first pic of McLaren Honda

[Scuffers]

egomeister said:

Thats pretty optimistic given the McLaren can't get close to a win with a Merc engine in the back this year...

exactly, not sure I would be suggesting that even if I believed it to be true...

[Blackpuddin]

From what I've heard the Honda motor is a monster. Realistically you'd expect nothing less from them.

[007 VXR]

Blackpuddin said:

From what I've heard the Honda motor is a monster. Realistically you'd expect nothing less from them.

I hope it is

[Dr Murdoch]

Blackpuddin said:

From what I've heard the Honda motor is a monster. Realistically you'd expect nothing less from them.

Thats what I thought when the joined up with BAR, hope you're right though.

[Scuffers]

Blackpuddin said:

From what I've heard the Honda motor is a monster. Realistically you'd expect nothing less from them.

even if it is (and we can only hope), Mclaren better have a decent car next year because they have the best engine now and are not exactly setting the world on fire.

with the fuel flow limits, it's hard to believe they will be a quantum leap ahead.

[Thunder18]

Honda has years more experience in the energy recovery systems, this is where they feel they will have an advantage over the opposition, and if it is more efficient a recovery system than the rest, then then engine will work better and be more efficient while providing more power, if my understanding of the systems is right.

[Muzzer79]

Blackpuddin said:

From what I've heard the Honda motor is a monster. Realistically you'd expect nothing less from them.

Bear in mind that Mercedes claim to have at least another 60bhp available in their pocket, right now.

I hope that Honda will be competitive, but past F1 engines or other current tech is nothing like a barometer of what their 2015 success will be.

[Blackpuddin]

And here it is for real. Pretty sweet.

[Mermaid]

Blackpuddin said:

And here it is for real. Pretty sweet.

Looks fast.

[Sammo123]

Blackpuddin said:

And here it is for real. Pretty sweet.

Not bad looking but I would be very surprised if that was the actual livery. You won't see that until testing begins I would imagine.

[Mini1275]

Blackpuddin said:

And here it is for real. Pretty sweet.

No it's not, it's a render using the MP4-28.

[Blackpuddin]

This was shown at a McLaren do yesterday.

[Megaflow]

That is at the latest a 2013 car with a new paint job. Why? Because the nose tip does not meet 2014 or 2015 height regulations.

[FourWheelDrift]

Honda has said they do not want silver on the car.

It'll be white for Honda + whatever colour the primary sponsor is.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Monday 5th January 17:01

[Blackpuddin]

Happy to defer to everyone else on this one, makes you wonder why this was shown at an official McLaren party only one day ago though.

[Teppic]

Sammo123 said:

Blackpuddin said:

And here it is for real. Pretty sweet.

Not bad looking but I would be very surprised if that was the actual livery. You won't see that until testing begins I would imagine.

So would I. It certainly isn't the final livery. I have a couple of issues with it:

1: The car number is Vettel's. If it was for an official McLaren event, it would either have 14 (Alonso), 22 (Button) or nothing.
2. Honda haven't used that "Powered by Honda" logo in F1 since 1992. Their logo on the test mule (and on the BAR/Jordan cars) simply said "Honda"
3. Hugo Boss behind the drivers headrest, when they have moved to Mercedes.
4. Silver colour
5. Surely the render would have been last year's car, rather than one for 2013?

But the biggest issue by far is that it is a fan render over at DeviantArt by a member called pieczaro.

[jammy_basturd]

There does seem to be some very subtle differences, though I imagine they'd use a render based more on an old car than the latest car to avoid revealing their (metaphorical) hand.

[Blackpuddin]

Sorry for stirring up a bogus nest of hornets here. Have since heard as above ie that Honda don't want red on the car as it's too closely associated with Schumacher (?) and that the likely final colour will be white or McLaren orange.

[Smollet]

Blackpuddin said:

Sorry for stirring up a bogus nest of hornets here. Have since heard as above ie that Honda don't want red on the car as it's too closely associated with Schumacher (?) and that the likely final colour will be white or McLaren orange.

Orange would be fantastic but I somehow doubt it. Let's not hope it's not lemon

[jammy_basturd]

Looks like a nice Force India!