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 Pits]

So, if Gary does move to McLaren, they would simply need to do the opposite of what he says, and they will do OK.

And perhaps do the same for Sam Michael?

 

[Mephistopheles]

I that Gary of Jordan fame?

God help us McLaren will be worse off than they are now...

 

[Il_leone]

Has anyone thought that Massa could join Mclaren - he's shorter and lighter than Hulkenberg and Di Resta and a proven race winner and having worked with Schumacher/ Raikkonen and Alonso at Ferrari has some inside knowledge at the sharp end

As for technical people Ross BRawn would be a coup but I thought he was suppose to be investing in Williams as rumours were circulating around Monza

I don't think Mclaren would re-sign Mike Coughlan given the history of Spygate and his part in it

 

[Mephistopheles]

If Massa goes to McLaren is Smedders considered a key technical person?

Eh that's got you thinking hasn't it....

 

[Greenlantern101]

Of course you can 'grab a headline' for the wrong reasons as well.

But how amazing would it be if they have driven 5 dump trucks filled with cash up Adrian Neweys driveway and got him to sign for them.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Hmm, interesting...

Adam Cooper ‏@adamcooperf1 47m
Rumours in Germany about Ross Brawn going to McLaren/Honda, would be logical if the Japanese were keen to get him back on board


Adam Cooper @adamcooperf1
In Korea Martin Whitmarsh promised us 'headline grabbing' announcements on incoming personnel so you never know...


And then:

Jon Noble ‏@NobleF1 8m
At some point soon Ross Brawn will make final decision on 2014 plans, but not done yet. He's also not a 'headline grabbing' McLaren signing


So who could Martin Whitmarsh be talking about?

 

[RasputinLives]

If you jump over to the Merc thread @F1_Ang has just posted a german article stating Brawn is leaving Merc at the end of the year.

Seems fairly obvious what happens next.

 

[canis]

Ah, now does this also make more sense of the comments around ex-McLaren drivers being allowed to come back? One of the reasons Lewis stated for going to Merc was that he wanted to work with Ross Brawn, maybe they are trying to tempt him back to the garage as well?

 

[KekeTheKing]

I guess I could envision a Hamilton return after MW and JB shuffle off into the sunset. This is their team now and they'll have a chance to get it right with Honda.

If McLaren could find a way to replace Whitmarsh with Brawn they'd be in very good stead.

 

[Fenderman]

Maybe it's time to ask EJ.

 

[KekeTheKing]

To take over for Marty.....Not a bad idea Fender

 

[F1ang-o]

 

[Fenderman]

I second F1ang-o 's for KekeTheKing

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

It'll be a lot easier me as I can go back to supporting one team!

 

[racecub]

KekeTheKing I think Brawn would be a very good replacement for Whitmarsh, but I hope he stays at Merc.

 

[Il_leone]

Ross BRawn reacquinting with Honda and Button hmmm has not that happened before

it would not surprise me if its Ross because he likes to be in the pitlane not behind the scenes but what happened to the rumours he may invest in Willams them

 

[The Pits]

There are enough denials about Ross to McLaren to let me believe it is true!!

 

[Mephistopheles]

I wouldn't mind if Ross came to McLaren and replaced Whitmarsh but I'd rather see him in the role of chief designer and race tactician, where he would be of most use...

 

[racecub]

There's some interesting speculation here on the possibility of brawn as a lure for Alonso back to McLaren. There's also a suggestion that button hasn't signed, he wants a two year extension but a one year is on the table.
https://twitter.com/thejudge13/status/387187363765432320

 

[Bill Boddy]

Look what following links leads to:

Spoiler

http://thejudge13.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/schumi-the-german.jpg?w=497&h=696[/spoiler]