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.)

 

[teabagyokel]

Having appropriated HRT's pace, they've now appropriated their livery.

 

[Dash Racing]

Looking at the sponsors McLaren have they are sorted for free coffee, whisky, hotel rooms, TV coverage, oil and petrol. I wonder how they pay for the rest F1 team.

My first thought reading that is that once, back in the day, that might have been enough that gentlemen racers could go racing, and have a great party, win or lose.

 

[Il_leone]

Jet black colour is suppose to make it more enticing to put sponsors on the car

 

[Mephistopheles]

It's grey and it looks even more grey on the telly than it does on the pictures plus it has saved them 2kg of weight.

It's has made naff all difference though.

 

[Road of Bones]

So both cars making it into Q2 for the first time this season is "naff all"?

 

[Mephistopheles]

I am not denying that progress has not been made but I'm the sort of chap that prefers instant gratification..

And anyway I've decided to slag off McLaren and Jenson at every opportunity before the ones that really mean it do..

 

[Kewee]

That's ok Mephistopheles, you might have to take it all back at Silverstone. I know I've been predicting Silverstone for a while now but I might be being optimistic, I'll now say Hungary, perfect track for them.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I liked the colour scheme in the pictures. It's different in real life and not so good. The upper red 'swoop' ahead of the driver doesn't flatter the car at all. It is distinctive though which is good.

 

[Titch]

Pity it's not on a working car.

 

[FB]

Did I here Brundle muttering something about the paint being 2 kilos lighter?

 

[Brogan]

Not that it matters as there is a minimum weight.

It just means they have to use extra ballast.

 

[FB]

Unless the McLaren is overweight as well as being underpowered?

 

[Mephistopheles]

They have to use extra ballast but they can put that weight where they want it.

 

[FB]

A frank assessment of where McLaren are from Eric Boullier.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/32737663

 

[Greenlantern101]

That headline should be in non-news.

 

[The Artist.....]

Not that it matters as there is a minimum weight.

It just means they have to use extra ballast.

2kg on the body increases the centre of mass; by moving that 2kg to the floor as ballast means a better balanced car...

It's ironic that the origination of the silver arrows was that Mercedes stripped off the paint to save weight, but then McLaren created a silver paint that made that car heavier! That's modern, corporate, F1 for you!

 

[Brogan]

by moving that 2kg to the floor as ballast means a better balanced car...

Lipstick on a pig.

 

[FB]

Why does that phrase always make me think of Sarah Palin?

 

[Il_leone]

There are supposedly stories going ahead that Ron Dennis gave Eric Bouillier a serious rollicking for the current underachievement of the team

Now is this first sign of pressure from for failing to live up to high expectations he set himself and Mclaren

 

[Mephistopheles]

I honestly believe that even if the engine came good then the chassis McLaren has produced is once again so sub optimal that it would be of little difference to their performance level, It really beggars belief how a team with McLaren's financial clout can produce such crap counterpoise appurtenances.