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.)

 

[Incubus]

There are only three things he could have replied: I'd like Button to stay, I'd like Button to go, I don't care whether he stays or go.

It would been called mind games whichever of the three he'd said...

 

[Il_leone]

well it worked for Vettel with the Ferrrari situation and in the end they went for Kimi..what a waste

As for Button staying at Mclaren, I don;t see any benefit in promoting Van Doorn in a car that does not allow him to show his abilities as well as worry Alonso

 

[Brogan]

Useful reading: Analysis: Why Honda faces a 240bhp headache

 

[F1Brits_90]

what do you say about the latest chapter of the mclaren saga seemingly more likely its the hybrid systems that honda have but if as brundle says we are still have this conversation about this which mclaren being sitting ducks on the straights come next years spanish gp. do really fear for mclaren & accelerate alonso button retirement/move to WEC

there is competitiveness issue in aus he said dont judge us now judge us in abu dhabi. yet they have arguably gone backwards since monaco

 

[Il_leone]

You can't compare to Monaco because that track lends itself to driver ability where power deficit is not a critical factor and both Mclarens showed well

The problem is clearly the ERS issue where they could be 100metres ahead and the cars behind with extra power just blast past them as though they were driving in the slow lane

 

[FB]

The Torygraph think both Jenson and Fernando are off.

McLaren in meltdown as Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso refute claims they have decided to stay

 

[Il_leone]

Do you the Telegraph seems to bring out some real horror stories at Mclaren at the moment whoever the source is that Daniel Johnson seems to be getting from?

Its a very muddled picture because

BBC Sport - Fernando Alonso committed to McLaren, Jenson Button set to stay

Also its the first time I;ve seen Ron speak so does he have the final say ? Its a bit confusing who is in charge , is it Bouilier or Neale or Dennis?

 

[sushifiesta]

Here comes some speculative bullshit...

I get the impression that Jenson is more or less at ease with what he's achieved in the sport and is only still there for the thrill of racing. With the current regulations, politics and an uncompetitive car taking a lot of the enjoyment out of it I can see him making the decision to leave, although the feeling from Suzuka was more that McLaren will convince him to stay.

Alonso on the other hand I think really craves the third championship, he no doubt has frustrations with the current state of F1 as well but the fact that he hasn't really had a car that can hope to win a championship since 2007 is what really gets his blood boiling. He feels he deserves a third title and he would probably be right. Despite the "injustice" of the terrible 2014 McLaren I think he's clever enough to realise that they're still his best shot at a WDC, even if the chances seem remote. I'll be amazed if he's not at McLaren in 2015.

The great unknown is what performance Honda will be able to extract next season. It's almost certain (unless they're completely incompetent) that they will sort out the ERS issues and have that 160bhp along the whole straight, which will immediately give a huge lap time improvement independent of any other changes they make to the package. I can see them having a similar season to what Red Bull have had this year, although that's probably on the optimistic side.

 

[Il_leone]

How Jenson Button is winning McLaren poker game with Ron Dennis

 

[Incubus]

The great unknown is what performance Honda will be able to extract next season. It's almost certain (unless they're completely incompetent) that they will sort out the ERS issues and have that 160bhp along the whole straight,

--------------------------------------------

That is, if you go along with Honda's assessment that their power deficit comes solely from ERS-related issues rather than the actual engine.
At Suzuka the speed trap wasn't located at the fastest point of the track but just after 130R before the chicane as opposed to the DRS area, and the McLarens there were constantly 15k slower there than the fastest
, whatever lap they were in, practice quali or race, whether harvesting or not, so Honda's deficit can't be all down to ERS shortage. Primary engine can't be that good to begin with.

 

[sushifiesta]

Depends who you measure the deficit to, I think Honda's assessment is that their conventional engine power is similar to Renault's but that still leaves not far off a 100bhp deficit to Mercedes, even when all the ERS systems are working which they only are half the time.

 

[Bill Boddy]

It was quite clear in Japan that in the battles he was having with drivers that he was gaining two to three tenths a lap, then loaing it all on the straight. It was not so important when Kvyaat was told not to push the pass button, the Renault engine was not giving him any advantage on the straight until too near to the end when Alonso had no ERS.

Since Honda are clearly saving their tokens until final testing next year it will not be clear how they stand in the rankings.

 

[Il_leone]

McLaren have landed Chandon from Moet Hennessy as a sponsor


Chandon and the McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team: two icons unite for a long-term collaboration - automobilsport.com


I think its fair to say the bottle will be corked for a while before they can taste it the way Honda are going

 

[erinha]

You have been wondering what's wrong with McLaren right. This is it:

 

[Olivier]

Did I catch a subtle message? Alonso becomes a hoard of bulls, red ones ... Also Alonso is #1

 

[erinha]

Did I catch a subtle message? Alonso becomes a hoard of bulls, red ones ... Also Alonso is #1

What about that guy who is very quick on the draw with the finger? Though I think Il Dito uses his right hand mainly.

 

[Olivier]

It gets more and more bizarre

Exhaustus (@Exhaustus) on Twitter

 

[erinha]

I have heard of the "Red Heroes" for Ferrari drivers (Kimi-Seb), but I haven't heard the "Turbo Heroes" or their mortal enemy "Exhaustus". It's like some hacker hijacked their website and social media accounts.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Just another example of why Twitter is an utter waste of time and space. Imho.

 

[Titch]

It would appear that Alonso is playing the Gentleman card, and is going to Honour his McLaren contract !!!