The Official 2018 Chinese Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**
Discussion
ajprice said:
Mercedes and Ferrari expect to win, rolling the dice on a pit stop could lose them positions, so they play safe. Red Bull, if the red and silver cars finish, would expect 5th or lower, rolling the dice could get them slightly less points or a win/podium. It will only affect them one race...if they take a fresh engine at somewhere like Monza as last year, they'll end up losing around 15-17 points to the race winner finishing P5/6. I believe the car is good enough to maximise points at tracks they'll be fastest to be able to build a buffer of 15-20 points. Additionally, if Ricciardo can steal wins like here on other tracks, it's on!
HustleRussell said:
Engine penalties will put paid to that.
This.iirc isn't Ricciardo already on his 3rd & final ICE?
But I wouldn't be surprised if RBR aren't deliberately turning up the wick for longer periods as part of an aggressive strategy ...& are actually planning on using far more powertrain components than anybody else.
Of course the other issue is that they don't have a clear No1 driver (either in contract or performance) ...which imho is what you need in tight championship, so good luck with that Christian!
angrymoby said:
Of course the other issue is that they don't have a clear No1 driver (either in contract or performance) ...which imho is what you need in tight championship, so good luck with that Christian!
But if Max continues hitting other title contenders at each race.... It could be the dream team and the start of a new version of a No1 and No2 driver strategy.
DanielSan said:
Do Mclaren not understand the phrase ‘under promise over deliver’?
Does anyone even believe what they have to say anymore?
Does anyone care?
Will the car be as quick as they keep saying as we haven’t seen this years car yet apparently?
Will it even turn up?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone even believe what they have to say anymore?
Does anyone care?
Will the car be as quick as they keep saying as we haven’t seen this years car yet apparently?
Will it even turn up?
Does anyone care?
I've gone through a lot of emotions with Mclaren in the Hybrid era, from sympathetic to tragic to finding it amusing and now I just don't care. They are a midfield team now and need to start behaving like one.
DanielSan said:
Do Mclaren not understand the phrase ‘under promise over deliver’?
Does anyone even believe what they have to say anymore?
Does anyone care?
Will the car be as quick as they keep saying as we haven’t seen this years car yet apparently?
Will it even turn up?
Does anyone care?
DanielSan said:
Do Mclaren not understand the phrase ‘under promise over deliver’?
Does anyone even believe what they have to say anymore?
Does anyone care?
Will the car be as quick as they keep saying as we haven’t seen this years car yet apparently?
Will it even turn up?
Does anyone care?
Why is there all this s
t about McLaren in here, I bet if Hamilton was still at McLaren there would be huge support still.Honda didn't work for them, it's that simple, they asked Honda to create an engine to fit in a tiny space, which they did, and now they have shoe horned a much bigger engine in, in a car designed not to take that engine, evidenced by the body work heat issues in testing, the car was developed for the poor Honda engine, they're on the back foot and still 4th in constructors at the moment.
Yes Torro Rosso have done the same, but they have fitted a compact engine, into a hole designed to take a bigger engine in physical size, but the engine is still poor, bear in mind Alonso had a 5th finish with the Honda motor in Austria(?) Yes Brawn also did it, in a bigger car with much bigger bodywork with an engine that would just about fit, the comparison between these and McLaren is chalk and cheese.
I do expect them to get better through the season, and if they can hold onto 4th then that's a real winner, can I see a podium? Maybe a third place but I would base this on reliability issues of the Ferrari, Merc and Red Bull, and the Max crashing into people.
Yet there is an ignorance of Williams, who were 1.3 seconds slower this year at Bahrain.
Hungrymc said:
Its worth noting that after three races last year, Lewis and Seb were 7 points apart. They are 9 apart after three rounds this year.
And more importantly, they have 16 and 14 points less respectively which I think shows its been a very volatile start to the year. Suspect its going to continue like this as well.
I'd just allow them all to drill a few holes in each others wings to disturb the aero and it might get even more volatile.
Completely agree, barring some huge drama, one of them will win the WDC this year, but far too early to say which.And more importantly, they have 16 and 14 points less respectively which I think shows its been a very volatile start to the year. Suspect its going to continue like this as well.
I'd just allow them all to drill a few holes in each others wings to disturb the aero and it might get even more volatile.
pits said:
Why is there all this st about McLaren in here, I bet if Hamilton was still at McLaren there would be huge support still.
Honda didn't work for them, it's that simple, they asked Honda to create an engine to fit in a tiny space, which they did, and now they have shoe horned a much bigger engine in, in a car designed not to take that engine, evidenced by the body work heat issues in testing, the car was developed for the poor Honda engine, they're on the back foot and still 4th in constructors at the moment.
Yes Torro Rosso have done the same, but they have fitted a compact engine, into a hole designed to take a bigger engine in physical size, but the engine is still poor, bear in mind Alonso had a 5th finish with the Honda motor in Austria(?) Yes Brawn also did it, in a bigger car with much bigger bodywork with an engine that would just about fit, the comparison between these and McLaren is chalk and cheese.
I do expect them to get better through the season, and if they can hold onto 4th then that's a real winner, can I see a podium? Maybe a third place but I would base this on reliability issues of the Ferrari, Merc and Red Bull, and the Max crashing into people.
