then the part beyond the limit is a modesty panel.
Click to expand...

https://twitter.com/ScarbsF1/status/296971007091163137
 
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I'm not surprised by the higher nose, glad they have used a modesty panel for aesthetics (as long as it isn't detrimental), but I'm confused by a lack of turning vanes under the high nose to condition the airflow in this area. McLaren have always differed in this area, with the old snowplough design that was ditched just before the first race in place for some very basic turning vanes. Even they have now gone though and wonder what we'll see in this area come testing.
 
pezzarinho17
I'm not surprised by the higher nose, glad they have used a modesty panel for aesthetics (as long as it isn't detrimental), but I'm confused by a lack of turning vanes under the high nose to condition the airflow in this area. McLaren have always differed in this area, with the old snowplough design that was ditched just before the first race in place for some very basic turning vanes. Even they have now gone though and wonder what we'll see in this area come testing.
Click to expand...

They don't want to show it, yet... They are not even using the new front wing.
 
Centura
They don't want to show it, yet... They are not even using the new front wing.
Click to expand...

No, but it is the lack of anything in this area at all, and yet if you look to the side on comparison above there is... And it looks like the return of the snowplough??? Bring on Tuesday!!!
 
Underwhelmed tbh. I was hoping for at least a little bit of orange splashed into the livery to mark the 50th Anniversary. Sidepod openings look interesting.
 
Probably meant to be a secret, has the image I hotlinked to disappeared? I can still see it and I've saved it incase anyone would like me to re-upload.
 
boiltheocean
Probably meant to be a secret, has the image I hotlinked to disappeared? I can still see it and I've saved it incase anyone would like me to re-upload.
Click to expand...
Oh no, I can still see it. I was just making a remark regarding how pathetically image conscious McLaren has become. They've certainly lost my respect for it.
 
Well to be fair it clearly is a private area of the factory, I'm pretty sure when they invited journalists down for the event snooping around the factory and taking pictures of things you're not meant to wasn't something they had in mind.
 

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