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.)

 

[downforce]

If the stories about Lewis not being very technically skilled are to be believed, a part of Lewis's set-up will have been developed by Jenson, he then went off-road for a bit presumably.

I think the whole Hamilton is not technically skilled theory has about as much truth as Hamilton can't look after his tyres.

Hamilton always sets less laps in free practice then Button, Vettel, Webber and Alonso and doesn't suffer becuase of it.

This suggests to me he dials a car in faster than most, something he has said himself many times, not a trait I'd imagine to be possesed by someone who is lacking in the technical abilaties department

 

[The Pits]

racecub, fully agree with your first point, however, the second point I think is a bit presumptuous. They have stated they want to use the best bits of each, whichever they may be, so assuming they will transfer the bad bits is a bit erroneous.

I would be fairly sure that the car could be improved for Lewis, it certainly needs to be for Jenson, regardless of how it would seem afetmmter thent results, I would posit that there would still be learnings from Jensons set up which can be applied to Lewis, even if there are more the other way.

 

[racecub]

racecub, fully agree with your first point, however, the second point I think is a bit presumptuous. They have stated they want to use the best bits of each, whichever they may be, so assuming they will transfer the bad bits is a bit erroneous.

I would be fairly sure that the car could be improved for Lewis, it certainly needs to be for Jenson, regardless of how it would seem afetmmter thent results, I would posit that there would still be learnings from Jensons set up which can be applied to Lewis, even if there are more the other way.

So you think there might be 'best bits' on jensons car set up? Well that would be good.But I cant help but think its doubtful.If there are good bits, i hope thet ask lewis if he wants them and dont just force them on him.

 

[The Pits]

I hope they get both cars set up properly. As for being good bits on Jensons car set up, bearing in mind the team believe the difference causing Jenson issues is a very subtle change, I am not sure it is so hard to believe.

 

[MajorDanby]

Personally, I am not sure that I believe that Jenson's issues this year can be put down to a supposedly subtle issue. They seen a little too pronounced. I can't help but feel there must be something fundamentally wrong - a cracked chassis or something along those lines.

I don't see how a driver of his abilities could have lost the car with the amount of development so far this season but I suppose it is possible. I really hope both he and McLaren prove me wrong this weekend

 

[The Pits]

Maybe the butterfly effect? I suppose it depends on the nature of the change, and how much information the team are prepared to allow into the public domain regarding it.

As you say, this weekend will go someway to seeing if they have indeed fixed the issue, or if this is another false dawn.

 

[F1ang-o]

Picked up by the Beeb......Jo Ramires in McLaren garage?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Ramirez

 

[racecub]

Yep. he's HUGE!!

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Button has been known to lose a second when the wind changes direction in the past.

 

[downforce]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/100610

 

[Fenderman]

Nice one downforce

 

[Galahad]

McLaren made the fastest pitstop of the race in Valencia - Hamilton's first. Which is their first of the season.

Possibly not a cause for celebration, but there you go.

 

[Josh]

Also the second fastest, the last (I think) stop for Button. Hooray!

 

[KekeTheKing]

One step forward, two steps back for the Macca boys.

 

[Fenderman]

One step forward, too many steps back for the Macca boys.

There, fixed that for you

 

[Josh]

Imagine how frustrating it must be for the crew. They've been training their butt off and had the fastest pit stops of the race only to be let down by their equipment.

Who checks the equipment anyway?

 

[F1ang-o]

Lewis' 14 sec pit stop, .....the front jack didn't seem to lift the car, the front 'back-up' jack didn't either....one of the the pit crew had to lift the car, for his mate to get the tyre on. I felt so sorry for pit crew...why did the new 'supa' jacks not lift the car? Maybe tomorrow's paper will tell give the answers, Lewis wasn't for saying anything.... & on past reporting who can frickin blame him.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Imagine how frustrating it must be for the crew.

Not as frustrating as it is for the drivers of that crew....

 

[Fenderman]

Frustration all round, methimks

 

[Brogan]

Whitmarsh said the front jack failure was "not the biggest crisis of our day".

Oh really?
If not for that, Hamilton wouldn't have been where he was on the track when Maldonado attempted the pass.

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/7840609/