Yet there is an ignorance of Williams, who were 1.3 seconds slower this year at Bahrain.
Williams weren't saying they'd be fighting for podiums. Williams weren't saying they had the best chassis on the grid being held back by a boat anchor. They appear to have really messed up this year but they haven't been mouthing off about how awesome they are. For three years.t about McLaren in here, I bet if Hamilton was still at McLaren there would be huge support still.Honda didn't work for them, it's that simple, they asked Honda to create an engine to fit in a tiny space, which they did, and now they have shoe horned a much bigger engine in, in a car designed not to take that engine, evidenced by the body work heat issues in testing, the car was developed for the poor Honda engine, they're on the back foot and still 4th in constructors at the moment.
Yes Torro Rosso have done the same, but they have fitted a compact engine, into a hole designed to take a bigger engine in physical size, but the engine is still poor, bear in mind Alonso had a 5th finish with the Honda motor in Austria(?) Yes Brawn also did it, in a bigger car with much bigger bodywork with an engine that would just about fit, the comparison between these and McLaren is chalk and cheese.
I do expect them to get better through the season, and if they can hold onto 4th then that's a real winner, can I see a podium? Maybe a third place but I would base this on reliability issues of the Ferrari, Merc and Red Bull, and the Max crashing into people.
Yet there is an ignorance of Williams, who were 1.3 seconds slower this year at Bahrain.
I give McLaren credit for not throwing Honda under the bus like RB have done, that was classy, but RB seem to be able to back up their "best of the rest" status. McLaren couldn't beat them with the best engine on the grid.
pits said:
I still care, and I'll still stick by them fact of the matter is they are currently 4th in constructors, 16 points clear of the Torro Rosso Honda, Fernando is currently 3 places higher than Gasly and Stoff is 6 places above Hartley.
Why is there all this st about McLaren in here, I bet if Hamilton was still at McLaren there would be huge support still.
Honda didn't work for them, it's that simple, they asked Honda to create an engine to fit in a tiny space, which they did, and now they have shoe horned a much bigger engine in, in a car designed not to take that engine, evidenced by the body work heat issues in testing, the car was developed for the poor Honda engine, they're on the back foot and still 4th in constructors at the moment.
Yes Torro Rosso have done the same, but they have fitted a compact engine, into a hole designed to take a bigger engine in physical size, but the engine is still poor, bear in mind Alonso had a 5th finish with the Honda motor in Austria(?) Yes Brawn also did it, in a bigger car with much bigger bodywork with an engine that would just about fit, the comparison between these and McLaren is chalk and cheese.
I do expect them to get better through the season, and if they can hold onto 4th then that's a real winner, can I see a podium? Maybe a third place but I would base this on reliability issues of the Ferrari, Merc and Red Bull, and the Max crashing into people.
Yet there is an ignorance of Williams, who were 1.3 seconds slower this year at Bahrain.
I've followed teams rather than drivers and I've supported McLaren since the start of MP4. They've gone through good times, in fact the best, and they've struggled at other times, and not only against other teams but against bullying officials as well. When Dennis was kicked out, the historic McL ended and it became to all intents and purposes a new team. But the name's still there. And so am I, despite me thinking I'd leave with Dennis.Why is there all this s
t about McLaren in here, I bet if Hamilton was still at McLaren there would be huge support still.Honda didn't work for them, it's that simple, they asked Honda to create an engine to fit in a tiny space, which they did, and now they have shoe horned a much bigger engine in, in a car designed not to take that engine, evidenced by the body work heat issues in testing, the car was developed for the poor Honda engine, they're on the back foot and still 4th in constructors at the moment.
Yes Torro Rosso have done the same, but they have fitted a compact engine, into a hole designed to take a bigger engine in physical size, but the engine is still poor, bear in mind Alonso had a 5th finish with the Honda motor in Austria(?) Yes Brawn also did it, in a bigger car with much bigger bodywork with an engine that would just about fit, the comparison between these and McLaren is chalk and cheese.
I do expect them to get better through the season, and if they can hold onto 4th then that's a real winner, can I see a podium? Maybe a third place but I would base this on reliability issues of the Ferrari, Merc and Red Bull, and the Max crashing into people.
Yet there is an ignorance of Williams, who were 1.3 seconds slower this year at Bahrain.
So they didn't get there car out on time. So they have over-performed with the current one. So?
I can't see the reasoning behind the resentment against McL. They are one of the great teams. They were started by a mechanic and were built up into a £multi million concern. It is one of the British success stories in the sport. Despite them being their greatest rival for some years, I want Williams to do well as well.
Ferrari, the team with the biggest fan base, went through periods when, despite their money, they were also-rans. They came back.
How can anyone dislike a team? It is bewildering. (Except Ferrari, of course, but that goes without saying.)
Derek Smith said:
How can anyone dislike a team? It is bewildering. (Except Ferrari, of course, but that goes without saying.)
I broadly agree. I used to be tribal (for Ferrari, but not anti-any team, I just liked Ferrari) but since Schumacher retired I just enjoy watching the sport. I have a soft spot for Williams & Minardi/Torro Rosso. I never warmed to the sterility of McLaren - I thought Whitmarsh was taking them in the right direction in making them more likeable.
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