McLaren’s bold decisions with its 2022 F1 car

Summary by Krater

An in-depth technical analysis of the McLaren MCL36 F1 car, covering its front and rear pull-rod/push-rod suspension changes, aerodynamics, sidepod design, and how it aims to solve the weaknesses of the previous MCL35M.

From the video

Answers: What are the key technical and aerodynamic changes on the 2022 McLaren MCL36 F1 car?

• McLaren MCL36 F1 car design
• Pull-rod vs push-rod suspension
• Aerodynamics and sidepod design
• McLaren F1 performance analysis 2017-2021

What it concludes

• The McLaren MCL36 features a front pull-rod suspension setup, a rare design choice aimed at improving aerodynamic airflow to the floor and lowering the center of gravity.
• McLaren switched to a push-rod rear suspension on the MCL36 to better suit the aerodynamic demands and accommodate the chassis requirements under new regulations.
• The MCL36 features aggressive shrink-wrapping of the bodywork and tightly packaged sidepods to minimize cross-sectional area and optimize airflow.
• Daniel Ricciardo found the 2021 McLaren MCL35M particularly challenging in slow corners due to overlapping braking and turning phases.
• McLaren's recent investments in infrastructure, including a new wind tunnel and simulator, are intended to put the team on equal footing with F1's biggest teams by 2024.