4973 replies to this topic

[Risil]

Please continue discussing McLaren's new mechanical horse below. Stoffel Vandoorne is feeling the love. But the car has spent most of its time in garages and on the back of lorries.

 

Are McLaren behind the curve? Can their year be saved? Here we ask the questions that can't properly be answered until the season gets underway, by which time we'll probably be in Part III.

[Oblivion]

First... In fact, I'm still sure that the car is good. Need some ironing though...

Edited by Oblivion, 09 March 2018 - 13:41.

[Marklar]

 

I would ask whether this is a record, but given McLaren's previous preseasons, probably not.

 

2017: March 4th
2016: March 3rd
2015: February 21st

Hey, It's improving 

[Mc_Silver]

It seems they have imrpoved their speed to change engine. It took about 4 hours rather than 6 hours!

[SenorSjon]

At least something is improving. With switching out Honda's last year, they ought to be the fastest outfit in this kind of thing.

[FirstWatt]

It seems they have imrpoved their speed to change engine. It took about 4 hours rather than 6 hours!

 

  going by this rate, another two engine failures and the'll able to change it in real time, so to speak.

[Hanzo]

Part II before the tests ended. Well ahead of schedule, now its time for ALO to erase the smiles on some faces...

[Risil]

2017: March 4th
2016: March 3rd
2015: February 21st

Hey, It's improving 

 

God bless you.

 

Go McLaren!

[Danyy]

Part II before the tests ended. Well ahead of schedule, now its time for ALO to erase the smiles on some faces...

He’ll put a smile on mine if he still manages a hundo laps despite an engine change

[rodlamas]

10:04 I'm watching down at Turn 9, and the Mercedes looks absolutely immense through here. Despite obviously carrying more fuel on board, the car looks really fast - Bottas has the tiniest of lifts of the throttle.

It’s nice to finally see Alonso on track and true to form he’s not short of commitment. He tried to go into Turn 9 flat but the car won’t take it and he has to have a quick lift near the apex to avoid running out of road.

Karun Chandhok

[Tsarwash]

Jebus Christ, you all filled up an entire thread before pre testing is even over ? What is there to talk about ? The car is a bit **** again, That Honda wasn't as bad as 'we' all thought, and they will again be very lucky to get some podiums. And will poor Alonso leave F1 and find a more fun pastime in the US or France ? 

[Danyy]

Jebus Christ, you all filled up an entire thread before pre testing is even over ? What is there to talk about ? The car is a bit **** again, That Honda wasn't as bad as 'we' all thought, and they will again be very lucky to get some podiums. And will poor Alonso leave F1 and find a more fun pastime in the US or France ?

Oh give it a rest. The last thread was filled with comments like this so I’m not surprised it’s already over.

[revmeister]

Jebus Christ, you all filled up an entire thread before pre testing is even over ? What is there to talk about ? The car is a bit **** again, That Honda wasn't as bad as 'we' all thought, and they will again be very lucky to get some podiums. And will poor Alonso leave F1 and find a more fun pastime in the US or France ?

Well you seem to have it all sorted, see you next year!

[maximilian]

Looking forward to seeing Alonso at the Indy 500 again this year. 

[Aeonax]

E. Boullier speaking to the media just now. Guess we cant be surprised by the following quotes:

"We won't arrive at Melbourne with desirable (Expected) reliability levels; as we haven't been able to get enough mileage on the car"

 

He goes on to say that this is because they took some risks, and worked ambitiously in the pursuit of achieving a competitive package.

https://twitter.com/...114068537528323

 

*sighs*

 

Let us #BeBrave and #Braceourselves


EDIT: EB also goes to mention that the PU that broke today was the one that had the leak on Wednesday

Edited by Aeonax, 09 March 2018 - 14:51.

[frosty125]

That doesn't surprise me they have clearly pushed things quite hard in some areas...

[Borko]

Looking forward to seeing Alonso at the Indy 500 again this year. 

