McLaren has finally unveiled its 2024 Formula 1 car, a month after revealing its livery. However, certain elements of the car are intentionally being kept hidden. This level of secrecy is not uncommon in the world of F1, especially during launch season. McLaren is not the only team that withholds certain details, as dummy wings, deceptive renders, and concealed areas are all tactics used by teams during this time of year.
While the MCL38 seen in the reveal is a faithful representation of the car that was tested at Silverstone, McLaren has taken extra precautions to conceal sensitive areas. They have limited the number of images available and carefully selected angles to disguise specific parts. The wings and floor appear basic and simple, further adding to the concealment. However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that certain areas have been intentionally hidden.
For example, in the side-on image released by McLaren, something on the floor edge seems to have been edited out from specific angles. The head-on image shows a darkened area at the back of the front suspension and the central section of the floor, making it difficult to discern more details. Additionally, the sidepod inlet approach appears to be different from the prevailing trend, but this is largely disguised by the distance and darkness of the side-on shot, as well as other elements in the image.
According to team principal Andrea Stella, there are various reasons for this level of secrecy. McLaren may want to maintain a lower profile during the car launch, especially considering the different types of events they have held in the past. However, concealing parts of the car goes beyond simply keeping things low-key.
It is important to note that the car seen in the reveal is mostly accurate, as confirmed by Stella. This means that the visible design elements are real and not just a bluff. For example, the new sidepod design can be considered McLaren’s true development direction.
When asked why McLaren goes to such lengths to hide certain aspects, Stella mentioned that it could be a habit and that McLaren has done this before, even with a launch spec they were not satisfied with. Additionally, there may be a genuine desire to keep certain design ideas under wraps. By revealing the car at Silverstone and doing it on the same day as Mercedes, McLaren ensures that their car is seen earlier than if they had waited until Bahrain. This gives them a few extra days before competitors can analyze their design.
Driver Lando Norris jokingly stated that McLaren hides stuff “because they can” and because Formula 1 is a game of performance. He assured fans that they will eventually see what the car looks like but urged them to be patient.
Teammate Oscar Piastri also made a lighthearted remark about McLaren revealing their car before it hit the track, unlike some other teams. Whether hiding certain parts of the car truly affects their rivals is debatable. However, considering McLaren’s willingness to do so in the past and their potential for success in the upcoming season, it is understandable why they choose to keep certain design elements hidden.
If all goes according to plan, the new McLaren car will build on their success as a regular podium contender in 2023. They aim to compete directly with Mercedes and Ferrari and may even challenge Red Bull on occasion. While some may question the purpose of hiding parts of a car that will be seen from all angles in a few days’ time, McLaren’s actions suggest that they have something worth concealing this time around, unlike previous years.
According to the Source the-race.com