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.)

 

[Titch]

Much as I would love to see Bottas at Ferrari, with Vettel in the team he would not be the number 1 driver. That's never good, and I think he would not get the drive he deserves.

As for Alonso at Williams Il_leone , I'm not sure they have the money to employ him.

 

[Titch]

Thank you.

 

[Il_leone]

Titch F1Brits_90 I said Santander would probably move over to pay for his wages. Massa will have to be Alonso's teammate - he may not like it but I don;t think he has much choice given its a world champion Williams would get which would probably attract more sponsors to the team

Williams are on the stock exchange so if its been made public that there is a huge offer for Bottas. Williams would be stupid to turn it down and not keep their shareholders happy

 

[RasputinLives]

Alonso won't go to Williams because Merc don't want Alonso. Quite simple really.

If Bottas does go Williams will have Lynn or Ocon.

As for Mclaren? I can see them having a KMag Vandoorne line up next year.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Even looking at the current situation at McLaren as positively as possible, given the gap to the front they find themselves in at the moment, I just can't see how they can get anywhere near regular podium places next season let alone this one. If you consider how off the pace Ferrari were last season and how much they have closed up this year, they still can't touch the Mercs at most race weekends. Given the level of improvement required by Honda and given the restrictions placed upon development under the current regulations, there is no way I can see Honda leaping that far up the grid.

The other problem they face is trying to get another team to take the engine. As I've said before, the decision to not seek a partner team other than McLaren was a huge mistake. If just one other team could have been signed up (though much to relief of every team that they weren't saddled with that engine I suspect) they would have doubled the potential number of testing, development and race miles for Honda. Next season, most teams will still be under contract with their current supplier and those that may not be aren't going to look down the pitlane at McLaren and go 'yeah, that's what we need in our car'. Their only hope is if a new team comes in (the FIA have opened up the process again for 2016) and they take a huge gamble. Haas are going to use Ferrari engines next year so Ferrari may drop Manor who could go to Honda as well.

 

[Il_leone]

Do Mercedes dictate the drivers Williams chooses ?

One of their main sponsors is Bank of Brazil which obviously would require a Brazilian

I am thinking Pat Symonds and Alonso combination again might be what Williams need to make up the deficit to the Mercs

 

[cider_and_toast]

Do Mercedes dictate the drivers Williams chooses ?

Two words - Susie Wolff

 

[Il_leone]

cider_and_toast She aint going to get a drive . Seriously if Williams want to be winners again and Alonso is available they would pick him plus I am sure being a world champion he can still pull more sponsors to that team and please the shareholders as well

 

[Incubus]

Even if they did want him why would Alonso want to join Williams?

If he said he left Ferrari because he no longer cared whether he fiinished second or eleventh as long as he couldn't win why would he join a customer team that has no chance of beating the works outfit?

 

[Il_leone]

Incubus - Pat Symonds would be the one convincing him to join - they have a Schumacher - Brawn esque relationship and that for me is good enough reason to do it .

 

[FB]

Flav as TP at Williams - you heard it here first!

 

[cider_and_toast]

Now you're just being silly.

 

[Titch]

With or without his trousers on ?

 

[The Artist.....]

Titch

You asked for it....

Anyway, isn't this supposed to be the McLaren thread?

 

[cider_and_toast]

Nope, no one asked for that.

Eye bleach required !!!

 

[RasputinLives]

Do Mercedes dictate the drivers Williams chooses ?

Question: Who is Bottas manager?

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives If Bottas goes which seems like a high possibility don't you think Alonso might be a consideration

 

[sushifiesta]

Williams would consider Alonso of course but Alonso would not be interested whatsoever.

 

[Il_leone]

I think Alonso would consider seeing how close they were last season and Pat Symonds is the chief engineer and it has a Mercedes engine.

He supposedly has a 3 yr contract with no get out clause but he did manage to do it in 2007 for nothing because it was just too stressful for Woking to deal with

 

[sushifiesta]

Alonso couldn't give a shit about being close, he's been close plenty of times. He wants championships. Williams didn't even win a race in 2014 and Bottas finished with less than half the points that Hamilton got. So far this year Bottas barely has more than one third of Hamilton's points. Over the last 10 and a half seasons they have only won one race (McLaren won 44 in that time and, most importantly, a WDC).

Having a Mercedes engine is an advantage compared to those who don't have it, but it gives them almost no chance of beating the works team who have a much bigger budget and dictate the development direction of the engine. All Williams can realistically offer Alonso long term is a car leading the midfield pack. Anything else is just fairy tales about Williams' history. McLaren may offer him nothing but DNFs and finishes outside the points in the short term, but they actually have the resources to make a WDC winning car in the long term.

The only teams worth considering for Alonso are McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes, unless a new manufacturer enters the sport. Only one of those options is currently viable.