McLaren MCL36

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McLaren MCL36
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMcLaren
Designer(s)James Key (Technical Director)
PredecessorMcLaren MCL35M
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fibre composite
Suspension (front)Carbon fibre and steel pullrod suspension legs and elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Suspension (rear)Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
EngineMercedes-AMG F1 M13 E Performance
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motorMercedes-AMG
Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic transmission operated via paddle shifters with limited slip epicyclic differential
BatteryLithium-ion battery
Weight795 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)
Brakes6 piston calipers, carbon ventilated discs/pads
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
ClutchElectro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
Competition history
Notable entrantsMcLaren F1 Team
Notable drivers
Debut2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
20000

The McLaren MCL36 is a Formula One car designed under the lead of James Key and manufactured by McLaren to compete in the 2022 Formula One World Championship.[2] The MCL36 is built to the new 2022 generation of Formula One technical regulations, which were originally intended for introduction in 2021.

Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris are under contract to drive for the team in 2022.[3]

Background[]

Development context[]

Further information: 2022 Formula One World Championship § Technical regulations

McLaren's switch to Mercedes engines was meant to coincide with the new technical regulations and was therefore contracted for 2021. Planning for the new regulations started in early 2019[2] and active development of the car started in 2020 before the 2021 regulations change was postponed. This postponement was intended to reduce financial pressures on teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while teams' 2020 chassis were to be reused in 2021. Hence, McLaren's switch to Mercedes power units occurred with the MCL36's predecessor, the MCL35M.[4]

Aerodynamic development of all teams' 2022 cars was paused from 28 March 2020 until 31 December 2020 because of the postponement of the regulatory change.[5] McLaren restarted development in early January 2021 with aerodynamic testing.[6] Manufacturing of some components, mainly chassis and gearbox parts, was underway by July 2021.[7]

Initial design and development[]

Key was originally hired by McLaren from Toro Rosso in early 2019, when the MCL34 had already been designed and manufactured. Although he designed the MCL35 and the MCL35M upgrade, the MCL36 will be Key's first completely original car for the team. Key has called the development of the 2022 car's larger and less intricate surfaces a significant departure from the more specific and detailed development allowed in previous years.[8]

By October 2021, the car was being run on the McLaren simulator. Norris termed it "not as nice" to drive, but was hesitant to draw conclusions before the physical car was complete given the rapid progress in 2022 designs.[9][10] The chassis passed FIA homologation tests in early December 2021.[11]

Key stated that McLaren's primary goal was to produce a more balanced car that performed better in low-speed corners compared to the MCL35 and MCL35M, both of which lacked low-speed performance despite good high-speed cornering.[12]

At its launch, the car was noted for its conventional tight packaging of the engine and its reversing of the typical suspension layout: the MCL36 features pull-rod front suspension and push-rod rear suspension, a layout not seen in Formula One since 2013 on the MP4-28. This change maximises the downforce produced by the Venturi and ground effects by allowing unimpeded airflow in and out of the car's air inlets, increasing the volume of air moved through the floor.[13]

Livery[]

The MCL36 features more vibrant, fluorescent shades of papaya orange and blue. The change was inspired after the MCL35M's one-off Gulf livery, featuring similar shades, received a very positive fan reaction.[14]

Competition and development history[]

Pre-season[]

During the first three-day test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, many teams experienced porpoising on their cars (resonation of the car due to the ground effect, making the car rock rapidly) which posed a driveability and reliability issue. Uniquely, the MCL36 did not appear to exhibit any issues with porpoising, although Key said "We suffer from it a bit, but it's not a major concern or a major distraction for the drivers."[15]

After the first round of testing, the car was generally expected to be competitive and allow McLaren to join a group of front-running teams. However, the second test at Bahrain International Circuit in higher temperatures exposed an issue with the MCL36's brakes, preventing the team from completing any long-run tests.[16] Further, Ricciardo tested positive to COVID-19 and was required to isolate, preventing him from completing any of his test program and leaving Norris to complete the test alone.[17] The team said they had been unable to "do any optimization" to the car at the Bahrain test.[18]

Opening rounds[]

McLaren introduced an "interim solution" to its brake issues for the Bahrain Grand Prix.[19] The team was disappointed in its performance, as neither car made it to the final stage of qualifying: Norris qualified thirteenth and Ricciardo eighteenth.[18] Key said the car was performing as the team expected and the drivers were finding it a more consistent and predictable car, but that the MCL36 lacked aerodynamic and mechanical grip.[16] Ricciardo finished fourteenth and Norris fifteenth.[20] Ricciardo stated that he had treated the race as a test session in an attempt to recover time he had lost in the pre-season test.[21] The result placed the team ninth in the Constructors' Championship.

