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.)

 

[Mephistopheles]

These teething problems are quite normal and nothing to be concerned about, do know what the power output of the ICE is and what is it's fuel economy like these are the real things that matter..

 

[jez101]

Yes and no, Meph. Some if these things they could and should have been able to diagnose before turning up at a test.

Check #1, will the car start? Fail. Fix it now before we go to Abu Dhabi and waste 2 days of track time.

Check #2 can we do 4 laps in succession? Let's figure that out at the test.

 

[The Artist.....]

jez101

It's not quite as simple as that; after all, the car did start at the shakedown, sorry filming day at Silverstone. The fact that it didn't in Abu Dhabi is interesting... Most of these problems appear to be problems with the (McLaren built) electrical systems...

On a different point, I've been thinking about why McLaren need to wait until after their board meeting to announce their drivers; under a normal state of affairs, the driver line up could be decided by the team manager. However, if, for example, they wanted to spend more than their allocated budget, then they would need the approval of the board. We already know that Alonso has signed a contract; KMag was on a miniscule wage, which can only mean that Boullier is asking for permission to overspend the budget on JB's contract...

 

[jez101]

My point is that there are some problems that will only show up by running the car on the track. There are many other problems that can be found by testing in the factory.

When track time is at such a premium, to waste it because of a problem that could have been solved beforehand is a big shame.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Ron Dennis aiming to buy McLaren outright.
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/dennis-goes-to-denmark/
At least this shows us that he's probably not likely to be leaving McLaren any time soon.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Sniff again.

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/12/05/mclaren-management-could-be-in-canteen-for-some-time/#.VIYzJclqwd8

 

[FB]

Think this has been discussed elsewhere but I thought it worth posting on the McLaren thread. No engine upgrades after 28th February for new engine suppliers in 2015 but those who took part in 2014 can use all their "tokens" throughout the year. Looks like McLaren Honda are royally screwed then.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/honda-excluded-as-engine-upgrades-allowed-in-2015

 

[Jen]

That is assuming that Honda's initial engine is crap. Even if it is, they can 'tweak' until the end of February.

It is totally unfair, as is most of F1, but I hope Honda screw the others to the ground!

 

[siffert_fan]

Since there is no limit to development for all of the other engine manufacturers, they need to do away with the idea of "tokens" entirely for this season and let Honda enjoy the same lack of limits that the others have.

How can they expect to attract new manufacturers to the sport when they disadvantage them in their first season?

 

[RasputinLives]

The teams don't want to bring other manufacturers to the sport as it creates more competition. That would be quite happy to have only them tootling around winning everything and being one big advert for their business and sponsors. They would be quite delighted if Honda came in, blew up and were out of F1 by May. Which is why they will continue to manipulate the rules through a spineless FIA to gain their own advantage and profit whist not giving a monkies about the fans or the sport.

They've already horded all the money so teams keep falling out the sport (Something they pretend they are worried about but in reality are secretly overjoyed about) so why on earth would they give a level playing field to Honda or anyone else coming into the sport?

 

[Il_leone]

this is where manufacturers aligned with big teams can get political and nasty to some other teams / manufacturers challenging their supremacy


A world class car manufacturer does not want to be associated with making up the numbers in F1 ...it needs to be at the front winning and getting all the attention...then again their exit route has been always to quit when they flush money down the toilet rather than brave it out like small private teams until the day they fold

 

[Greenlantern101]

Best acting I have ever seen. Don't give up the day job lads.

 

[The Artist.....]

McLaren have launched their new car... and the big news is that they have gone with exactly the same livery as before...

 

[sobriety]

And still no title sponsor as far as I can tell

 

[McZiderRed]

, but the plan is that it will be competitive.

 

[siffert_fan]

Isn't that always the plan?

 

[soccerman17]

Some teams really make you wonder sometimes...

 

[downforce]

McLaren have launched their new car... and the big news is that they have gone with exactly the same livery as before...

I wish McLaren still has the chrome livery of 2007 - 2013, I loved that look.

 

[sushifiesta]

Apparently McLaren are going to use bits of their old KERS unit (from the V8 era) for the last test whilst Honda sort out their issues. It's been a real struggle for them so far...

http://m.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117811/mclaren-to-use-own-mguk-parts

 

[Mephistopheles]

Dear Ron

Oh dear, oh dear, oh-dear-oh-dear-oh-dear.

Yours sincerely.

Meph...