Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button admit to car worries
Discussion
I thought brake steer systems had been outlawed?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula...
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are concerned their new car is already lagging behind their rivals ahead of the new season on 25 March.
The MP4-12C was belatedly unveiled at second testing in Jerez, and technical issues affected Barcelona testing.
"We left it [unveiling the car] a bit later... and perhaps it's not played right into our hands," said Hamilton.
And Button confessed: "We've not done as much running as we would have liked, which has hurt our set-up."
After choosing to focus on development, McLaren delayed their car launch and missed first testing in Valencia, while things did not go smoothly for the car's debut in Jerez because of a lack of spare parts.
Hamilton, who finished fourth in last season's championship as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took the title, clocked up a useful 107 laps on the final day in Catalonia.
But Hamilton, 26, finished 1.378 seconds off Felipe Massa's pace-setting time for Ferrari. And after Button had spent two days at the wheel, he concluded: "I still don't know where we stand."
Hamilton, however, did not deliver a wholly downbeat assessment of the new model.
Speaking at a media day at Surrey's Dunsfold Aerodrome, Hamilton continued: "We've good things in the pipeline, and we definitely improved in the last couple of days' testing."
McLaren are understood to be working on upgrading their exhaust package as they attempt to close the perceived gap on pacesetters Ferrari, who also have championship runner-up Fernando Alonso in their line-up, and Red Bull, who are led by Vettel and Mark Webber.
And it is a race against time that has been aided by the cancellation of the originally scheduled 13 March opener in Bahrain, where civil unrest has wiped the race off the F1 calendar until further notice.
The prospect, therefore, of further improvements before the revised season-opener in Melbourne (25-27 March) was also a source of optimism for Button.
"We do have four more days and hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test [again at the Circuit de Catalunya beginning on 7 March] - we get a lot of laps in, and then we can improve the base we have," said 2009 champion Button.
"When I first jumped in the car my first reaction was not 'wow, we're going to blow everyone away'.
"But then I don't think anyone would have felt that because the car has a lot less downforce and the tyres [Pirelli] are working very differently to the previous tyre [Bridgestone]."
Hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test in Barcelona
Next season all teams will race with less downforce because of rule changes which ban the double diffuser and the aerodynamic aid the F-duct.
Lack of downforce cost then-world title holder Hamilton dear in 2009 when McLaren were two seconds off the pace at the first test - Button eventually crowned champion in a Mercedes-powered Brawn.
It was little wonder then that Hamilton was also uneasy that his new McLaren had brought back memories of the '09 version.
"This car is closer to the '09 car in the sense of downforce," said Hamilton. "The '09 car was terrible as it was hopping, three-wheeling through corners, locking up, and it had no downforce.
"This car doesn't lock up, it doesn't three-wheel, and it handles really nice, better than last year's car, but it just doesn't have as much downforce.
"Because the regulations have changed, it's a similar downforce level to '09. We have a little more, but it's not far off, so it feels weak in that area. Hopefully we've more downforce coming onto the car."
Meanwhile, Hamilton has revealed he is "closer" to revealing his new management team having spent last season without one after parting company with his father as manager 12 months ago.
"Nothing has been signed or fully firmed up, which is why I've not announced anything," added Hamilton.
"But I'm really hopeful in the next week or so we have an announcement for you guys, definitely before Australia."
IMG, who have Tiger Woods and Roger Federer among their clients, and Simon Fuller, a long-time associate of David and Victoria Beckham, are the two leading contenders.
"One is 85%, and the other is still hanging in there," revealed Hamilton.
"It's a big decision to sign with someone for a period of time, but I'm confident with what I'm going to do, and you'll find out very soon."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula...
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are concerned their new car is already lagging behind their rivals ahead of the new season on 25 March.
The MP4-12C was belatedly unveiled at second testing in Jerez, and technical issues affected Barcelona testing.
"We left it [unveiling the car] a bit later... and perhaps it's not played right into our hands," said Hamilton.
And Button confessed: "We've not done as much running as we would have liked, which has hurt our set-up."
After choosing to focus on development, McLaren delayed their car launch and missed first testing in Valencia, while things did not go smoothly for the car's debut in Jerez because of a lack of spare parts.
Hamilton, who finished fourth in last season's championship as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took the title, clocked up a useful 107 laps on the final day in Catalonia.
But Hamilton, 26, finished 1.378 seconds off Felipe Massa's pace-setting time for Ferrari. And after Button had spent two days at the wheel, he concluded: "I still don't know where we stand."
Hamilton, however, did not deliver a wholly downbeat assessment of the new model.
Speaking at a media day at Surrey's Dunsfold Aerodrome, Hamilton continued: "We've good things in the pipeline, and we definitely improved in the last couple of days' testing."
McLaren are understood to be working on upgrading their exhaust package as they attempt to close the perceived gap on pacesetters Ferrari, who also have championship runner-up Fernando Alonso in their line-up, and Red Bull, who are led by Vettel and Mark Webber.
And it is a race against time that has been aided by the cancellation of the originally scheduled 13 March opener in Bahrain, where civil unrest has wiped the race off the F1 calendar until further notice.
The prospect, therefore, of further improvements before the revised season-opener in Melbourne (25-27 March) was also a source of optimism for Button.
"We do have four more days and hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test [again at the Circuit de Catalunya beginning on 7 March] - we get a lot of laps in, and then we can improve the base we have," said 2009 champion Button.
