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.)

 

[KekeTheKing]

I cannot tell you how much I hope that McLaren keep both JB and KMag on for next year!

 

[F1Yorkshire]

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/10/13/mclaren-apologises-to-drivers/#.VDueBPldU8R

 

[Road of Bones]

Andrew Benson tweeting that Sam Michael is leaving - he's handed in his McLiPad and Vodafone Flat Cap, and is headed back to Oz.

Guess Ron finally realised his "reverse Midas Touch": expect McLaren to be winning again next year...

 

[FB]

I'm sure his mother loves him but Sam Michael really is a harbinger of doom for F1 teams. Look how Williams have improved since he left.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Looks like its not just Sam Michael http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29723594

Big clear out. Ron been going around with his axe cutting away dead wood.

 

[Incubus]

Look how well Jordan were doing in the late 90's and Williams in the early noughties when Sam Michael was in their team...

Now I might have missed something but did he actually design any of the uncompetitive Williams and McLaren cars in the recent past?

Every now and then a name comes along that everybody agrees is responsible for the ills that befall a team in lean periods, and everybody jumps on the bandwagon.

 

[FB]

Yeah I know, but it's fun to have a scapegoat.

 

[Incubus]

And to think I used to think of you as the voice of reason...

Life really is full of disappointments isn't it?

 

[Il_leone]

Good riddance to the liability in the Mclaren team - Sam Michael

but it does seem that Ron is trying to clear out Martin Whitmarsh's legacy if Tim Goss and Jonathan Neale are apparently going to be sacked

 

[Road of Bones]

I thought the Goss/Neale thing was "strongly denied" that they were going too? Are we just assuming that because they've been mentioned, that they're out as well? Didn't read that way to me...

 

[F1Yorkshire]

This is something we've been talking about for ages, I wonder if mr sniff is a clip member?

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/10/23/sam-michael-to-leave-mclaren/#.VEi8Efl4q1l

 

[Titch]

Did someone sew his mouth up ? Or does he always look like that?

 

[RasputinLives]

Well Mclaren might not have sorted the engine, the car etc etc but you can't fault their young driver programme.

Hot on the heels of KMag and Vandoorne comes Nick De Vries who has won the Eurocup 2.0 this season and has now signed for DAMS to race in the WSR 3.5 for 2015. Its the car thats won the title for the last 2 years so it gives him a great shot.

He is a great talent but with the small teams dropping out there seems less chance for his like to get a seat in F1.

 

[Il_leone]

3rd cars could be pushed then and my suggestion that young drivers or inexperienced drivers being fielded in the 3rd car looks like the way to go

 

[F1ang-o]

I cannot tell you how much I hope that McLaren keep both JB and KMag on for next year!

So does Lewis...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29946918

 

[Greenlantern101]

HONDA

 

[Incubus]

Sap. Doen't augur very well well does it?

 

[cider_and_toast]

I thought that as well. Hardly what you want written in gigantic yellow letters on the side of your car. I guess it doesn't mean the same thing everywhere.

Any news on how long the filming lasted ?? In terms of pre-season testing this year, are we talking Red Bull, Ferrari or Mercedes distances ??

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

They did have the Sap logo in that position in Brazil. The colour contrast grates a bit for me.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Yeah, it's been on for a while now hasn't it. It looks bloody awful.