McLaren Set To Run Higher Wing Spec At Spain

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed that the Woking-based team will be running a higher spec nose during this weekends Spanish Grand Prix, after successfully testing such a design at the Mugello test last week. This particular design features long pillars to the actual wing, and moves the design of the front nose closer to that of the platypus stepped design of the other teams on the grid.

During a phone-in with title sponsor Vodafone, the McLaren boss confirmed that the new design will be featured on the cars during this weekends race, with a strong likelihood that the design will remain on the cars throughout the race itself on Sunday.

“There’s a reasonable chance we will see it on Sunday, which will be the first time our drivers experience it,” Explained Martin Whitmarsh. “We got a lot of feedback from Mugello, so we have the data to set it up and can find the performance on track.”

The meaning behind the change in design is in aid of helping the airflow towards the rear of the car, which in turn is expected to assist McLaren back to the sharp end of the field in Spain. The Woking-based team suffered a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix, with Jenson Button retiring and Lewis Hamilton suffering embarrassingly messy pit-stops which put pay to any reasonable result.

Throughout the Mugello test, eager eyes were fixed on the various teams up and down the paddock as to whether any were testing the Mercedes ‘super-DRS’, which has assisted the Silver Arrows throughout qualifying so far this year. Many believed a slightly thicker rear-wing endplate were tail-tail sings of McLaren experimenting with the device, however confirmation that this was the case have yet to arise. 

McLaren are the second most successful Constructor at the Spanish Grand Prix, having won the race eight times. The team will be hoping this new spec front wing enables them to make that nine victories in Spain by the end of the weekend.

Picture Copyright © LAT Photographic 

Mugello, Day 2: Grosjean Fastest In Morning Session

After a miserable day weather-wise yesterday, the teams and drivers were greeted with glorious sunshine as they prepared for the second day of the Mugello test. Although the track was initially damp as the day got underway, Romain Grosjean was the fastest in the morning session as the teams tried to and make up for their lost time yesterday.

With Lotus opting to focus on only one driver for the remaining two days due to the changeable conditions, this meant Kimi Raikkonen will be absent from the Mugello test after D’Ambrosio drove yesterday.

Mark Webber was the first driver to set a timed lap on the second day, with a slow 02:20.133. The Australian driver, who has been linked with a move to Ferrari in 2013, will hand the Red Bull over to team-mate Sebastian Vettel for this afternoon. Bruno Senna then went quicker with a 01:53.242, on a track which still required the intermediate tyres. It was the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher who set the first competitive time of the day, with a 01:25.876. The 7-time World Champion completed only several laps yesterday afternoon, as the unrelenting rain played havoc with various teams plans.

The Lotus of Romain Grosjean then flew to the top, with a 01:24.152. The Frenchman remained at the top of the timing sheets for the rest of the session, further increasing his time to a 01:21.603 as the session wore on.

After Fernando Alonso topped the timing sheets yesterday, much to the adoration of supporting Tifosi, Felipe Massa was in the Ferrari today and slotted into 2nd place with a 01:22.257. Mark Webber then pipped the Brazilian driver to 2nd place, with a 01:21.997 as the session came to a close.

Gary Paffett is in the McLaren, after also having his track time impeded after yesterdays torrential rain. The British DTM driver ended the morning session 9th fastest, as rumors begin to gather momentum of McLaren testing the Mercedes “super-DRS” system.

Paul di Resta has assumed driving duties from Jules Bianchi at Force India, however he has yet to set a timed lap. The Silverstone based team have been plagued by hydraulic issues in the morning session. The British driver has, however, completed 7 un-timed laps so far today.

The afternoon session will Daniel Ricciardo, Timo Glock and reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel make their first track appearances of the Mugello test. 

Pos Driver Team Time 
 1.  Romain Grosjean        Lotus-Renault           1m21.603s
 2.  Mark Webber            Red Bull-Renault        1m21.997s   + 0.294s
 3.  Felipe Massa           Ferrari                 1m22.257s   + 0.654s
 4.  Jean-Eric Vergne       Toro Rosso-Ferrari      1m22.422s   + 0.819s
 5.  Kamui Kobayashi        Sauber-Ferrari          1m22.424s   + 0.821s
 6.  Michael Schumacher     Mercedes                1m23.404s   + 1.801s
 7.  Charles Pic            Marussia-Cosworth       1m23.982s   + 2.379s
 8.  Vitaly Petrov          Caterham-Renault        1m24.312s   + 2.709s
 9.  Gary Paffett           McLaren-Mercedes        1m24.480s   + 2.877s
10.  Bruno Senna            Williams-Renault        1m25.221s   + 3.618s
11.  Paul di Resta          Force India-Mercedes    No time

Picture Copyright © Lotus F1 Team

Lewis Hamilton And Jenson Button Not To Appear At Mugello Test

For the first time since 2008, in-season testing will return in 2012 with a three day test at Italy’s Mugello circuit in May. This test will take place prior to the Spanish Grand Prix, the first in Europe in 2012, and will see many teams try and improve their overall pace.

However, McLaren seen uninterested in having their two drivers’, former Champions’ Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, behind the wheel during the three days of the testing. They have confirmed that the two Brits will sit out the only in-season test of 2012, whilst test and reserve drivers’ Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett will get behind the wheel of the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-27. 

With both drivers’ currently heading the 2012 World Drivers’ Championship, it seems the team are eager to give their test drivers’ a chance in the car. With teams’ such as Ferrari and Red Bull eager to find more pace after a disappointing start to the season, McLaren will have to keep a firm eye over their shoulders as they seem the team to beat so far in 2012.

New devices such as the Mercedes ‘super-DRS’ could well start to appear on other teams in prototype form, as the competition begin implementing the controversial device into their cars. Whether McLaren will look into the device or not, is yet to be seen. 

The Mugello test will begin on 1st May, and will end on the 3rd May before the teams’ pack up and head to the Circuit de Catalunya (a popular testing circuit) for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Picture Copyright © Reuters