Mclaren Mercedes Mp4-21

[Elvis_Pil]

Found some pics of the Mclaren test car for 2006. It's been driven these days by the team's test drivers-Pedro Delarosa. Notice the new heavy aerodynamics? looks a lot different from last years car. It will be interesting to see how teams use squeeze out that extra power with smaller V8s.. So far from testing the times are about 4-6 seconds slower than 2005... which is pretty good.

Hey imagine a a yellow McLaren!! ..

[Watchman]

I’ve been curious on F1’s new changes in regulations..

What exactly have they changed in the ruses for the new year(s)?

[Elvis_Pil]

I’ve been curious on F1’s new changes in regulations..

What exactly have they changed in the ruses for the new year(s)?

This is off the official F1 page:

Qualifying

For 2006, the single-lap system used in recent years is replaced be a new three-part, knockout format, with multiple cars on track throughout the qualifying hour, which is split into two 15-minute sessions and a final 20-minute session, with five-minute breaks in between.

Part one: All 20 cars may run laps at any time during the first 15 minutes of the hour. At the end of the first 15 minutes, the five slowest cars drop out and fill the final five grid places.

Part two: After a five-minute break, the times will be reset and the 15 remaining cars then will then run in a second 15-minute session - again they may complete as many laps as they want at any time during that period. At the end of the 15 minutes, the five slowest cars drop out and fill places 11 to 15 on the grid.

Part three: After another five-minute break, the times are reset and the final 20-minute session will feature a shootout between the remaining 10 cars to decide pole position and the starting order for the top 10 grid places. Again, these cars may run as many laps as they wish.

In the first two 15-minute sessions, cars may run any fuel load and drivers knocked out after those sessions may refuel ahead of the race. However, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 20-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits, and whatever fuel they use in the 20 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session.

If a driver is deemed to have stopped unnecessarily on the circuit or impeded another driver during the qualifying session, then his times will be cancelled.

Engines

For 2006, engines are reduced in size from the previous 3-litre V10s to 2.4-litre V8s. The aim is to reduce costs and improve safety. With similar engine speeds, the change is expected to cut peak power by around 200bhp, which in turn is likely to add around three to five seconds to lap times at most circuits. The FIA may allow some teams to use 2005-spec V10s if they do not have access to competitive V8. The FIA will enforce a rev limit on any V10s to ensure performance is comparable with that of a V8.

Tyres

After a season’s absence, tyre changes during races return to Formula One in 2006. The thinking behind this is that the reduced engine size will offset any performance gain. Drivers also have access to slightly more tyres than in 2005 - seven sets of dry-weather, four sets of wet-weather and three sets of extreme-weather. Drivers must make a final choice of dry-weather compound ahead of qualifying.

Weekend schedule

In a slight change to the Grand Prix weekend format, Saturday morning now features a single, one-hour practice session, as opposed to two, 45-minute sessions. It takes place between 1100 and 1200. Qualifying is an hour later than before, commencing at 1400.

[Blazin]

I've been a big F1 fan for a while now. Can't wait for this year's season to begin, just over a month to go now! Toyota is gonna kick ass! I drive a Honda now but I'm still loyal to Toyota.

The new season's going to be interesting with all the rule changes and there are some new teams like Honda, BMW and R*D B*LL Racing. The new Ferrari is meant to be really fast as well.

[Elvis_Pil]

I've been a big F1 fan for a while now. Can't wait for this year's season to begin, just over a month to go now! Toyota is gonna kick ass! I drive a Honda now but I'm still loyal to Toyota.

The new season's going to be interesting with all the rule changes and there are some new teams like Honda, BMW and R*D B*LL Racing. The new Ferrari is meant to be really fast as well.

Dont write off williams remember cosworth has a lot of exeprience in V8's

[Blazin]

Yea true, the new Cosworth engine's quite powerful, but apparantly Williams is getting some vibrations in the early testing. But we will only see who's fast and who's not in the first race in Baharain.

[Duncan]

I got the feeling this season is going to be what we spectators have been waiting for. But with the reduced costs in F1 for the 2007 season, we should see a lot more privateer teams getting back into F1. Like in the good ole days of F1.

Less of the corporate crap and more of real racing.

[unknown]

i like the color and tthe look wonder what ferrari doing

[Elvis_Pil]

i like the color and tthe look wonder what ferrari doing

It just testing colors man.. the track car will be the usual..

[unknown]

It just testing colors man.. the track car will be the usual..

ohh is it but they should make a different to attract.

and flipe massa and michael shumacher also testing a new car for 2006. and Honda is back.

[Pericles]

There is apparently gonna be a new team this year. Super A(summin, some japanese guys name) Looks like they gonna use Honda Engines. And looks like Takuma Sato is gonna drive for them. Poor buggers. Obviously didn't watch Takuma Sato with Honda engines the last couple of years. Button did well with them, but Sato managed to blow them up about every other race

[Elvis_Pil]

Is this good looking or what??

The livery has just been confirmed by the team. Man It's Black and has Johnnie Walker on the side of it! Smooooth no?

More More More!

The red and silver reminds you of the Marlboro days..

[KLM]

Its definitely a hot livery, but I don't see any semblance to the Marlboro colours.

This paint job is so good-looking that McLaren are going to get a lot of air-time and other coverage. This is exactly what sponsors look for so big up to the marketing department at McLaren.

Duncan, I hardly think that we are going back to the days of the privateers. BMW and Honda just bought teams, and Williams are running Cosworths only as an intermediate measure - next year they will run Yoda V8s redbadged as Lexus or may bring in a new engine supplier. And with Mercedes owning a substantial share of McLaren, I don't think the manufacturer era end for a while yet. There is just so much of a return from F1 globally that unless you don't understand it, you won't want to leave. Unfortunately, the Ford board of directors in Dearborn didn't really grasp F1, so they cut the Jaguar programme.