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.)

 

[Brogan]

I didn't ask for proof as you put it

Err, yes, you did:

provide some facts to support your beliefs

As for the rest, I'll take that as a no then.

 

[Kewee]

Brogan.....You may take that as a no if you wish. As I have said many times, most comments are opinions based on reports we read in the press or on the motorsport websites.

 

[racecub]

Jen Maybe because I'd read it in the other thread. maybe because we'd been discussing the spate of poor reliability Lewis has had when you made the car breaker reference. You aren't the first to suggest that, but, If you weren't implying Hamilton s driving could bare some responsibility for the breakdowns then Im sorry, I owe you an apology.

 

[Brogan]

McLaren are the first team to be recertified with the Carbon Trust Standard for ongoing commitment to carbon reduction.

Sigh...

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/pag...rd-for-ongoing-commitment-to-carbon-reduction

 

[The Pits]

Do you think they may have got confused, and reduced their Carbon Fibre?

 

[gethinceri]

They've started scanning stuff rather than using the photocopier like they did with that dossier a few years back.

 

[FB]

Is that why Lewis and Jenson have lost the ability to shave?

 

[Josh]

Why is this sigh worthy?

 

[Brogan]

Because it's pointless and not what an F1 racing team should be concentrating on.

 

[Josh]

If you say so...

 

[teabagyokel]

Not easy for an F1 team, I'd imagine; well done McLaren.

 

[Brogan]

If you say so...

I do.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Oh for gods sake the amount of carbon output produced by racing cars as a single team is insignificant to the amount of carbon output produced by putting on the show for twenty races and even that is is insignificant to the amount of green house gases which is produced by the simple act of cows farting. I can't even be bothered to go into the aspects as to why this is true, because it should be blatantly and bloody obvious..

 

[sushifiesta]

A business improving their energy efficiency. Despicable.

 

[gethinceri]

When you have the ability to stop cows farting then you'll be able to rejoice that you've made the difference Mephistopheles, I do not accept that because cows fart we shouldn't make an effort to reduce our own contribution to "carbon output". McLaren should not be criticised for this, I doubt whether this is what they are "concentrating on" Brogan but it's likely to be one of many aspects of their business that they consider to be worth applying some brainwork to. Maybe there's a financial benefit to it too?

 

[teabagyokel]

And it improves their corporate image as well. The better McLaren's corporate image, the more likely they are to fill their car with sponsors, which they (unlike Red Bull) do need to do lest they go the way of Williams.

 

[downforce]

Never heard of this electronic formula E before

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104178

and I thought McLaren didn't make engines?
Is this something they will be making loads of money off then?

 

[Senna's_right_foot]

downforce - they'll be electric motors, not actual engines, although McLaren do make their own roadcar engines.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I believe I posted a thread about it downforce a while back and you are right it is a completely electric formula where instead of refuelling the drivers change cars when needed...

Edit

Here is the link.

http://cliptheapex.com/threads/electric-f1.5418/

 

[downforce]

Ahh thanks