McLaren to run experimental front wing on Carlos Sainz's car at Mugello

McLaren

McLaren to run experimental front wing on Sainz's car at Mugello

Windtunnel tests have proved encouraging

Ian Parkes

Friday 11 September 2020 10:38

McLaren is to run with an experimental new front wing on Carlos Sainz's car in first practice for this weekend's Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello.

The team has been encouraged by the numbers in the windtunnel of the new nose, believing it can offer improved aerodynamic gains.

If the wing proves as successful on track, team principal Andreas Seidl is hoping it will be permanently on the car in one of the upcoming races.

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"On Carlos' side, in the first runs, we will try an experimental nose, simply to gather some data because we found a good direction in the windtunnel," said Seidl.

"It's something we want to confirm here at the track first before we then make decisions, if that's something we want to bring to the track later in the year.

"It's not at the state to race it. It's really an experimental test today to get some data for some comparison with what we have seen in the windtunnel before then making our final decision or conclusion."

Asked when the wing would be on the car should the data prove encouraging, Seidl said: "I would expect, if it's positive, that we can hopefully bring it in the next two or three races to the track, and hopefully it's a clear enough gain to make it a new standard."

Seidl has confirmed that with changes to the front-impact structure to accommodate the new nose, the car has had to undergo additional crash tests.

Additionally, the part is being pushed through as there is a chassis freeze that comes into force in a few weeks' time

"It's clear that if you put a new nose on you have to pass the crash tests, which we did," said Seidl.

"There is a deadline for homologation, end of September, and therefore we need to establish for ourselves which direction we want to go."

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