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]

Yeah coz Kimi is all about guidence and helping people

 

[siffert_fan]

I wonder if being designated the #1 driver would restore his motivation. If so, I think he could surprise a lot of people with his speed.

 

[F1Brits_90]

Ill admit the speed, Might be there because assuming the fact that ferrari wont allow him to win while vettel has a chance. May have damaged his motivation

 

[RasputinLives]

Oh come on. He's had plenty of time to win when Vettels been there and prior. What a load of bull.

 

[vintly]

Kimi’s become dull, a perfect fit for McLaren. I hope he simply disappears.

 

[F1Brits_90]

Oh come on. He's had plenty of time to win when Vettels been there and prior. What a load of bull.

How else do explain Hungary 2016 or 17?? & Monaco 2017

 

[RasputinLives]

Kimi not being fast enough over a course of 5 years at Ferrari?

 

[F1Brits_90]

Yes for vast majority of 5 years fully agree. Their have been times hes been dreadful & it is a seat wasted. As leclerc could be fireworks

But on the couple of occasions He been able to fight. Like them 2 off top of my head Hungary 2016 or 17 kimi was on the faster strategy but was clear to see ferrari would rather vettel win in a ferrari 1-3 than kimi win in ferrari 1-2. Then monaco kimi rolls backs the years with fantastic pole. Aces the start & ferrari purposely sabotage him from the inside. So vettel could jump him

 

[RasputinLives]

The thing is that rivisonist history. We used to get it about Rosberg getting better strategy's and Button getting better strategy's. If you go back and look they did indeed turn out to be the best strategies but that wasn't the convential thinking at the time. Plus it turned out to be best strategy because the guy made it work. But let's ignore all that and say they did 'cheat' him out of a win that day. If you were running a team and had one driver who could win you the title and another who turned up once a year wouldn't you prefer the former to win?

Back to my original point though. The idea that if Kimi goes to McLaren he'll be free from 'evil' Ferrari and be this amazing racing driver is a total fiction. The Kimi you see now is the Kimi there is. No one is holding him back, no one is demotivating him, he is not an abuses spouse. He's just a guy who had a purple patch when he was younger and, whilst still a very talented racing driver, is a great number 2 driver.

Sorry. But that's the truth.

 

[gethinceri]

The idea that if Kimi goes to McLaren he'll be free from 'evil' Ferrari and be this amazing racing driver is a total fiction.

Who claimed that?

 

[RasputinLives]

gethinceri

I wonder if being designated the #1 driver would restore his motivation. If so, I think he could surprise a lot of people with his speed.

Ill admit the speed, Might be there because assuming the fact that ferrari wont allow him to win while vettel has a chance. May have damaged his motivation

 

[gethinceri]

Ahh, I see, not what you said then.

 

[RasputinLives]

I flowered it up to be dramatic it's true but same jist.

 

[F1Brits_90]

kimi would be 40 at end of 2019 season . (i didnt realise he was that old) so is completely natural that he wont have the speed of 17 years ago & if i was kimi i would retire because in all likelihood he would get shown up.

but on the Ferrari point i dont mind them favouring vettel. because he would be the guy who goes for the championship as kimi can only turn up about 3 times a season. but why be so secretive its common knowledge to any fan watching, just be honest. they did it with Schumacher. i remember a Turkish GP when Massa was 1st & Schumacher 3rd. we all knew that massa could only win in a 1-3 because if Schumacher overtook for 2nd, he would let him by for Schumacher to win. but surely you cant say that their is a part of him maybe going at 90% because whats the point of risking everything if he not allowed to win

 

[The Pits]

I flowered it up to be dramatic it's true but same jist.

You sexed up the dossier?

 

[RasputinLives]

I presented alternative facts.

 

[cider_and_toast]

I presented alternative facts.

Fake news alert !!!

 

[RasputinLives]

Look you guys may hate Rasputin because he's winning but the people love Rasputin. His posts are read and liked by a record number of people. Rasputin is going to carry on posting and it's going to be so great. Rasputin is going to carry on winning so much he's going to almost be tired of winning.

 

[gethinceri]

Again, I call “bullshit” on you, you are 4th in the Most Likes list.

 

[F1Brits_90]

Well i had heard RasputinLives was great poster in history of posters. 3m million people turned up for his sunday lunch