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.)

 

[The Artist.....]

FB - are you not forgetting 1994/5? The only way they rescued themselves from that was through recruiting a superstar designer, and getting massive engine support from Mercedes...

 

[downforce]

What does Oliver Turney do except "test" in a testing ban?

Does he race in any other series?

If not then the young driver tests must be the only time he drives a racing car all year, probably not the best test driver then.

I know Paffet races in DTM and does so well.

 

[Fenderman]

I assume mean Oliver Turvey Mephistopheles so here is his resume:

2013
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - Test and development driver
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Zytek-Nissan Z11SN with Jota Sport
Le Mans 24 Hours - LMP2 Zytek-Nissan Z11SN with Jota Sport
FIA World Endurance Championship (Spa) - LMP2 Zytek-Nissan Z11SN with Jota Sport

2012
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team, Simulator and reserve driver

2011
Blancpain Endurance Series - Works driver for McLaren GT3 team
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team - Simulator and reserve driver
GP2 Series - One-off race in Monaco with Carlin Motorsport
GP2 Asia Series - Full series with Ocean Racing

2010
GP2 Series - 4 podiums, 1 pole position; 6th in championship. Full series with iSport International
GP2 Asia Series 1 Win; 6th in championship - Full series with iSport International
McLaren F1 Testing - 2nd quickest in Abu Dhabi young driver test. Drove in post-season Pirelli tyre test

2009
Formula Renault 3.5 - 1 win, 5 podiums, 1 pole position; Rookie Champion - Full season with Carlin Motorsport
McLaren F1 Testing - F1 debut at young driver test in Jerez
Guild of Motoring Writers Awards - Driver of the Year

2008
British International F3 Championship - 4 wins, 13 podiums, 4 pole positions; Vice Champion - More podiums than any other driver
Daily Mirror ‘Best driver in F1’ award
Macau F3 Grand Prix - 4th and 7th; top British driver
Selected as BRDC Superstar Driver Cambridge University
Awarded first ever Cambridge Blue for motorsport
Spencer Charrington Trophy winner John Cooper Trophy winner Dunhill Future Champion

2007
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 - 3 podiums, 1 pole position; 8th in championship
Porsche Carrera Cup Guest Drives - Two races, finished 4th & 6th
A1 GP Testing - 3rd quickest testing for A1 Team GBR
British motorsport development
First driver supported by Racing Steps Foundation
Youngest full member of BRDC

2006
Formula BMW UK Championship - 5 wins, 10 podiums, 7 poles; Vice Champion - Scored points in every race entered (14 of 20)
Autosport Awards
McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year winner National Driver Award winner
One of the Top 10 Teens in world motorsport – Autosport Magazine Selected as BRDC Rising star
2005
Formula BMW UK Championship - 6 podiums, 1 pole position (16 of 20 races)

2004
Asian F3 Promotions Class - 1st in Invitational Race
Formula BMW UK Championship - 1 win

2003
Zip Formula Jordan Ford Cup - Vice Champion

2002
British Junior Rotax Kart - Champion Lead driver with Zip Young Gun team

2001
British Junior TKM - 6th in championship Lead driver with Zip Young Gun team

2000
British Junior Yamaha Kart - Champion Selected by Martin Hines into prestigious Zip Young Guns team

1999
British Cadet Kart Championship - 5th in championship
English National Kart Team - International Winners

1996-98
Cumbria Kart Racing - 5 novice wins, club champion & ‘O’ Plate champion

 

[The Pits]

He's been around a bit for a young driver!

 

[Mephistopheles]

I never mentioned Turvey or Turney Fenderman

 

[Fenderman]

Whoops! Cocked up in editing again. That was meant for downforce

Methinks I keep getting your avatars mixed up!

 

[downforce]

So effectively took a break in 2012 except for Mugello and YDT but is now doing endurance racing in Le Mans, ok that sounds more encouraging.

Thanks for that Fenderman

Keep an eye out for Turney as well, defo future champion!

