This topic is based on a recent James Allen article, that may be found here. Data given is accurate as of data given above table, thread written after Hungarian GP.
Data as of end of Belgium GP - 2010 (1562 Laps)
Of the top 4 teams in the sport, when you think of reliability of the cars, most people would initially place McLaren towards the top of the pack. Indeed, since Adrian departed from the the Woking based team in 2006, many casual observers would believe that they have had an almost flawless performance in the reliability stakes. Certainly this year, many people would believe RedBull to be at the bottom of the pile, certainly from their performances at the start of the season.
Saying this however, the figures displayed on James' blog certainly dispute this opinion. The table to the left shows the total finishing rates for all of the teams, in terms of percentage laps completed. From this table it is apparent that Ferrari have had the most reliable car by far. Completing a total of 1471 laps, out of a total of 1474! The only retirement from that team being Fernando Alonso after his gear box failure, Massa on the other had has so far completed every lap of every race of the season.
The above figures include all the DNFs for the teams irrespective of driver or mechanical error. One would wonder how McLaren have managed to complete less laps that RedBull, on the surface this is not obvious, but as soon as one looks a little deeper it may be easily understood. Vettel's problems towards the start of the season resulted in only 1 DNF, due to the wheel failure in the first race. All other reliability problems he in particular encountered in later races, although costing him points, at least allowed him to finish the race.
The real problems come with the the McLaren team, with reliability problems really effecting their race results. Hamilton's wheel rim failure in Barcelona cost him a certain 2nd place and 18 points, with his drive train/gear box failure in the last race before the summer break costing him at least a 4th place finish, and possibly a third place finish. Mechanical failures have cost him probably a very valuable 32 points. We also have to add Jenson's DNF in Monaco, where a bung left in the air intake resulted in catastrophic engine failure.
Looking at these faults in detail, we see that the only real 'mechanical' failure was Hamilton's gear box in Hockenheim. All other faults can be at least partially attributed to the faults of the engineers. Certainly the moment a bung was left in the car, and possibly Hamilton's Barcelona retirement, with the wheel failure believed to be due to an incorrectly torqued wheel nut.
So then, are the reliability problems that McLaren have encountered not really down to an intrinsic fault within the car, rather more the poor professionalism of the team itself? One thing that is for certain, is that without these failures, Jenson would be sitting a comfortable second in the WDC, with Lewis being over 1 entire race win ahead of his nearest competitor, his team mate Button.
If a McLaren car does not manage to take the WDC this season, it is very likely going to be down to the engineers themselves, rather than a car that is not fast enough, or drivers that are not able to deliver. A poor situation for a team that tends to pride itself on its ability to deliver, and consistent professionalism down through the ranks. As many think, reliability may not actual cost RBR the title, but if things continue to progress as they have, it may certainly cost McLaren.
As an aside a brief mention should also be made for the Sauber team, lying in last place in the reliability stakes. A poor performance from them see's them with a less reliable car than any of the new teams, and by a significant margin at that.
| Position | Team | % Laps Completed |
| 1 | Ferrari | 99.4% |
| 2 | Red Bull | 93.5% |
| 3 | Mercedes | 93.1% |
| 4 | McLaren | 90.0% |
| 5 | Renault | 87.2% |
| 6 | Force India | 86.3% |
| 7 | Williams | 84.1% |
| 8 | Toro Ross | 81.1% |
| 9 | Lotus | 72.7% |
| 10 | Hispania | 69.8% |
| 11 | Virgin | 67.0% |
| 12 | Sauber | 60.2% |
Of the top 4 teams in the sport, when you think of reliability of the cars, most people would initially place McLaren towards the top of the pack. Indeed, since Adrian departed from the the Woking based team in 2006, many casual observers would believe that they have had an almost flawless performance in the reliability stakes. Certainly this year, many people would believe RedBull to be at the bottom of the pile, certainly from their performances at the start of the season.
Saying this however, the figures displayed on James' blog certainly dispute this opinion. The table to the left shows the total finishing rates for all of the teams, in terms of percentage laps completed. From this table it is apparent that Ferrari have had the most reliable car by far. Completing a total of 1471 laps, out of a total of 1474! The only retirement from that team being Fernando Alonso after his gear box failure, Massa on the other had has so far completed every lap of every race of the season.
The above figures include all the DNFs for the teams irrespective of driver or mechanical error. One would wonder how McLaren have managed to complete less laps that RedBull, on the surface this is not obvious, but as soon as one looks a little deeper it may be easily understood. Vettel's problems towards the start of the season resulted in only 1 DNF, due to the wheel failure in the first race. All other reliability problems he in particular encountered in later races, although costing him points, at least allowed him to finish the race.
The real problems come with the the McLaren team, with reliability problems really effecting their race results. Hamilton's wheel rim failure in Barcelona cost him a certain 2nd place and 18 points, with his drive train/gear box failure in the last race before the summer break costing him at least a 4th place finish, and possibly a third place finish. Mechanical failures have cost him probably a very valuable 32 points. We also have to add Jenson's DNF in Monaco, where a bung left in the air intake resulted in catastrophic engine failure.
Looking at these faults in detail, we see that the only real 'mechanical' failure was Hamilton's gear box in Hockenheim. All other faults can be at least partially attributed to the faults of the engineers. Certainly the moment a bung was left in the car, and possibly Hamilton's Barcelona retirement, with the wheel failure believed to be due to an incorrectly torqued wheel nut.
So then, are the reliability problems that McLaren have encountered not really down to an intrinsic fault within the car, rather more the poor professionalism of the team itself? One thing that is for certain, is that without these failures, Jenson would be sitting a comfortable second in the WDC, with Lewis being over 1 entire race win ahead of his nearest competitor, his team mate Button.
If a McLaren car does not manage to take the WDC this season, it is very likely going to be down to the engineers themselves, rather than a car that is not fast enough, or drivers that are not able to deliver. A poor situation for a team that tends to pride itself on its ability to deliver, and consistent professionalism down through the ranks. As many think, reliability may not actual cost RBR the title, but if things continue to progress as they have, it may certainly cost McLaren.
As an aside a brief mention should also be made for the Sauber team, lying in last place in the reliability stakes. A poor performance from them see's them with a less reliable car than any of the new teams, and by a significant margin at that.
