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.)

 

[RasputinLives]

But what makes you think it was done without Ron's consent? I'm confused. Hasn't Ron always owned a massive chunk of Mclaren? How can deals be made without his consent?

 

[KekeTheKing]

It certainly is fascinating to think about how the decisions made by McLaren, Mercedes. Brawn, and Button in late 2009 have helped shape the modern F1 world into what it is today.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives The Mercedes engine deal that Whitmarsh agreed to deal for BRawn is just a host of number of things which Ron was not happy about how Whitmarsh did things at Mclaren

 

[Il_leone]

Looks like Ron's time is up at MClaren
Ron Dennis faces fight to retain control of McLaren amid boardroom row with shareholders

Ron Dennis set to leave McLaren top job when contract expires

I would love to see Ross Brawn replace him if that is the case

 

[Titch]

But Ross Brawn has said he doesn't like F1 politics, which is why he hasn't come back. Nothing about F1 has changed, so why would he come back.?

 

[vintly]

Good question Titch, I ruefully agree, why would he? I was kinda hoping he might be in the frame for the Top Job but Liberty Media have put paid to that.

But maybe, just maybe, Brawn could see himself at McLaren one day. Close to home and all that.

 

[Incubus]

But Ross Brawn has said he doesn't like F1 politics

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...and of course he himself would never have dreamt of using any kind of political influence on the sport during his time at Benetton and Ferrari...

 

[The Pits]

He left that to Jean Todt.

 

[Il_leone]

The Pits Indeed and left Ferrari because the politics within the team were denying him the chance to be team principal but working at Mclaren with Alonso and Honda might be tempting especially if Button puts a few good words for him

The man has pedigree with championship winning teams so I am sure he would love to put one over Mercedes, Lauda and Wolff

 

[FB]

Ron Dennis runs McLaren Technology Group which includes McLaren Automotive, McLaren Racing and McLaren Applied Technologies. Ross Brawn has run one race team and been Technical Director at a couple of others. He has no qualifications to run what is, effectively, a conglomerate.

 

[Rutherford]

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...and of course he himself would never have dreamt of using any kind of political influence on the sport during his time at Benetton and Ferrari...

Ha, exactly, I was watching the F1 2003 review the other day. After race in Hungary, where Ferrari and the other Bridgestone runners got their a&£es handed to them, he was at the forefront of the complainants.

Like any other one in the game, he is a hypocrite.

 

[Il_leone]

FB I think the other Mclaren shareholders have already their own idea alongside Jose Capito on how they want to run Mclaren going forward without Ron but I would love to see Brawn back to run the racing team

Looks like the great revival under Ron was underwhelmingly a failure

 

[Kewee]

FB

Looks like the great revival under Ron was underwhelmingly a failure

Any success that comes for McLaren in the next couple of seasons will have come on the foundation that has been laid by Ron Dennis since the renewal of the McLaren/Honda partnership so I think it's a bit harsh to refer to Ron's efforts as a failure.

 

[Il_leone]

Well considering what happened in 2015 Mclaren started further back then where they should have been . Ron was making noises he was the messiah to make Mclaren great again but I wonder whether the internal power struggle with him and the other shareholders is actually holding Mclaren back

 

[Il_leone]

United States GP: McLaren bid to remove chairman Ron Dennis

This appears to be gathering momentum and as I suggested Ross Brawn is being considered but also Martin Whitmarshbut that would be sweet revenge in having the last laugh

Justin King that is a bit left field surely

 

[Titch]

Oh for Gods sake.

 

[RasputinLives]

Yay! Bring back Martin Whitmarsh! That would be fun for the forum. Maybe he'd re-sign Lewis.

 

[Titch]

When in doubt sack someone.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives Lewis would never rejoin Mclaren if Ron is in charge but you know the lure of Mclaren Honda to emulate Senna might be something to tempt him as long as the car is a lot better

 

[FB]

I'm not aware of any issues between his Ron-ness and Lewis. Do please enlighten me as to the nature of any disagreements Il_leone