 

[Fenderman]

I have a foggy memory of Oliver also driving the safety car for F1 support races back in the days of F3000. might have been a dream, though

 

[Mephistopheles]

When I put Oliver Turney into google I got this git.

 

[Il_leone]

FB
RasputinLives

Their last downturn was from 1994-1996 winless

It did not help they went through having 4 engines in 4 seasons it has to be said

Although some people cite 2006 season as a downturn from winning 10 races to NIL but that was down to Red Bull poaching all their engineers

 

[FB]

Have to admit I'd forgotten about the mid-90's but when McLaren lost Honda engines they were at sea for quite a while, only saved by the talent of Senna '93. Apart from the different motors affecting performnace they did choose some very strange drivers during those years as well.

 

[FB]

Mephistopheles that git (and I agree he is a git, a fat tongued git to boot) is worth £150 million! Git!

http://www.therichest.org/celebnetworth/celeb/tv-personality/jamie-oliver-net-worth/

 

[Il_leone]

FB

Marlboro wanted world champions and thought they had Prost for 94 with Peugeot engines but Williams were about to sue Mclare for Prost u turning a signed contract

1995 - Mansell disaster

1996 - there was only 1 world champion on the grid and he was driving in the red machine also Marlbro backed

 

[RasputinLives]

So Jenson vs Sergio was pretty hottly debated way back when and at the half way mark in the season if we take out the times they've both had mechanical issues then its 5 - 2 in Buttons favour which is pretty convincing.

The only times Perez has beaten Jenson in a race is in Bahrain (where I think I'm right in saying Jenson had a messed up pitstop) and Canada when they both finished outside the points.

Looks like Checo needs to up his game to live with Button......unless they start handing out points for qualifying of course. I think a lot of these younger drivers need to remember its the race that counts.

 

[cider_and_toast]

There's that old saying that says all these guys can drive but not all of these guys can race.

 

[RasputinLives]

Personally I still feel a bit robbed we didn't get Button vs Hulkenberg. Would have been such an interesting match up with Hulkenberg a much better Mclaren match than Perez. He'd have been ideally placed to learn from his battle with JB and be all set to take on all challengers when Mclaren built him a front running car. I just can't see Perez in the same mould.

I love Checo I really do but to me he's a Rubens or a Massa or a Fisi. Plus if he'd stayed at Sauber they'd have been better off money wise and he'd have prob landed the Ferrari number 2 seat for 2014 which would have been smiles all round.

oh well I guess if wishes were horses then beggers would ride.

 

[Il_leone]

I think Checo still has a lot of convincing

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives

I wonder if neither driver had a contract for 2014 that Mclaren would ensnare Hulkenberg then

Its fair to say Perez is and he has sponsors backing him which does not help either if he puts in a rubbish performance

Mclaren don't sack drivers after 1 season these days under Whitmarsh - the only one decided to leave

Is Button definite for 2014 then by exercising the 3rd year option then?

 

[racecub]

I think McLaren are in a difficult position, they won't attract any of the top four drivers,they're in the top four teams( though apart from Merc, who will end up where is open to debate) . And in my opinion they don't have the right team principal or drivers to haul them out of the doldrums. Engineers? Maybe. They've lost Lowe and I don't know how good the replacement guy is, I've heard mixed reports. But even if he's excellent he won't do well without the right team principal and drivers. Perez has potential but is far from the finished article and is inexperienced. Button is good when everything's fine.....and it isn't; he's not good at car development......and that will likely be crucial with the new regs, and he's the oldest driver on the grid. So the driver line up needs changing...and Whitmarsh isn't a hard nosed ruthless team principal to do that. So the downward spiral perpetuates. Di Resta or Hulkenberg alongside Perez may bare fruit? I think McLaren have to think long term; with the new regs coming and with Honda a year later. They need to sort this out now. I don't think they will

 

[Jen]

Perhaps they should just resign themselves to not participating next year then?