The new look Manor team did not launch its first new car since 2014 as planned ahead of winter testing at Barcelona though it did have two chassis present in varying states of build. But to even get to the test is quite an achievement for the operation which went out of business in late 2014. It returned from its collapse under new ownership having lost much of its equipment, staff and even its factory (now occupied by Haas F1). It even lost the wind tunnel model for its 2015 car the MNR1, forcing the organisation to start largely from scratch on a 2016 design.
The result is the MRT05 a design like the Marussia MR03 & Manor MNR1 penned under the leadership of John McQuilliam. “Even at this early stage of the game, we can easily say this is the best car we’ve ever launched. Certainly the most developed, the most ambitious and the most aggressive. The design team have focused almost exclusively on it since the middle of last season and it’s just a whole different ball game to any of its predecessors. We haven’t left any performance on the table and right now I can say there’s not a single part of the car we’d have designed differently” McQuilliam enthused about the new car.
A look at MRT05 chassis 2 under construction in Barcelona (above), it is clear to see in this image that the aluminium bulkhead of the MNR1 is gone with an all composite design in its place. The torsion bar location can clearly be seen though the rest of the front end of this chassis is rather bare. The mandatory side impact structures are clear to see.
Looking at a rather more complete MRT05 chassis 1 through the lens of @raceengreports some of the cooling layout with the charge air cooler evident and some of the ducting in the left hand side pod.
Looking at the right hand side sidepod (back to our own shots again) the rest of the cooling arrangement can be seen with a water radiator fitted as well as a glimpse of the 2016 Mercedes power unit.
Again the side impact structures are clear to see as is the curvature of the heat exchanger.
The nose of the MRT05 (above) is reminiscent of the stillborn MNR1 (below) which also had a long wide flat shape, though on the MNR1 a small thumb like impact structure appeared, not present on the MRT05
The MNR1 clearly had a strong influence on the design of the MRT05, indeed the rear wing end plates of the 2016 design (below) have carried over directly from the MNR1.
The endplates feature a number of strakes as well as slots on the top and leading edges – clearly seen on the MNR1 (below) as well as the MRT05
This can further be seen looking at shape of the sidepods and the rear of the car. Compare the MNR1 (above) with the general shape of the MRT05 (below) and there is some family resemblance
On the top of the sidepods of the MRT05 are a set of very interesting flow conditioners (below)
The roll hoop of the MRT05 is very similar in concept to quite a few others in F1 this season, with two remote pylons under the main duct.
Like others the main duct is split in two with the upper segment providing cooling air to a heat exchanger located near the bellhousing and the larger lower segment providing combustion air.
A look at the rear of the tub on the MRT05.
A look at the front bulkhead of the MRT05, note the torsion bars and triple master cylinder layout.
The inside of the front upright of the Manor with the brake ducts all removed so all the suspension are visible.
The Marussia MR03 pioneered the now much copied ‘y-lon’ rear wing support, the concept continues on the Manor, with a metal lower section passing either side of the tailpipe with the twin wastegate exits outside the support.
The rear brake setup of the Manor, the brake caliper is mounted low on the disc.
The DRS actuator on the rear wing can be seen in this image with its shroud removed.
The Williams transmission used on the Manor MRT05, the design limits Manor in terms of inboard suspension pick up points and component size and location to something similar to that employed by Williams.
A nice look under the body of the Manor.
