The boomerang tweaks behind McLaren’s latest F1 upgrade

And with rival teams all but ceasing to work on current cars to focus on 2022, McLaren has more updates on its mind after the summer break.

But it’s likely that what appeared at the Hungaroring was likely the last “big” upgrade for the team this season’s annual car.

McLaren MCL35M bargeboard comparison

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

McLaren reached the Hungaroring with a revamped bargeboard package that focused on the boomerang and downwash wings, reorganizing both to redefine their flow characteristics.

In the course of this reorganization, the boomerang (red arrow) was moved much further forward and takes the position of the foremost downwash winglet (blue arrow).

This has effectively led to the convergence of the two elements, with a thicker profile being preferred, while the rearmost downwash winglet (green arrow) has been changed as a consequence. Of course, it has to be much shorter to connect to the boomerang.

The repositioning of the boomerang also exposes the springy top edge of the main vertical bargeboard element to a different flow regime and could help achieve its potential or be an area where the team would like to make further tweaks as a result.

It’s also interesting to see how much metalwork McLaren is putting into its structures this season as well, as the team hopes to keep the various elements within the bargeboard cluster from becoming fatigued and flexing too much, which will ultimately result in a loss of performance would lead.

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Cool down under pressure

McLaren also took a look at the Hungaroring to see which solution was best for cooling, as the high track temperatures and the slower corners always lead to a compromise between engine and aerodynamic performance.

It was a matter of evaluating this right from the start, with both drivers successively testing the largest available rear cooling outlet with the one introduced a few races ago, which was developed according to this year’s aggregate parameters.

The team took on the latter for qualifying and the race, but had to forego aerodynamic efficiency as the cooling fins were installed next to the cockpit on both sides of both cars.

McLaren MCL35M cockpit cold plate