McLaren is no longer a top team (funding wise) [split]

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

Your hatred for McLaren knows no limits.

This is simply nonsense.

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

If they were so short of money why did they give Jenson a pay rise?

Face facts, they just don't think Hamilton is worth the big money.

Be nice to see what you are basing this on. I am taking it you've merged together a mixture of rumours and your own speculation to come up with the idea McLaren have no money left.

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 21 September 2012 - 13:01.

I see what you mean.

But by this standard it makes BAR and Jaguar to be the most elite teams in F1 at the time.;)

Definitely with needing to pay huge fine and needing to buy back Mercedes-Benz share of the team by not receiving any sponsorship for their Mercedes logo (my understanding), McLaren do not have as much money as they could have. Certainly they are not poor and are amongst the best teams for development over a season.

They could pay crazy salaries but chose not to... It is up to Hamilton to chose if he wants to stay. Else I am sure they can sign Perez or Hulkenberg who will be happy to drive for $1 (ok maybe actually $500,000 -- a lot of money but much less than average midfield NASCAR driver) if they can get a race winning McLaren. And maybe Perez is equally good as Hamilton?? Who knows.



Red Bull have to pay for engines too. But they put a big Infiniti sign to cover the costs of the Renault. (Talk about nutty) I am not sure if Mercedes will be impressed if McLaren carries large Volvo signage, maybe 'smartcar' signage to keep it in the mercedes family for instance...

If they were so short of money why did they give Jenson a pay rise?

Face facts, they just don't think Hamilton is worth the big money.

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

Edited by SpaMaster, 21 September 2012 - 15:42.

how could this thread reach 2nd page without getting locked....

how could this thread reach 2nd page without getting locked....

Edited by ali.unal, 21 September 2012 - 16:04.

Can you see the word [split] in the title? That means it was the moderators in the first place who created this thread out of that post. As silly as the assessment of OP is, I see no reason to be locked as everyone is entitled to his opinion. If you don't agree with it, explain it so. If you don't want to explain, don't visit either. Why demand locking?

Ridiculous. Of course McLaren remain *a* top team.

They just haven't been *the* top team for, er, 14 years.

They are now.

McLaren are undoubtedly a top team in 2012. The more interesting question (and what I think the OP was getting at) is whether they are about to enter a decline, as the close partnership with Mercedes winds down and they become a customer team (like Williams did, for example). Personally, I don't think so because there is so much engineering capability which is McLaren rather than Mercedes.

On the other hand, perhaps the OP meant that McLaren is becoming a team who won't pay top dollar for a driver, or enter a bidding war for one. This could certainly be the case.

Half a season of kinda being the fastest team doesn't mean they're the top team.

Edited by rijole1, 21 September 2012 - 17:46.

I should be surprised by such a ridiculous topic, but after reading this board a bit more lately, its actually quite in line with a lot of other delusional or overly dramatic beliefs that people seem to hold.

I've come to the conclusion that McLaren are not a big team anymore funding wise. They can no longer afford Alonso and Hamilton wages, and probably Vettel's next wage demands too.

McLaren will also have to pay £8million starting next year for their engines, so thats another big financial loss to them.

I also think McLaren made a mistake in giving Button a pay rise less than 12 months ago and now asking Hamilton to take a pay cut.

For me, McLaren cannot afford top 3 drivers anymore. They would be better served trying to find another unknown with potential like they did with Raikkonen and Hamilton.

I don't see why it is ridiculous or delusional. The OP isn't saying McLaren aren't a top team, he's saying financially they aren't as strong as they used to be. I think he's saying a fair amount of sense, as McLaren's situation seems to be similar to Arsenal. Arsenal are a top team, but they don't spend anywhere near the other top teams like Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea etc. as they don't want to spend beyond their means.

I actually don't know the answer to that. Before ridiculing the poster, has anyone got any financial data to back this up?

Edited by Buttoneer, 21 September 2012 - 22:57.

From your post I get the impression that you define a team with most money and recourses as a top team.
Maybe I got it totally wrong?
Is there some more qualifications that must be fullfilled of a team, if they want to be called a top team?
If yes, what are these qualifications according to you?

I think we can blame this on the thread title that the mod created when splitting the topic. To me the text of the post clearly refers to financial clout in the driver market only.

I think we can blame this on the thread title that the mod created when splitting the topic. To me the text of the post clearly refers to financial clout in the driver market only.

On the other hand, perhaps the OP meant that McLaren is becoming a team who won't pay top dollar for a driver, or enter a bidding war for one. This could certainly be the case.

Certain Hamilton fans give the impression they believe Hamilton is the greatest driver that ever lived, capable of driving faster than anyone else. Therefore they expect Hamilton to be able to be paid more than anyone else, even Alonso. They believe if McLaren is a top team should be able to pay whatever Hamilton demands.

Unfortunately they don't figure that the only reason Alonso is paid so much more is because Santander pays his wages by sponsoring Ferrari for a huge amount of money to cover the cost, and it's down to his marketability not his speed. Hamilton could demand whatever he wants, if he can get a sponsor to pay it for him.

So what is the criteria for a "top team"?

Well, for the past 12 years Mclaren have won a staggering 1 drivers championship and no constructors. That's not exactly mind-blowing either, is it?

Edited by ayali, 21 September 2012 - 19:53.

Alonso earned 30,000,000 driving for Mclaren in 2007. I don't think Mclaren lack money to pay Hamilton's demanded salary, but rather that Whitmarsh doesn't feel that he's worth it.

Well, for the past 12 years Mclaren have won a staggering 1 drivers championship and no constructors. That's not exactly mind-blowing either, is it?

I don't see why it is ridiculous or delusional. The OP isn't saying McLaren aren't a top team, he's saying financially they aren't as strong as they used to be. I think he's saying a fair amount of sense, as McLaren's situation seems to be similar to Arsenal. Arsenal are a top team, but they don't spend anywhere near the other top teams like Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea etc. as they don't want to spend beyond their means.

Edited by JRizzle86, 21 September 2012 - 20:21.

I don't see why it is ridiculous or delusional. The OP isn't saying McLaren aren't a top team, he's saying financially they aren't as strong as they used to be. I think he's saying a fair amount of sense, as McLaren's situation seems to be similar to Arsenal. Arsenal are a top team, but they don't spend anywhere near the other top teams like Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea etc. as they don't want to spend beyond their means.