Pre-Season 2012 Testing: Jerez

I see your point. Of course McLaren will want to be competitive at the first race and will try and do everything to do so. But, 1 thing is immediately obvious from the 1st test and that is that the Red Bull looks very ominous again. I know nothing is conclusive but you can see by watching it on track, irrelevant of fuel loads that it looks "like it is on rails" as many have said, and I agree from the footage I've seen. Teams also have ways of approximately working out fuel loads of other cars by gear shifts and engine notes and they do use this internally to get an idea of what other teams are doing even though they do not openly talk about it in the press. I've read many reports during the past couple of years of testing that this happens.

Anyway, I think the idea is that if McLaren do think they are behind Red Bull at this stage then it is logical for them to set a target, e.g. they will be on the level of Red Bull by China at the latest. They obviously will have an update schedule and it is probably that they are expecting big updates around this time.

I know it is just hearsay but @joseluisf1 is usually spot on with his information and does not make up random rumours. He has good contacts within the teams and people like @ScarbsF1 often get information out of him way before it is out in the press. We'll see what happens in Barcelona

Happy birthday by the way : )

Woah. You've been holding out on us FB.

Not only have they produced the only really attractive car of this years crop, but that is the best looking car I have seen for a good few years.

You like Chrome Silver an Rocket Red? And tiny rear wings? IMO there have been no pretty cars since 2006.

I actually quite liked a lot of the 2007 cars with the winglets all over them too.

snap

Crackle

pop

which you will do if that Mercedes nose hits you in the gut

I don't plan on having that thing anywhere near me in 2012

You'd better qualify better than Massa and Hamilton then.

I'm still concerned about the macca's pace thus far