"When I first jumped in the car my first reaction was not 'wow, we're going to blow everyone away'.
"But then I don't think anyone would have felt that because the car has a lot less downforce and the tyres [Pirelli] are working very differently to the previous tyre [Bridgestone]."
Hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test in Barcelona
Next season all teams will race with less downforce because of rule changes which ban the double diffuser and the aerodynamic aid the F-duct.
Lack of downforce cost then-world title holder Hamilton dear in 2009 when McLaren were two seconds off the pace at the first test - Button eventually crowned champion in a Mercedes-powered Brawn.
It was little wonder then that Hamilton was also uneasy that his new McLaren had brought back memories of the '09 version.
"This car is closer to the '09 car in the sense of downforce," said Hamilton. "The '09 car was terrible as it was hopping, three-wheeling through corners, locking up, and it had no downforce.
"This car doesn't lock up, it doesn't three-wheel, and it handles really nice, better than last year's car, but it just doesn't have as much downforce.
"Because the regulations have changed, it's a similar downforce level to '09. We have a little more, but it's not far off, so it feels weak in that area. Hopefully we've more downforce coming onto the car."
Meanwhile, Hamilton has revealed he is "closer" to revealing his new management team having spent last season without one after parting company with his father as manager 12 months ago.
"Nothing has been signed or fully firmed up, which is why I've not announced anything," added Hamilton.
"But I'm really hopeful in the next week or so we have an announcement for you guys, definitely before Australia."
IMG, who have Tiger Woods and Roger Federer among their clients, and Simon Fuller, a long-time associate of David and Victoria Beckham, are the two leading contenders.
"One is 85%, and the other is still hanging in there," revealed Hamilton.
"It's a big decision to sign with someone for a period of time, but I'm confident with what I'm going to do, and you'll find out very soon."
rev-erend said:
Sounds just like last year and the year before..
Very late start and playing catch up until mid season.
But if you look at Ferrari last year, cracking 1st race, then off the pace and people writing them off by mid season ish. Then Alonso could have taken the championship at the last race given a better strategy. And this season is Long so unless someone has pulled off a Red Bull type innovation there is plenty of time for any team to take the lead throughout the year.Very late start and playing catch up until mid season.
rev-erend said:
Sounds just like last year and the year before..
Very late start and playing catch up until mid season.
I was listening to the excellent 5live interviews last night and it does seem to be an odd pattern that Mclaren seem to be falling into here.Very late start and playing catch up until mid season.
Although I dont think its done Lewis any harm to show he can drive, and put up with a bit of a dog - certainly up'ed my view of him as 'a package'.
Henry Fiddleton said:
If its another stinker, then perhaps it time for LH to jump ship. Red Bull awaits him...
Really? Two young, demanding drivers that will both expect the same (if not privileged) support and backing from a team?The relationship at McLaren between drivers, team and management is a pretty picture at the moment - I dont think that would last more than a couple of races at red bull!
If they're not careful, they may become a bit of a laughing stock, like the spagetti managed Ferrari once was.
No constructors for decades, and Lewis only just hanging on to the drivers, after they threw it away the year before.
It seems like they try to be too radical each time, rather than building on each success like Newey (see this months F1 mag).
No constructors for decades, and Lewis only just hanging on to the drivers, after they threw it away the year before.
It seems like they try to be too radical each time, rather than building on each success like Newey (see this months F1 mag).
I'm not believing any test times or anything said in interviews before the start of the season, so much of it is 'managed' to give false appearances to either rival teams, the press and sponsors.
Wait until the first race and only then will you get an accurate picture of how well each car has been developed.
Wait until the first race and only then will you get an accurate picture of how well each car has been developed.
Hamilton would have to be insane to move to RBR. Mateschitz has no long-tem commitment to racing, or to anything except soft drinks. For him, Formula One is nothing more than a very expensive ad campaign.
RBR has had 2 great years for one reason - Adrian Newey. Newey has often said that his ambition is to go into yacht design. Only a fool would bet his entire career on those guys.
In the four years that Hamilton has been driving for McLaren, the average final positions in the Constructors have been:
McLaren - 2.0
Ferrari - 2.5
Red Bull - 4.0
RBR has had 2 great years for one reason - Adrian Newey. Newey has often said that his ambition is to go into yacht design. Only a fool would bet his entire career on those guys.
In the four years that Hamilton has been driving for McLaren, the average final positions in the Constructors have been:
McLaren - 2.0
Ferrari - 2.5
Red Bull - 4.0
jammy_basturd said:
I'm not believing any test times or anything said in interviews before the start of the season, so much of it is 'managed' to give false appearances to either rival teams, the press and sponsors.
Wait until the first race and only then will you get an accurate picture of how well each car has been developed.
finally a voice of reason......the more worrying thing is that a number of posters above have been around for years and they still buy into testing times. CHRIST ON A BIKEWait until the first race and only then will you get an accurate picture of how well each car has been developed.
Richard-G said:
jammy_basturd said:
I'm not believing any test times or anything said in interviews before the start of the season, so much of it is 'managed' to give false appearances to either rival teams, the press and sponsors.
Wait until the first race and only then will you get an accurate picture of how well each car has been developed.
finally a voice of reason......the more worrying thing is that a number of posters above have been around for years and they still buy into testing times. CHRIST ON A BIKEWait until the first race and only then will you get an accurate picture of how well each car has been developed.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff