McLaren admit car is poor..

[wanacoop]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73695


lets just hope they can sort it in time for Australia.

[woof]

"He added: "Many times in Formula 1 history have successful teams started off with a car that was not working as well as they had hoped it would, and many times have those successful teams engineered their way back to the front of the grid in impressively short order. That is what we aim to do. In fact, that is what we are already doing." Martin Whitmarsh

er - can't think of any occasion
(Renault did - but it was all too late in season to make any difference)

[patmahe]

That sound a lot like F1 speak for, we're fked. I hope I'm wrong but if the car is fundamentally flawed this early on what you end up with is a team of people trying to fix a problem, while everyone else is increasing the performance of their existing package.

The only good news for Mclaren is that with the new rules, things will get shaken up, others cars may be unreliable allowing them to pick up points in the early season, and by then hopefully they'll have solved the problems.

I wish them well.

[HarryW]

Perhaps part of the engine deal with Brawn was that McL had to use last years Honda chassis

[ajprice]

They've just got the McLaren and Brawn cars the wrong way around at the paintshop.

[Bill Carr]

TVR Moneypit said:

Anyone remember the McLaren-Peugeot of 1994?

I recall Brundle's engine detonating spectacularly on the Silverstone grid. The '95 car wasn't much better either.

Will make for an interesting season - hopefully no-one will have a clear advantage and some of the other teams can get in on the action.

[jellison]

I really hope this is right and it is a DOG.

Be great to see LH in a car that is CRAP. He has had it so easy in his first 2 years in F1.

[E30M3SE]

Bit of a U turn from what Ron said only two days previously.................

[baz1985]

At least its not as bad as the MP4-18......

[ferrari-passion]

jellison said:

I really hope this is right and it is a DOG.

Be great to see LH in a car that is CRAP. He has had it so easy in his first 2 years in F1.

Damn - I JUST HAVE TO SECOND THAT sentiment....!!!!

[anonymous-user]

patmahe said:

The only good news for Mclaren is that with the new rules, things will get shaken up, others cars may be unreliable allowing them to pick up points in the early season, and by then hopefully they'll have solved the problems.

Technology wise nothing of substance has changed on the cars that would lead to early season unreliability, if anything the cars should be more reliable than last year because of the new rules for engine and gearbox life and reduced engine rpm.

[pwrmotorsport]

Given the ban on in-season testing, when do McLaren expect to be able to ascertain the viability and integrity of any new parts? They obviously have a lot of work to do - probably too much ahead of next week's final test session - and turning up on the Friday before a race to test major new parts isn't exactly the ideal approach.

I suspect that they will struggle all season and Hamilton will make matters worse by trying to overdrive round the problems. Kovi just won't feature at all and that could signal the end of his F1 career as he was unable to perform last year when he had a good car.

That said, because it seems so close at the top, all the other teams could end up taking points off each other. That is, of course, unless the Brawn trounces everyone!

[AlexS]

johnfelstead said:

patmahe said:

The only good news for Mclaren is that with the new rules, things will get shaken up, others cars may be unreliable allowing them to pick up points in the early season, and by then hopefully they'll have solved the problems.

Technology wise nothing of substance has changed on the cars that would lead to early season unreliability, if anything the cars should be more reliable than last year because of the new rules for engine and gearbox life and reduced engine rpm.

But we do have cars such as the RBR which has an incredibly tightly packaged rear end, which could lead to heat issues, plus the removal of all the cooling slots in the bodywork.

[anonymous-user]

I don't see that as a problem, they are always tightly packaged. We will see.

[flemke]

AlexS said:

johnfelstead said:

patmahe said:

The only good news for Mclaren is that with the new rules, things will get shaken up, others cars may be unreliable allowing them to pick up points in the early season, and by then hopefully they'll have solved the problems.

Technology wise nothing of substance has changed on the cars that would lead to early season unreliability, if anything the cars should be more reliable than last year because of the new rules for engine and gearbox life and reduced engine rpm.

But we do have cars such as the RBR which has an incredibly tightly packaged rear end, which could lead to heat issues, plus the removal of all the cooling slots in the bodywork.

Not to mention KERS...

[anonymous-user]

I forgot about that nonsense, shows how valid i think it is.

[Adrian W]

Let the carpetbagging begin

[Lost soul]

Adrian W said:

Let the carpetbagging begin

My thoughts Mc will come good they always do , this is just a bit of sand bagging to confuse the enemy

[jellison]

Come On Jenson.

[Munter]

jellison said:

Come On Jenson.

Remember to wipe him down afterwards though.....