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.)

 

[cider_and_toast]

As a self confessed Button fan Kewee, I thought you'd be delighted that he was putting in strong performances against a driver of Alonso's reputation?

Also, FP1, 2 and 3 are the times where you work on testing and set ups. For a team that looks as if it has the fewest sponsors on the grid, both cars going out in Q1 does not look good.

 

[Kewee]

I'm not delighted for either of them right now, and yes I'm a fan of both drivers. Of course going out in Q1 doesn't look good but to be honest looking good won't be something anyone at McLaren will be concerned about at present. I've said I'm not expecting much from them until Silverstone and they won't be competitive until 2016.

 

[Titch]

Ron Dennis is above things like sponsors. I think he's practicing to fill BE's shoes.

 

[Il_leone]

at the moment its actually quite sad to see a legendary name like Mclaren Honda with 2 world champions at the back of the grid


- this will test Alonso's patience if this continues

 

[Kewee]

Kewee,
Also, FP1, 2 and 3 are the times where you work on testing and set ups..

McLaren have been clear that the entire race weekend is being treated like a test session. Believe it or not I've been following F1 for fifty years, I've got a rough idea when testing normally takes place.

 

[teabagyokel]

Although you did just blame the lottery of rain for a result in a bone-dry session.

 

[Il_leone]

Kewee Ron Dennis seems to have forgotten how his stupid dithering over drivers might have just disrupted some useful preparation time needed for this season

 

[RasputinLives]

I don't think he was telling you because he thought you didn't know just pointing out a team should be competing in quali not testing.

Have they had 3 practice sessions for 50 years?

Anyways I've been watching F1 for 25 years and no driver ever likes being beaten by his team mate in any session ever. So I doubt Alonso is making excuses like 'its only testing' or 'I've been in the car less'. Most likely he'll be analysing the data to see where he can be quicker and not get beaten again.

 

[RasputinLives]

Although you did just blame the lottery of rain for a result in a bone-dry session.

He said he'd watched F1 for 50 years not that he was an expert in knowing which weather was which

 

[Il_leone]

if it rains tomorrow it should be interesting

 

[The Artist.....]

if it rains tomorrow it should be interesting

Yup. The race will be stopped, and the McLarens will finish in 17th and 18th.... #cynical

 

[Il_leone]

The Artist..... It will only stop if there is so much standing water and a deluge occurs

After Bianchi's accident last year at Suzuka.. there will be a lot of nervous moments if the monsoon comes along

 

[Kewee]

cider_and_toast
RasputinLives
teabagyokel

Just to clear something up which sees to have give you reason to tease or have a go.

I forgot the first session was dry and no, I'm not going to slash my wrists over my dreadful mistake.

My error was not my main point which was that McLaren had already stated that their GP weekends would be treated as test sessions during this first part of the season.

Alonso was in good humour when he was interviewed after qualifying RasputinLives. Although the times were still well down he was very happy with the progress made and not at all concerned about Jenson's time. No reason for him to be while the cars still uncompetitive.

 

[RasputinLives]

Kewee he's a racer he won't be happy at being beaten by his team mate. I don't care what he says in the media.

If it didn't bother him then frankly he's not the same Fernando Alonso who has been one of the F1 greata for the last 10 years.

 

[Kewee]

RasputinLives ..... Keep watching Ras, of course he won't like being beaten but as I said in an earlier posting, at this stage their times will be more about the car and set up than the drivers and you can be sure they'll both be on different settings as they try to improve a car in its early development phase. Jenson has always been one of my favourite drivers but as the McLaren improves Alonso will dominate. You can remind me of what I've just said and if I'm wrong, I'll happily apologise.

 

[RasputinLives]

of course he won't like being beaten

Then why make excuses for him? He's not making them. Just say round 1 to JB and lets see what happens next.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Believe it or not I've been following F1 for fifty years,

I hadn't realised Alonso had been in F1 for 50 years..

 

[Kewee]

Then why make excuses for him? He's not making them. Just say round 1 to JB and lets see what happens next.

I'm not making excuses for Alonso, in fact my postings have also been referring to Jenson though my main comment has been the McLaren quote, that they are treating these early races as test sessions. Thats not an excuse for Fernando.

 

[Olivier]

We need a Button vs Alonso thread pronto (or its Alonso vs Button )

 

[Bill Boddy]

I've been following F1 since Silverstone 1950 so there.

I think that qualifying is not Alonso's strongest point, but I am sure that one of the experts will know better.