The McLaren MCL35M is a Formula One car designed under the direction of James Key and constructed by McLaren to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
The MCL35M carried over many of its design from its predecessor, the MCL35, due to restrictions imposed by the FIA for 2021 development. McLaren returns to using Mercedes engines. The MCL35M made its début at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. It was driven by Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo.
Development from the MCL35 to the MCL35M[]
Due to the restrictions imposed by the FIA's token system for 2021 development, most of the aerodynamic changes for the MCL35M were introduced in the 2021 season.[1] McLaren "substantially re-engineer[ed] some areas" of the MCL35 to adapt to 2021 regulations that reduce the overall downforce of the car, while the switch to the Mercedes power unit necessitated the redesign of hydraulics,[2] cooling, electronics,[3] pipework for air and fluids, and control boxes.[4] These changes were driven by the different layout of the M12 over the E-Tech 20, since the Mercedes engine's turbine and compressor are in different locations:[5] the E-Tech 20 had both the turbine and compressor at the rear of the engine, while the M12 places the compressor at the front and turbine at the rear to allow for a larger and more efficient power unit.[6] The MCL35M also saw the introduction of a new gearbox,[3] which McLaren continued to develop independently.[7] This new gearbox necessitated the extension of the car's wheelbase.[2] Key described the MCL35M as "akin to a new car".[3]
The rear end of the chassis and the gearbox housing were changed significantly, hence McLaren was the only team required to re-homologate their chassis due to the changes in car architecture.[4] The MCL35M passed FIA crash tests in December 2020.[8]
Key identified two target areas for improvement with the MCL35M: low-speed cornering performance and wind sensitivity, two areas in which the MCL35 struggled.[9] Production Director Piers Thynne said that "[t]he number of new parts on the MCL35M is about the same as when we built the MCL35," meaning "essentially, we've been building a new car." However, gearbox internals were not changed, nor were some suspension components as these were allowed to be carried over from 2020 outside of the 2021 budget cap.[4]
The air intake of the MCL35M was significantly changed from the MCL35's, becoming a more conventional design similar to that seen on the Mercedes vehicles. The sidepods also adopted a more sloping design in order to dump air onto the floor and into the diffuser to create more downforce and counter the effects of the 2021 technical regulations designed to reduce downforce.[10]
The MCL35M's diffuser was a point of discussion during pre-season testing, since the car appeared to have diffuser strakes significantly longer than permitted under the 2021 rules.[11] By attaching the inboard strakes to the floor of the car, the team can effectively run a larger diffuser.[12] Key said he was surprised no other team had implemented the workaround, but characterised it as part of a larger aerodynamic concept and did not expect it to be copied or a continuing point of controversy.[13]
Complete Formula One Results[]
| Year | Driver | Tyre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | WCC Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 2021 | Norris | P | 4th | 3rd | 5th | 8th | 3rd | 5th | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 4th | Ret | 14th | 10th | 2nd | 7thP | 7th | 8th | 10th | 10th | 9th | 10th | 8th | 4th | 275 |
| Ricciardo | 7th | 6th | 9th | 6th | 12th | 9th | 6th | 13th | 7th | 5th | 11th | 4th | 11th | 1st | 4th | 13th | 5th | 12th | Ret | 12th | 5th | 12th |
| Key | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Meaning | Symbol | Meaning | ||
| 1st | Winner | Ret | Retired | ||
| 2nd | Podium finish | DSQ | Disqualified | ||
| 3rd | DNQ | Did not qualify | |||
| 5th | Points finish | DNPQ | Did not pre-qualify | ||
| 14th | Non-points finish | TD | Test driver | ||
| Italics | Fastest Lap | DNS | Did not start | ||
| 18th† | Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) | NC | Non-classified finish (<90% race distance) | ||
| 4thP | Qualified for pole position | [+] More Symbols | |||
References[]
- ↑ Wood, Ryan (22 December 2020). "McLaren MCL35M will be 'like a new car' despite stable regulations" (in en-GB). Motorsport Media Services Ltd. https://www.motorsportweek.com/2020/12/22/mclaren-mcl35m-will-be-like-a-new-car-despite-stable-regulations/. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Key, James (16 February 2021). "Key changes" (in en). McLaren Racing Ltd.. https://www.mclaren.com/racing/2021/car-launch/key-changes/. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 How a change of mindset helped McLaren design an F1 winner
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "MCL35M progress report" (in en). McLaren Racing Ltd.. 25 January 2021. https://www.mclaren.com/racing/inside-the-mtc/mcl35m-progress-report/. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ↑ Noble, Jonathan (15 February 2021). "McLaren: 2021 F1 car has "fresh ideas" despite limitations" (in en). Motorsport Network. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/155060/mclaren-2021-car-has-fresh-ideas-despite-limitations. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ↑ Butcher, Lawrence (15 February 2021). "2021 McLaren design changes: how it compares to last year's F1 car". In Dunn, Joe (in en-GB). London: Motor Sport Magazine Limited. ISSN 0027-2019. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2021-mclaren-design-changes-how-it-compares-to-last-years-f1-car. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ↑ The car changes that have helped McLaren shine in 2020 (motorsport.com)
- ↑ Smith, Luke (28 January 2021). "Mercedes engine makes 2021 McLaren "essentially a new car"" (in en). Motorsport Network. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-power-unit-switch-2021-mclaren/5208519/. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ↑ Noble, Jonathan (26 January 2021). "McLaren targeting improvement in two key areas in F1 2021" (in en). Motorsport Network. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-low-speed-improvements-windtunnel/5188961/?ic_source=home-page-widget&ic_medium=widget&ic_campaign=widget-6. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ↑ Autosport.com: Analysis of McLaren's 2021 F1 challenger, the MCL35M. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ↑ Wood, Ryan (14 March 2021). "McLaren's diffuser loophole raises eyebrows at F1 testing" (in en-GB). Motorsport Media Services Ltd. https://www.motorsportweek.com/2021/03/14/technical-insight-mclarens-diffuser-loophole-raises-eyebrows-at-f1-testing/. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Sommerfield, Matt; Noble, Jonathon (14 March 2021). "McLaren's clever F1 diffuser trick on new car" (in en). Motorsport Network. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/revealed-mclaren-clever-diffuser-trick/5708741/. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Noble, Jonathon (15 March 2021). "McLaren 'surprised' F1 rivals didn't adopt diffuser trick" (in en). Motorsport Network. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-surprised-f1-rivals-didnt-adopt-diffuser-trick/5738638/. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
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