British journalist Craig Scarborough has spotted that Formula 1 team McLaren has been working pretty hard on developing innovative exhaust pipes for its 2011 challenger, the MP4-26.
By looking carefully at the photos taken by WRI2 during the winter tests at Barcelona, we could spot that the McLaren MP4-26 has been run with two vastly different format exhausts.
There was one conventional set up which blows the hot gases over the diffuser and another which appears to have a “U” bend in the system.
For the moment, there are no photos of the actual exhaust outlet.
Blowing hot gases over or through the rear diffuser increases downforce. But the new 2011 rules prevent the teams from opening the front of the diffuser up.
As we can see on this photo, the Red Bull Racing team is blowing the exhaust gases through the floor the car. The hot gases are therefore blown underneath the diffuser, generating more downforce.
McLaren is apparently using a “U” shape bent exhaust tube to redirect some, if not all brunt gases underneath the floor of the car to increase downforce.
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| Rear section of the McLaren MP4-26. (Photo: WRI2) |
By looking carefully at the photos taken by WRI2 during the winter tests at Barcelona, we could spot that the McLaren MP4-26 has been run with two vastly different format exhausts.
There was one conventional set up which blows the hot gases over the diffuser and another which appears to have a “U” bend in the system.
For the moment, there are no photos of the actual exhaust outlet.
Blowing hot gases over or through the rear diffuser increases downforce. But the new 2011 rules prevent the teams from opening the front of the diffuser up.
 |
| Red Bull RB7 (Photo: WRI2) |
As we can see on this photo, the Red Bull Racing team is blowing the exhaust gases through the floor the car. The hot gases are therefore blown underneath the diffuser, generating more downforce.
McLaren is apparently using a “U” shape bent exhaust tube to redirect some, if not all brunt gases underneath the floor of the car to increase downforce.
 |
| "U" shape exhausts of the McLaren. (Photo: WRI2) |