What do you think's going on at McLaren right now then?

What do you think's going on at McLaren right now then?

Author
Discussion

entropy

Original Poster:

5,089 posts

190 months

Thursday 9th March
quotequote all
Already a season to forget? Start developing next year's car?

HustleRussell

22,879 posts

147 months

Thursday 9th March
quotequote all
It's strikingly similar to last year in a lot of ways, only probably worse in terms of outright competitiveness- so I suspect like last year they'll get the car circulating reliably pretty early in the season and then find themselves approximately 7th best team for much of it. A scrappy season with inconsistent results, possibly with the added complication of drivers beefing.

Joey Deacon

6,819 posts

163 months

Thursday 9th March
quotequote all
I suspect Oscar Piastri is wondering if he made the right decision. Maybe McLaren is where Australian drivers go to kill their careers?

StevieBee

11,725 posts

242 months

Thursday 9th March
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I do wonder if as a company, they've stretched themselves thin. They're running F1, Indy Formula E, Extreme E, Esports... Zak's got United Autosport bubbling along too.

I know that they've long been prone to diversification (Hi-Fi, Dinners, Etc.) but I can't help wondering if the ethos has changed from being an F1 team to a Motor Racing Company and whether this is having an impact.


Muzzer79

7,728 posts

174 months

Thursday 9th March
quotequote all
I think it highlights just how difficult it is to get from the back to the front in F1, especially now the cost-cap has been instigated.

The teams may now be financially viable, but that doesn't help too much if you're stuck in 6th out of 10 teams.

Having said that; Aston Martin appear to be improving very nicely, in a very similar boat.

It's not a question of resources, James Key is talented, Zak seems to not be a nutter, Lando is a star in waiting, Piastri has loads of potential, doesn't seem to be much wrong with the engine.....Makes you wonder if there's just a combination of things they're not unlocking.



Edited by Muzzer79 on Friday 10th March 14:12

InformationSuperHighway

5,007 posts

171 months

Thursday 9th March
quotequote all
I also see too many cooks and not great single iconic leadership.

Think about Toto, Horner or even Ron Dennis (For all his foibles) They are single threaded strong leaders that are ever present and the off track face of the team.

It feels like sometimes it's Zak when he can be arsed to travel, other times someone else.. with the change just now, I can't even remember the guys name who is team principal.

They are missing an iconic leader and figure head of the team who's culture and personality permeates throughout the entire organization, from tea lady to the drivers.


Sixpackpert

4,397 posts

201 months

Thursday 9th March
quotequote all
Apparently David Sanchez is on his way back from Ferrari. Could help to solve the draggy car they have had for the last few years.

Jasandjules

68,607 posts

216 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
entropy said:
Already a season to forget? Start developing next year's car?
Given that the Regs are not changing next year, developing this year's car IS helping with next year as well.


mw88

1,362 posts

98 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
entropy said:
Already a season to forget? Start developing next year's car?
Just like the last 10 years, it always seems to be "next year" or "New regulations in x years".

I really hope their new wind tunnel pays off (Not the only issue they've got) but I don't know how much more patience Lando will have before he jumps ship if things don't improve in the next year or two.

snotrag

13,841 posts

198 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
Muzzer79 said:
Lando is a star in waiting
He's been waiting a while now though. He really needs to be moving forward with regular big points hauls and podiums at this point in his career, but he aint gonna get that. I can see him getting frustrated unless there is some serious progress over the course of this year.

Sandpit Steve

7,618 posts

61 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
snotrag said:
Muzzer79 said:
Lando is a star in waiting
He's been waiting a while now though. He really needs to be moving forward with regular big points hauls and podiums at this point in his career, but he aint gonna get that. I can see him getting frustrated unless there is some serious progress over the course of this year.
Lando will be hoping Lewis Hamilton wants to hang up his helmet soon.

Deesee

6,616 posts

70 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
Preparation is everythinghehe


wpa1975

5,466 posts

101 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
Muzzer79 said:
I think it highlights just how difficult it is to get from the back to the front in F1, especially now the cost-cap has been removed.
They still have the cost cap.

entropy

Original Poster:

5,089 posts

190 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY_nPTknhe8

Sounds like McLaren are better off working on next year's car; working on this year's car will help with optimizing the wind tunnel correlation when it comes online later in the year.

Muzzer79

7,728 posts

174 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
wpa1975 said:
Muzzer79 said:
I think it highlights just how difficult it is to get from the back to the front in F1, especially now the cost-cap has been removed.
They still have the cost cap.
Ah, I meant instigated. Edited.

rdjohn

5,614 posts

182 months

Friday 10th March
quotequote all
Perhaps its Ying and Yang for the Pilastri / Alpine fiasco last year.

Unlike Mercedes, I doubt the even have a good Plan-B at this moment. They cant wait until their wind-tunnel comes on stream, that will take months of calibration, so its a lot of trips to Switzerland, I guess.

thegreenhell

12,311 posts

206 months

Yesterday (15:07)
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James Key gone, David Sanchez returns from Ferrari, but no overall tech boss, instead three technical department heads reporting to the TP. Sounds like the a return to the sort of structure they had under Martin Whitmarsh, and that didn't work either.