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.)

 

[Road of Bones]

...the fluttering being caused by using Airfix glue to fix the supports to the *ahem* "new wing" (presumably)...

 

[teabagyokel]

...the fluttering being caused by using Airfix glue to fix the supports to the *ahem* "new wing" (presumably)...

Or the "natural flutter" that a Red Bull front wing has. Allegedly.

 

[Viscount]

Button and Hamilton discussing their battle in Turkey.

 

[downforce]

Anyone reckon McLaren will still have thier u shaped side pods this year?

 

[Il_leone]

Anyone reckon McLaren will still have thier u shaped side pods this year?

You mean the L -pods ?

 

[downforce]

They called them U pods as the 2 reflective L's make a U when seen from the front

http://www.totalf1.com/details/view/364540/McLaren_explains_Ushaped_sidepods/

 

[downforce]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97233

 

[sushifiesta]

It sounds like they've thrown caution to the wind, which is exciting but also very risky. By launching so early they're giving all the teams quite a few days to do some digging around too.

Call me old fashioned, but what I really want is a McLaren-Ferrari battle between Lewis and Fernando a la 2007. I hope both teams have the cars to do it (with McLaren's slightly better of course).

 

[RasputinLives]

Call me old fashioned, but what I really want is a McLaren-Ferrari battle between Lewis and Fernando a la 2007. I hope both teams have the cars to do it (with McLaren's slightly better of course).

Can;t see that happening unless you burn down the Red Bull factory and kidnapp Adrian Newey. I'm afraid I can't see that happening.

Even then I reckon Jenson might have something to say about it all

 

[canis]

Can;t see that happening unless you burn down the Red Bull factory and kidnapp Adrian Newey I'm afraid I can't see that happening.

I knew there was something I forgot to do on the way home on Friday....

 

[Cookinflatsix]

It sounds like they've thrown caution to the wind, which is exciting but also very risky. By launching so early they're giving all the teams quite a few days to do some digging around too.

Call me old fashioned, but what I really want is a McLaren-Ferrari battle between Lewis and Fernando a la 2007. I hope both teams have the cars to do it (with McLaren's slightly better of course).

That would be nice but I already doubt it. Last year Mclaren were not as good as Red Bull, performance wise and efficiency wise. Since then the team have shed senior engineers and staff left right and centre. To Ferrari this time, but the signs are ominous for a team that has been pretty sloppy with arriving at the start of a season with a top car out the box.

If they had actually employed the new Adrian Newey maybe, but to lose several top members?

Maybe this is a grand scheme by Whitmarsh and that the team is stronger without those that have left and arrangements were already in place to replace them with more experienced and better staff.

Like when Adrian Newey left

 

[teabagyokel]

I would add for clarity's sake that Ron Dennis was team principal when Newey left.

 

[RasputinLives]

Blimey - the 'its Whitmarsh's fault Mclaren aren't at the front' stuff has started before the new car has even been unveiled that'll own turned a wheel in testing!

Thats got to be some sort of record

 

[sushifiesta]

There's no doubt Newey's a genius, but he doesn't build a winning car every time. Granted Red Bull have been way ahead for the last couple of seasons and there's no reason for that to change, but you never know. (Bit off topic, sorry)

 

[teabagyokel]

Well, thats the point isn't it? Red Bull have not been way ahead for the last half of last season, really, they've been just ahead of McLaren. It just seemed that they were operationally better at getting a run together in Q3; take Suzuka when McLaren were fastest and messed up qualifying.

Red Bull in 2010 were a second ahead at tracks with fast corners - Barcelona, Silverstone, Suzuka etc. That was not the case in 2011!

 

[Bill Boddy]

We know that last season Red Bull had an advantage with the hot blown diffuser. This was especially noticable in qualifying ; they were using a system which would have needed a fuel tank the size of a swimming pool to use it for a full race. That advantage has gone now.

We also know that the Red Bull has had a problem in that it loses an excessive amount of downforce when behind another car. So if their drivers are not qualifying on the front row they may well be in trouble.

Only time will tell, when eventually we see the pre-season testing we may get some clues. But to condemn the car before it has turned a wheel seem to me to be a bit much.

 

[Il_leone]

We know that last season Red Bull had an advantage with the hot blown diffuser. This was especially noticable in qualifying ; they were using a system which would have needed a fuel tank the size of a swimming pool to use it for a full race. That advantage has gone now.

We also know that the Red Bull has had a problem in that it loses an excessive amount of downforce when behind another car. So if their drivers are not qualifying on the front row they may well be in trouble.

Only time will tell, when eventually we see the pre-season testing we may get some clues. But to condemn the car before it has turned a wheel seem to me to be a bit much.

Red Bull also had problems with KERS but because of the EBD and always been out in front no one was able to take advantage and punish them enough. When Mclaren were close to Red Bull it was noticeable that Vettel did not look as brilliant - China, Canada, Hungary all spring to mind
Red Bull's other weakness is a lack of straight line speed which makes them vulnerable to overtakes from Mercedes powered cars I think the speed difference is about 10mph

Newey's philosophy will no doubt be looking at other areas where there is downforce to be gained

 

[downforce]

The new McLaren looks so much better than the lotus, no horrible nose step thing.

Very neat and tidy, no U pods this year

Hamilton made me laugh when he said the mirrors have been made stronger, he sys Massa will be pleased

 

[downforce]

Does it remind anyone else of the 2009 car?

 

[downforce]