CEO Zak Brown Mocks “Tire Water” Idea of MCL39 ty…. read more
CEO Zak Brown Mocks “Tire Water” Idea of MCL39 ty…. read more
McLaren’s recent resurgence in Formula 1, especially with the MCL39, has been notable for its superior tyre management across race distances. While the car remains competitive over a single lap, matching even Red Bull’s RB21 in qualifying, it’s over the course of a race that McLaren’s advantage truly becomes evident. This was particularly noticeable at the Miami Grand Prix, where the team’s drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, finished over 30 seconds ahead of their nearest competitor in sweltering conditions that pushed tyre performance to the limit.
What sets the MCL39 apart appears to be its ability to keep tyre temperatures in check, preserving tyre life far better than its rivals. As race temperatures rise and other cars begin to degrade, McLaren’s drivers seem to maintain pace effortlessly. This has led to speculation among rival teams and prompted close observation by both competitors and the FIA.
Thermal imaging has revealed that McLaren’s rear brake drums run noticeably cooler than those of rival cars – a detail significant enough for Red Bull to share findings with the FIA. In response, the governing body conducted an in-depth examination of McLaren’s rear brake system following the Miami race. No rule breaches were found, but further technical details are unlikely to be publicly disclosed even if the design is declared fully legal.
The core of McLaren’s advantage may lie in sophisticated brake cooling – particularly through innovations in the brake drums and airflow management. While brake dimensions are regulated, internal ducting and materials used for cooling are less restricted, leaving room for creative engineering solutions.
One intriguing theory comes from motorsport engineer Martin Buchan, who has worked with Audi, Racing Point, and McLaren Advanced Technologies. During his time at McLaren, Buchan specialized in advanced cooling technologies, focusing particularly on phase-change materials (PCMs). His doctoral thesis explored their application in cooling systems for high-voltage batteries, especially in Formula E, but the concepts have broader implications – including Formula 1.
Buchan proposes that McLaren could be utilizing phase-change materials within the brake assembly, specifically in shielded compartments between the brake linings and the surrounding hardware. These materials absorb heat when they change from solid to liquid at a predetermined temperature. During this transformation, the temperature stabilizes instead of increasing further, helping to prevent excessive heat transfer from brakes to tyres.
This hypothesis could explain why McLaren’s advantage becomes more pronounced over longer stints rather than in short qualifying runs. As the brakes heat up, the PCM absorbs excess energy, stabilizing temperatures and limiting heat flow to the tyres. When the brakes cool down after the race, the material returns to a solid state – ready for reuse in the next session.
Though speculative, the theory has gained traction in the F1 paddock. The use of PCMs would align with earlier speculations about McLaren possibly using “water in the tyres” – a rumor that surfaced toward the end of the previous season and was later dismissed. CEO Zak Brown even mocked the idea in Miami with a water bottle labelled “Tire Water.” However, if phase-change materials involving liquids are at play, the original suspicion may not have been far off base.
Additionally, McLaren attracted attention during last season’s Hungarian Grand Prix for leaving temperature sensor holes uncovered on the rear brake drums – a practice only allowed during free practice. Though initially dismissed as an oversight, this incident might now be seen as a subtle indication of early experimentation with advanced cooling methods.
If Buchan’s theory is accurate, it could represent one of the most ingenious innovations in recent F1 memory – rivaling Mercedes’ now-banned Dual Axis Steering system. With McLaren potentially gaining a legal and significant performance edge, it’s likely that other teams will begin exploring similar concepts. Notably, Red Bull has encountered unexplained brake issues recently, perhaps as it experiments with new systems in response to McLaren’s progress.
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