the future of Mclaren?
Discussion
Worrying indeed. Not sure how soon Prodromou will be leaving, but it's hard to think that in his remaining time at McL. he'll be able to give of his best. Effectively, in one blow McL. have lost Newey and Tombazis and Prodromou.
One fears that, in addition to their personnel issues, McL. may have engine problems this year with Mini Mosley's V8s. To the outside observor it has seemed that Ilmor have been on the back foot ever since Paul Morgan was killed.
The presumed consensus is that McLaren enter this season as title favourites after having had the fastest car for '05, plus returning with two of the top drivers.
I truly hate to say it, but I'll bet that they finish no higher than fourth. The knock-on effect from that may be that, rather than being able to choose between Raikkonen and Montoya as Alonso's partner, they'll lose both.
Could the high point of their season already be history: signing Vodafone and Alonso?
Let's hope that Paffett can cut the mustard!
>> Edited by flemke on Friday 3rd February 16:47
One fears that, in addition to their personnel issues, McL. may have engine problems this year with Mini Mosley's V8s. To the outside observor it has seemed that Ilmor have been on the back foot ever since Paul Morgan was killed.
The presumed consensus is that McLaren enter this season as title favourites after having had the fastest car for '05, plus returning with two of the top drivers.
I truly hate to say it, but I'll bet that they finish no higher than fourth. The knock-on effect from that may be that, rather than being able to choose between Raikkonen and Montoya as Alonso's partner, they'll lose both.
Could the high point of their season already be history: signing Vodafone and Alonso?
Let's hope that Paffett can cut the mustard!
>> Edited by flemke on Friday 3rd February 16:47
A car can't be designed by 1,2 or even 3 people alone. Its about the whole design team. Yes it may have slightly unsettled things but it won't suddenly mean that Mclaren drop to the middle of the grid.
With the amount of highly motivated/capable designers I'm sure Mclaren will be having no problems next year.
With the amount of highly motivated/capable designers I'm sure Mclaren will be having no problems next year.
A car is not designed by only a few people but you need figure heads and people to carry the torch be the guiding light (insert standard corproate phrase here) see what Mike Gascoigne has done in Toyota all the money in the world and they didnt achieve so much i know the previous years were for learning but the principle people know so much from years of experience they dont need to learn by making the beginners mistakes.
Mcl have a big challenge and they never seem to get reliability there fresh out the box and the likes of kimi jumping who knows where at the end of the season will be a big blow on top of everything.
Mcl have a big challenge and they never seem to get reliability there fresh out the box and the likes of kimi jumping who knows where at the end of the season will be a big blow on top of everything.
flemke said:
I truly hate to say it, but I'll bet that they finish no higher than fourth. The knock-on effect from that may be that, rather than being able to choose between Raikkonen and Montoya as Alonso's partner, they'll lose both.
Could the high point of their season already be history: signing Vodafone and Alonso?
Assuming he doesn't decide to hang up his steering wheel; could this present an ideal opportunity for Mr Schumacher to swap horses, and realise one last perceived challenge with a 'top flight team' that befits his reputation?. Somehow, I think this may appeal to him, and uncle Ron, who has to keep the sponsors happy...
FourWheelDrift said:He's obviously quite talented, but it seems that the differences that separate the quite talented (say, Tom Kristenson) from the absolute best (Schumi, Raikkonen, Alonso) are so subtle that they may not manifest themselves except at the highest level. Look at how great drivers such as Zanardi, da Matta and McNish stumbled at the final hurdle.
The future of McLaren........................................
In any case, McL. have indicated that they would place Hamilton in a lesser F1 team for a season or two prior to giving him a shot with themselves. (please notice, baz1985, that I did not offer Williams as an example of a lesser team
)Digital said:Without doubt this livery is adolescently tasteless.
Just seen the new McLaren 2006 livery, looks very 
When one considers, however, the extent to which commerciality rules F1, it's obvious why McL. has chosen this chrome crap. Hundreds of millions of the people who are attracted to the superficial buzz of Formula One are in fact tasteless adolescents.
The red bit looks suspiciously like "Vodafone red" - no surprise there.
The temporary orange livery that McL. had been running during the test season was one of the best-looking F1 colour schemes for years. It's a pity that they didn't keep it, but that was never going to happen.
>> Edited by flemke on Saturday 11th February 13:27
Digital said:
I loved the old McLaren colour scheme, but I have to agree with Flemke that this new one looks dreadful in the pictures - and I'm an avid Macca fan. The previous "West" livery was tastefully understated and the cars looked vaguely menacing in it. This new scheme smacks of "bling" and is IMHO gimmicky. I guess that along with the high-profile departures from the design team, someone must have fired the entire graphic design department as well - the "Vodafone" red bits look completely out of place and not well integrated into the overall design. However, I'll reserve final judgement until I see it on the track.
I wonder how long it will take the other teams to protest the mirror-finish paint on the basis that it makes the car dangerous to overtake due to it reflecting the sun? If the rumours relating to the Merc V8 are to be believed, perhaps the shiny finish is a ploy to blind other drivers, thereby preventing overtaking
[k]
flemke said:
I pretty much expect the "mirror" finish to be history BEFORE the car appears at the first race of the season.
Either the other will complain the sun is shining off the bodywork and dazzling them or the McLaren lot will finally discover that a mirrored chrome finish on a car will reflect the surroundings and make their cars harder to spot in the mirrors of other cars causing lots of "whoops, didn't see him" after numerous comings together
Too bling for me anyway
Crap neon effect, too late in the day and too tired to put any real effort in
flemke said:
Look at how great drivers such as Zanardi, da Matta and McNish stumbled at the final hurdle.
I'd argue that they're in the same category as Tom Kristensen - good but not great. We must also take into account that fact that they all secured drives in teams that did not have a car that was capable of winning. Include in the list Jan Magnussen (out of this world in lesser formulae) and Michael Andretti.
Not to mention Derek Bell, Jackie Ickx, Dickie Atwood etc. Many mant drivers have done very well in other categories but failed to make an impact in F1.
In fact, I would suggest that, with maybe the exception of three or four drivers on the current F1 grid, the rest of the F1 grid is made up of a pretty mediocre bunch and that there is a HUGE amount of talent going to waste either serving their time as F1 "testers" (an awful career choice in my opinion) or in National Touring and Sports Cars series.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 12th February 09:37
In fact, I would suggest that, with maybe the exception of three or four drivers on the current F1 grid, the rest of the F1 grid is made up of a pretty mediocre bunch and that there is a HUGE amount of talent going to waste either serving their time as F1 "testers" (an awful career choice in my opinion) or in National Touring and Sports Cars series.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 12th February 09:37
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