F1 News

McLaren launch their MCL32…in orange

Feb 24, 2017

After years of dark or “predator grey” cars, as Ron Dennis liked to call them, McLaren have gone back to their orange livery in part. It reminds me of Manor Racing’s paint scheme last year. McLaren’s Zak Brown says that after years of being Darth Vader, it is time to be Luke Skywalker. Truly, Orange is the new Black.

CHASSIS

Monocoque	Carbon-fibre composite, incorporating driver controls and fuel cell
Safety structures	Cockpit survival cell incorporating impact resistant construction and anti-penetration panels, front impact structure, prescribed side impact structures, integrated rear impact structure, front and rear roll structures
Bodywork	Carbon-fibre composite, including engine cover, sidepods, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing with driver-operated drag reduction system
Front suspension	Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Rear suspension	Carbon-fibre wishbone and pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Weight	Overall vehicle weight 728kg (including driver, excluding fuel)
	Weight distribution between 45.3% and 46.3%
Electronics	McLaren Applied Technologies. Including chassis control, power unit control, data acquisition, sensors, data analysis and telemetry
Instruments	McLaren Applied Technologies dashboard
Greases & Fluids	Castrol grease and hydraulic oil
Brake system	Akebono brake calipers and master cylinders
	Akebono ‘brake by wire’ rear brake control system
	Carbon discs and pads
Steering	Power-assisted rack and pinion
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero
Race wheels	Enkei
Garage Radio	Kenwood
Paint	AkzoNobel Car Refinishes system using Sikkens products
Cooling Systems	Calsonic Kansei water and oil cooling

POWER UNIT

Type	HONDA RA617H
Minimum weight	145 kg
Primary PU components	Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)
	Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K)
	Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H)
	Energy Store (ES)
	Turbocharger
	Control Electronics

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Capacity	1.6 litres
Cylinders	Six
Bank angle	90 degree vee angle
No of valves	24
Max speed	15,000 rpm
Max fuel flow rate	100 kg/hour (above 10,500 rpm)
Fuel consumption	105 kg ‘lights to flag’ regulated fuel capacity limit
Fuel injection	Direct injection, single injector per cylinder, 500 bar max
Pressure charging	Single-stage compressor and exhaust turbine, common shaft
Fuel & Lubricant	BP Castrol

ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM

Architecture	Integrated Hybrid energy recovery via Motor Generator Units
	Crankshaft coupled electrical MGU-K
	Turbocharger coupled electrical MGU-H
Energy Store	Lithium-Ion battery, between 20 and 25 kg
	Maximum energy storage, 4 MJ per lap
MGU-K	Maximum speed, 50,000 rpm
	Maximum power, 120 kW
	Maximum energy recovery, 2 MJ per lap
	Maximum energy deployment, 4 MJ per lap
MGU-H	Maximum speed 125,000 rpm
	Maximum power, unlimited
	Maximum energy recovery, unlimited
	Maximum energy deployment, unlimited

TRANSMISSION

Gearbox	Carbon-fibre composite main case, longitudinally mounted
Gear ratios	Eight forward and one reverse
Gear selection	Electro-hydraulically operated seamless shift
Differential	Epicyclic differential withmulti-platelimited slipclutch
Clutch	Electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
Lubricant	Castrol

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Tom Firth (@guest_200081)

3 years ago

#200081

All I can think is it’s a not very good version of the Arrows livery with less sponsors.. but as everyone else points out, the colour scheme is also very reminiscent of Spyker. Lets hope Mclaren is stronger on track than both of them.

Shocks&Awe (@guest_200095)

Reply to Tom Firth

#200095

I always think of the USF&G livery when I think of Arrows. I completely forgot about the orange livery…

But to your point, maybe it’s Mclaren’s attempt to subliminaly set low expectations…

peter riva (@guest_200083)

#200083

Lord, that’s ugly.

Fred Talmadge (@guest_200092)

#200092

Probably has the potential to be most improved if Honda has done their job well.

Shocks&Awe (@guest_200094)

#200094

Hey! Spyker is back! Cool!

mini696 (@guest_200099)

#200099

Fans are like… We want orange.

Gets orange.

Fans are like… We hate orange.

Began13 (@guest_200100)

#200100

Looks strikingly similar to the Arrows A21. Which was piloted by Big Daddy Verstappen. Hmmm…could this be a ploy to attract the Plucky Teen Verstappen to McLaren??? I mean, to be the first father/son combo to pilot ugly orange mediocre cars??? How historic would that be?!?