The changes in the new McLaren MP4-28

The McLaren team revealed their 2013 challenger – MP4-28, yesterday at the McLaren Technology center in England. The event also marked 50 years of McLaren team.

As a tribute to McLaren founder Bruce McLaren, the event began with showcase of legendary and championship winning McLaren cars, which included the legendary M8D. Tragically, this was also the car in which Bruce lost his life at the Goodwood circuit on June 2,1970 .

Jenson Button and Sergio Perez took the covers off of the new McLaren and revealed it to the world media. Visually, the MP4-28 looks very much similar to last year’s MP4-27. But, as Button said the car is completely different underneath the bodywork. So, let’s take a look at the new features:

WOKING, ENG – JAN 31, 2013: (L – R) McLaren-Mercedes F1 drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez unveil the Mercedes McLaren MP4-28 at the McLaren technology centre.

First of all, unlike last year McLaren have opted for a step-nose design. Now, the step nose isn’t actually visible on the new McLaren but what they have done is that they have covered the step-nose using the carbon fibre vanity panel. So, if you closely look at this year’s McLaren and last year’s McLaren, you will see that the nose this year is higher up and that is due to the vanity panel and the step-nose design.

Last year McLaren didn’t feature a step-nose design but that was because they had built the car very low. This year they have raised the front of the car so that there is no obstruction in airflow beneath the car to the rear diffuser. Hence the step-nose, which is covered by the vanity panel.

Secondly, the McLaren MP4-28 features a pull-rod suspension instead of a push-rod suspension. This idea has been copied from last year’s Ferrari, which featured a pull-rod suspension, for the first time since 2001. In 2012, Both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton had trouble generating heat into the tyres, especially when it rained. And, if you rewind back to 2010, Ferrari couldn’t get their tyres – especially the harder compound tyres – to optimum temperature and so they had to go in for a different suspension layout last year, which solved their tyre heating problems. McLaren has also followed the same ideology and they hope it will solve their tyre warming problems. Apart from that, there are also certain aerodynamic gains, which can be utilised using the pull-rod suspension.

These were the two main changes visible on the new McLaren. As the MP4-28 has been launched quite early it may be possible that the team has covered some more modifications under the bodywork to prevent other teams from copying their new ideas.

Pre-season testing in Jerez begins next week on 5th February and only then we will know if the new McLaren has some more changes or not.