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.)

 

[Bleu]

McLaren had both cars classified also in 2013. Button retired once late in the race and Perez did the same twice.

 

[Johnny Carwash]

Mclaren’s secret weapon in winning the constructors title.

 

[Il_leone]

I think they are definitely favourites for next season given the other teams have lost continuity

Also significance its a customer team that succeeded

 

[F1Brits_90]

im trying to think when was the last customer engine constructors champions. is it brawn 2009

 

[cider_and_toast]

Must be because only Mercedes and Red Bull have won it since then.

 

[The Artist.....]

im trying to think when was the last customer engine constructors champions. is it brawn 2009

Does Red Bull 2010 - 2013 not count here? I was racking my brain about whether they had full manufacturer support in this period, or whether they were second to the Lotus/Renault/Benetton/Enstone concern

 

[F1Brits_90]

Does Red Bull 2010 - 2013 not count here? I was racking my brain about whether they had full manufacturer support in this period, or whether they were second to the Lotus/Renault/Benetton/Enstone concern

this sounds mad. but i think i remember renault of that time effectively became the customer team of renault. as red bull with all their huge success & money became the works team