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.)

 

[Kewee]

You don't know me at all do you. There are plenty of times I've admitted to being wrong and apologised.

 

[FB]

I remember that, it was 12th September 1973

 

[teabagyokel]

To be fair, slightly difficult to believe Lotus let Ronnie beat Emmo with the title on the line.

 

[FB]

That is useless knowledge above and beyond teabagyokel

 

[teabagyokel]

Well, I had to check...

 

[Kewee]

I remember that, it was 12th September 1973

It was actually the 13th FB

 

[RasputinLives]

Mclaren announce new sponsor but is it me or is someone missing from this picture?

 

[Greenlantern101]

Whitmarsh ? No wait it's Lewis..no no hang on it's Magnussen .. no no Mansell, Blundel, Senna, Newey...am I getting close?

 

[cider_and_toast]

Is it Richard Mille?

 

[Greenlantern101]

The horrendously expensive and ugly watch man. I suspect that is what Jenson has on his wrist. £60,000-130,000 for a watch you can't even see the hands on.

I give in, what time is it?

 

[RasputinLives]

Thats what Mclaren will be using to time their laps this season. They are specially designed without a second hand.

 

[soccerman17]

People buy those?

 

[gethinceri]

I'd love one. Martin Brundle sports one, but not my favoured model.

 

[Il_leone]

Yeah ironic timing seeing Red Bull launched their car the other day and was talking about their new Tag Heuer partnership. (pardon the pun)

 

[Il_leone]

 

[Il_leone]

Nobuharu Matsushita (@Nobu_Mat13) on Twitter



This is the Mclaren's development driver who is racing in GP2 with the ART Team so would make him one of the title favourites. Extra incentive as well for needing to supply a second team with Honda engines in 2017.

 

[Il_leone]

Any chance we might see the Gp2 partnership of Matsushita and Van Doorne at Mclaren for 2017?

 

[RasputinLives]

Matsushita has never been a Mclaren development driver. He is a Honda development driver. Big difference.

After Vandoorne Mclaren's next development driver is the very quick Nick Dy Fries. He'll probably win everything he possibly can and then either be shunted off to some nothing formula in Japan or dropped in favour of a stroppy em world champion who brings in a lot of sponsorship. Seems to be the way.

 

[Il_leone]

That should read he has been hired as Mclaren development and test driver for 2016. However they are being very coy about his role

Nobuharu Matsushita named McLaren test driver for 2016

McLaren-Honda signs Matsushita as test driver | F1 News

 

[Il_leone]

Nyck De Vries does not have a confirmed programme this season so would Mclaren put him in Gp2 seeing that there are still 2 seats at Carlin not filled rather than do another season of 3.5 WSR. So put him in competition against Matsushita?