McLaren F1 Announces Significant Delays in Key Project Which Would Have Helped Them Get Back on Top

McLaren F1’s dream of introducing a new wind tunnel at their facility in Woking has been delayed by a year. In recent years, McLaren have been using Toyota’s wind tunnel, which is situated in Cologne.

But under the insistence of Team Principal Andreas Seidl, one of the Woking-based outfit’s top priorities was to have a new wind tunnel of their own.

After being dealt with a financial blow due to the pandemic, McLaren were rocked back on their heels. But a timely loan from the Bank of Bahrain keeps their plans of getting their very own wind tunnel alive.

The team’s Technical Director James Key has confirmed that the plans for their new facilities are back on track. Albeit with a delay of one year.

Key said, “We’re coming off the back of quite a significant situation around the world. So that’s knocked all of those projects back. I think to the original plan, we would have had our tunnel the middle of next year.

“So we would have missed the ’21 car’s development. But then would have kicked in for 22, so the second year. But we will miss out on that little bit of extra technology that you get with a brand new facility.

“So from an engineering point of view, it’s a bit of a shame. But I think in terms of alignment with regs, it’s probably about a year late.”

McLaren boss expects the new wind tunnel to allow them to compete at the top of the grid

According to Seidl, a wind tunnel of their own will help in making the car aerodynamically better. He said last year, “The 1.5 seconds we are missing to the top cars or even more depending on the racetrack is simply aero load.

“That is what we are working on. To set up the car in the right window to use the downforce we developed in the wind tunnel.”

With a Mercedes engine set to be installed on the car for next year, Mclaren already seems to be on the right track. The new wind tunnel could definitely set them up well to compete with the front runners in the future.

Currently, they occupy the fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Sitting two points behind Ferrari and with a points deduction to Racing Point, they could very well finish as the third-best team on the grid in 2020.