Current McLaren

Arguably one of the big teams in Formula One but lately they don't seem to be able to get the basics right.
Some of their strategy and decisions in the last few years has left more than a few observers scratching their heads.

Just a few for starters:

• Leaving Kimi out on a badly flat-spotted tyre, resulting in it exploding on the last lap.
• Leaving Hamilton out on tyres so badly worn they were down to the canvas; Bridgestone themselves demanded that McLaren bring him in and McLaren refused, keeping him out for a few more laps. That decision arguably cost Hamilton the first rookie WDC and is one which will haunt him and McLaren for the rest of their days.
• Not sending Button and Hamilton out to get banker laps in during Q1.
• Sending Hamilton out on used tyres in Q3, with rain forecast, meaning it would be impossible to set a fast lap time on his second attempt on new tyres.

Their major updates seem to send them further down the grid, instead of challenging for pole positions and wins. As the season progresses they tend to get worse before getting better, by which time it is generally too late.

It's often said of them "write them off at your peril", but is this necessarily true?

The last time they won the WCC was in 1998 and their last WDC was 2008, before that 1999.
Their days of regularly winning championships seem to be well and truly behind them.

It's all well and good coming up with reasons why they haven't won championships.
The fact remains though, they have won just one WDC in the last 12 years.

So where to now for McLaren?

(I wrote this in rather a hurry so I will flesh it out when I have more time.)

 

[Kewee]

sobriety ……. Oh dear!!!!! Oh hang on, he makes the boxers the drivers wear under their fireproofs.

 

[The Artist.....]

And the Johnny Walker?

 

[Kewee]

The Artist..... They're all pissed except the drivers, thats why they screw up pit stops.

 

[Kewee]

Hey!!!!!! where does it say Johnny Walker

 

[Titch]

It's very depressing, it would blend well with the weather here in the UK at the moment. Maybe the met office could sponsor it.

 

[The Artist.....]

Hey!!!!!! where does it say Johnny Walker

Look carefully in the mirror.... There you will find all the answers you seek....

(Or alternatively, you could look at the back of the mirrors)

 

[Kewee]

Maybe the met office could sponsor it.

 

[Titch]

Is it that depressing colour out of respect to Buttons Dad?

 

[teabagyokel]

Titch - I get the feeling they'd have to do it in pink as a tribute!

 

[Titch]

Yes I hadn't thought that one through..

 

[gethinceri]

Or claret.

 

[Titch]

No pink would be better.

 

[Fenderman]

Yup. Jenson mentioned pink, I think.

 

[Olivier]

Let's recap ... Established World Champion is paired with a promising rookie that all of the sudden is very fast right off the bat ... I think we've seen it before and we know how things unfold ... Hopefully Mclaren can handle this time bomb but history is not on their side ...

 

[Plutus]

History can't count because this pairing has no history between them.

 

[teabagyokel]

Button will not Alonso. He's too chilled and far more experienced when it comes to coping with both fast team-mates and, sadly, disappointment than Alonso was.

 

[FB]

It will be interesting to see how Ron handles things as Jenson was MW's choice. RD groomed (in the right way) Hamilton to become a McLaren driver and his attitude toward him had a significant impact on the dynamic between the two drivers in 2007. Has Ron taken a similar personal interest in Magnussen and his development into a McLaren driver or did he come through the ranks and then get noticed by the McLaren talent scouts?

I agree that Button will not react in the same way Alonso did, they are very different characters but you have to wonder if his nose will get put out of joint if Ron obviously favours KMag.

 

[teabagyokel]

There was certainly a smile on Ronald's face when KMag did anything decent in qualifying!

 

[sushifiesta]

I'm not sure the drivers will be dealing with Ron much/at all now, that's Eric Boullier's job and I don't think he'll be playing favourites.

 

[teabagyokel]

"Welcome aboard, Romain!"