McLaren Horns

[anniesdad]

I was wondering what the benefit of the "horns" are on this years McLaren F1 car. I'm wondering if it has some sort of reverse venturi effect, but surely this would provide lift and not aid downforce? Is it to aid straight line ability, making the car cut through the air cleaner?

Any suggestions anyone?

[FourWheelDrift]

They are being sponsored by Pot Noodle.



PS - No idea. No one else has copied them so none of the other teams think it's of any use.

[anonymous-user]

My only guess is that they're similar in function to barge boards. I have wondered myself what they're for so I'll see if I can find out.

[daydreamer]

They will be chasing the holy grail of smooth air flow to the rear wing. No idea if they would work though.

[d_drinks]

daydreamer said:

They will be chasing the holy grail of smooth air flow to the rear wing. No idea if they would work though.

Like you i've no idea what they actually do but would assume that they must work or why else have them there?? F1 teams want to keep the weight down, these two horns even if they are only 600grms each would be shed if they were doing nothing.

I wondered if they did a similar job to the wing end plates on the front and rear wings? channel the air over surfaces that give down force???

[Ahonen]

Look good though, don't they?

I'd suggest they're for cleaning up the airflow after the disturbed area around the helmet/airbox inlet. They might not do much but, as those bastards at Tesco say, every little helps.

[Eric Mc]

Nowadays, with so many areas of the car off limits for aerodynamic devices, designers tend to slot them in wherever the legislation doesn't prohibit them. Although the McLaren "horns" are quite interesting and rather aesthetic, the vast majority of these aerodynamic add-ons are just plain ugly and should be prohibited on that ground alone.

Isn't that why the 1998 "towers" got banned?

[D-Angle]

Call them horns if you like, in this household they're called bunny ears.

[monkeyhanger]

Just been explained on ITV F1

They increase rear wing downforce by adjusting the airflow onto the wing itself...

Or thats what i thnk they said

[Jay-Aim]

monkeyhanger said:

Just been explained on ITV F1 They increase rear wing downforce by adjusting the airflow onto the wing itself... Or thats what i thnk they said

damn, beaten to it!

yes that's what they said

[anniesdad]

Thought it was very coincidental that they answered an ITV viewer's e-mail on the very same thing!

Who else thought it was such a shame that JPM missed the pitlane when ordered in, and had to go in after Kimi, then had to run the pitlane red light to get back in formation. Before that he was motoring and would have arguably won the race himself.

F1 is back!