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F1 News: McLaren Reveals All-New Sidepod Design For Singapore GP

McLaren unveiled a bold sidepod design and multiple car enhancements for the Singapore Grand Prix, aiming to boost performance in slow corners.

Alex Harrington

F1 News: McLaren Reveals All-New Sidepod Design For Singapore GP
F1 News: McLaren Reveals All-New Sidepod Design For Singapore GP /

McLaren, in an ambitious bid to enhance their performance, unveiled a comprehensive series of revisions to its MCL-60 for the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. The spotlight, however, was stolen by the audacious sidepod design, highlighting McLaren's innovative engineering pursuits that have recently put them at the front of the grid. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Bold Sidepod Innovations: McLaren's revamped MCL-60 boasts an innovative sidepod design. The most eye-catching feature is the deep 'water-slide' channel, a radical reimagining of the traditional sidepod structure. This revamped design works harmoniously with the revised engine cover, aiming to optimise airflow for greater downforce production.
  • Comprehensive Car Updates: The Woking-based team hasn't confined its updates solely to the sidepods. The McLaren MCL-60 will sport numerous changes, including a new floor, revised front and rear wing endplate geometry, aerodynamic enhancements around the Halo, and a modified beam wing geometry, tailored for Singapore's high-downforce demands.
  • Exclusive Upgrades for Norris: Lando Norris stands to benefit the most, as he will be the only driver to have access to the entire set of upgrades during the Singapore GP. Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, will receive a subset of the new components. Both drivers are set to be equipped with the full upgrade package for the upcoming Japanese GP.

In anticipation of the Marina Bay circuit race, McLaren has rolled out significant changes to the MCL-60, particularly focusing on its performance in slow corners of which are rife this weekend. While the new sidepod design has garnered a lot of attention with a deep "waterslide" sculpted into the design, it's part of a broader series of modifications. The changes to the floor, which include new fences and a reshaped diffuser, underline the aggressive upgrades the team has revealed this weekende. 

Moreover, McLaren's determination to extract more from the MCL-60 for the last few races is evident from other car updates. These include an altered rear toe link shroud on the rear suspension and new brake duct geometry, which together aim to bolster the car's rear-end performance.

Lando Norris, McLaren's lead driver, encapsulated the excitement and anticipation surrounding these upgrades with Autosport.

"Probably since Austria, it is the thing that we believe will kind of help us move forward the most since then," he admitted.

"Obviously, we've not run it on the track yet and so we don't want to say too much until we've actually got it to work properly but it's a good step.

"The team have worked hard to get it on one of the cars here, and then we'll have the rest in Japan too.

"So, it is an exciting couple of weekends for us."

Published
Alex Harrington
ALEX HARRINGTON

Alex is the editor-in-chief of F1 editorial. He fell in love with F1 at the young age of 7 after hearing the scream of naturally aspirated V10s echo through his grandparents' lounge. That year he watched as Michael Schumacher took home his fifth championship win with Ferrari, and has been unable to look away since. 

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