Formula One: McLaren ready to rock at Monza
McLaren has proved a great form all through the season and now they have shown great pace as well. Last race at Spa has brought forward the team as the toughest competitor of the season and now at Monza, the same is expected once again as the track is thought to suit the team’s package immensely.
As the team heads for the fourteenth round of the season this weekend, Formula One’s official website talked to the team’s chief engineer, Tim Goss, asking him about the team’s MP4-25 and its latest updates.
He stared off saying that McLaren was very strong at Montreal and Spa, and now as Formula One’s caravan heads for Monza, the team thinks that they would be the favourites on the track once again. He admitted that all the teams are really looking forward for this race with much thrill and the grid would very tight.
He also added that, unlike others, he believes that Red Bull would be able to do good here too just like they did at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He also spelled a lot of confidence for his car, as the team had come up with a very efficient aerodynamic system that could increase their chances of winning immensely.
He further added excitedly that the car’s pace at Spa was very good somewhat due to the features of the circuit and majorly because of the up gradations that they had brought to the car in past few months. The factory had worked extensively to improve the blown diffuser along with improving the grip of the car which he believes would benefit them at Monza too.
He further went on illustrating the advantages saying that the car had always performed exceptionally well at the straight-lines, and they have the advantage once again at Monza. He uttered his belief saying, “That has been partly due to the aerodynamic efficiency of the car, but also because I believe being the leader in F-flap (F-duct) technology, we have the better solution out there. That means that we tend to have a straight-line advantage. That matters more on circuits where there’s more F-flap sensitivity.”
So far, many of the other teams are indecisive if they would be using their F-duct system or would go for a conventional rear wing, as many believe that F- duct might not prove very productive on the straight-lines of the Italian track.
However, McLaren is quite positive for their system as they said that they would want to run it on the race day. Yet, they added that Friday’s practice would give them the final deciding opportunity for they would be taking both the options and would decide after the practice sessions what suits the track better though, still they are hopeful for their duct system.
The engineer stated, “It’s not straightforward to get the F-flap to work on a low-downforce rear wing, but I think being the leaders in this technology we’re slightly better placed to get the most out of it.”
While answering about the tests that FIA is expected to run before the race regarding the flexi-floor and wings, Goss said that the team did not make any such modifications to the front wing that they would be scared for the test. They are running the same wings that they had all through the season.
However, he admitted that the tests are challenging, therefore they cautiously made a few minor modifications just ensure that they do not end it in speculations from FIA.
He concluded by saying that now this stage of the season is very crucial and nothing could be taken casually.
Well, a few more days to go and the next and one of the most significant races of the season would unwind at the legendry track of Monza.
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