No upgrades were made to the car at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as parts were delayed to prioritise the brake cooling solution.[22] Norris qualified eleventh and Ricciardo twelfth, but the latter started fourteenth after receiving a grid penalty.[23] Norris finished seventh, battling for sixth place on the final lap.[24] Ricciardo did not finish the race, retiring eith undiagonsed mechanical issues.[23]

Complete Formula One results[]

(key)

Year Entrant Power unit Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
2022 McLaren F1 Team Mercedes-AMG
F1 M13 E Performance
1.6 V6 t 		P BHR SAU AUS EMI MIA ESP MON AZE CAN GBR AUT FRA HUN BEL NED ITA TBA SIN JPN USA MXC SAP ABU 6* 8th*
United Kingdom Lando Norris 15 7
Australia Daniel Ricciardo 14 Ret
Sources:[25]
Notes
  • * – Championship in progress.

References[]

  1. ^ "McLaren MCL36A Technical Specification". McLaren Racing. McLaren Racing Ltd. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Adapt or get left behind". McLaren Racing. McLaren Racing Ltd. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ "McLaren announce launch date for their 2022 car, the MCL36". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  4. ^ Edmondson, Laurence (16 April 2020). "FIA will closely monitor McLaren's engine switch". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. ^ "FIA approve raft of F1 rule changes for 2020 and 2021". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  6. ^ "MCL35M progress report". McLaren Racing. McLaren Racing Ltd. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Triple threat". McLaren Racing. McLaren Racing Ltd. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021. ...we already have MCL36 test parts in manufacture, as well as components that require a longer lead time to manufacture such as the chassis and gearbox casing.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Scott (22 August 2021). "The 'oddball' process behind Key's first McLaren F1 design". The Race. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  9. ^ Noble, Jonathan; Congiu, Mario (4 October 2021). "Norris: 2022 Formula 1 cars "not as nice" to drive relative to 2021". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  10. ^ Noble, Jonathan (1 December 2021). "F1 2022 cars to be on edge like F2, says Norris". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  11. ^ Coch, Mat (10 December 2021). "McLaren 2022 chassis passes impact test". Speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  12. ^ Cleeren, Filip; Noble, Jonathan (28 January 2022). "McLaren wants better high/low speed balance with 2022 F1 car". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  13. ^ Hughes, Mark; Piola, Giorgio (11 February 2022). "The key feature on the MCL36 that McLaren are hoping will give them an edge on rivals". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  14. ^ Noble, Jonathon (12 February 2022). "McLaren's Monaco Gulf livery inspired 2022 F1 colour tweak". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  15. ^ Noble, Jonathon (27 February 2022). "McLaren: No clear answer for MCL36's lack of porpoising in F1 test". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  16. ^ a b Mitchell, Scott (19 March 2022). "Is McLaren dealing with a blip or a crisis?". The Race. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  17. ^ Coch, Mat (19 March 2022). "Ricciardo doesn't blame COVID for Saturday disappointment". Speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  18. ^ a b Noble, Jonathan (20 March 2022). "McLaren explains factors behind Bahrain qualifying struggles". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  19. ^ Cooper, Adam (18 March 2022). "McLaren: F1 brake duct fix is "interim solution" at Bahrain GP". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  20. ^ Saunders, Nate (20 March 2022). "Norris 'expecting pain' with McLaren after tough opening F1 race". ESPN.com. ESPN. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  21. ^ Parkes, Ian; Gale, Ewan (20 March 2022). "Ricciardo turned Bahrain GP into "test session"". GPfans. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  22. ^ Cooper, Adam (26 March 2022). "McLaren brake duct fixes have slowed development of MCL36 F1 car". Motorsport.com Australia. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b "2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix". McLaren Racing. McLaren Racing Ltd. 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  24. ^ Larkam, Lewis (28 March 2022). "Winners and losers from F1's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix". Crash. Crash Media Group. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  25. ^ "McLaren MCL36". Stats F1. March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""