And I am looking forward seeing your precious engine manufacturer battling for 17th place against Sauber.

[AlonsoFan14]

The excuses have already begun. This...after creating so much Hype yourselves. McLaren, instead of #BeBrave, you should have kept it #BeSensible.

[BertoC]

Still, don't mind poor reliability if the speed is there, much easier to fix reliability than find speed.

[Showty]

If you don't push hard, you don't know where the weakness are.

After 3 dissapointing years, now with a proper engine on the back of the car, I certainly don't expect them to go conservative since day 1.

I'm ready for DNF if that ultimately means being competitive sooner rather than later.

[kumo7]

We will see.

Most years test times did not really betrayed the race pace.

Still,    this year!

[messy]

I think this year is likely to give us the answer to whether McLaren's bluster about having one of the best chassis on the grid being held back by a lawnmower engine was accurate. At the moment I'm far from convinced in that, but the car hasn't turned a wheel in competition yet, so we'll see.

[turk157]

Speed is there with minor reliability issues

Will fight for 3rd this season with RedBull

Alonso couple of victories and podiums too

If consistent and lucky maybe a WDC too

[Borko]

Alonso has just started a race simulation

[smr]

I also think that these reliability problems arent fundamental and theyre more niggles than inherent design flaws. Problems that can be overcome easily. I'd also rather the fundamental design of the car and chassis is competitive than a conservatively designed but 100 percent reliable car from testing.

[skidmarkz]

Has Renault made the proper investments to sustain a season with McLaren, ie. a massive PR department? Get ready to have your brand dragged on live TV by the team, driver and British media over and over because the car and driver are really the greatest on the grid and everything is always the engine partner's fault. 

[SenorSjon]

Alonso has just started a race simulation

There is a testing thread for that...

 

How can McLaren still have all these issues on the last day of testing?

[BillyWhizz]

I think this year is likely to give us the answer to whether McLaren's bluster about having one of the best chassis on the grid being held back by a lawnmower engine was accurate. At the moment I'm far from convinced in that, but the car hasn't turned a wheel in competition yet, so we'll see.

 

No car has turned a wheel in competition yet, so indeed we will see.

 

Testing problems have been a setback absolutely, but I cannot see how MCL33 won't be a binary improvement over the past three seasons.

[Insane111]

There is a testing thread for that...

 

How can McLaren still have all these issues on the last day of testing?

The same way Renault, who managed 190 odd laps the other day, can have issues that have limited them to 4 laps so far today.

[Borko]

Has Renault made the proper investments to sustain a season with McLaren, ie. a massive PR department? Get ready to have your brand dragged on live TV by the team, driver and British media over and over because the car and driver are really the greatest on the grid and everything is always the engine partner's fault.

Please, introduce dislike button for the posts.

[SamH123]

Jebus Christ, you all filled up an entire thread before pre testing is even over ? What is there to talk about ? The car is a bit **** again, That Honda wasn't as bad as 'we' all thought, and they will again be very lucky to get some podiums. And will poor Alonso leave F1 and find a more fun pastime in the US or France ? 

 

The bit in bold is quitelazy.  If testing 2018 had played out as it has with a Mclaren HONDA and a Toro Rosso Honda it would have weight but not in the current scenario.

Overheating wasn't the cause of 90 places of grid penalties or whatever it was

[Kershy]

Should be close to 100 laps when Alonso finishes his race simulation with hopefully enough time for a qualy sim glory run at the end ?

[Radoye]

Has Renault made the proper investments to sustain a season with McLaren, ie. a massive PR department? Get ready to have your brand dragged on live TV by the team, driver and British media over and over because the car and driver are really the greatest on the grid and everything is always the engine partner's fault. 

 

You mean like what RBR is doing to Renault since 2014?

[ERICTOPF1]

I would like to remind to those with short memory that this time last year the issue we were discussing was the fact the Honda had failed in the design of the engine's oil pan!!

Please continue..

[GoRacing]

Very respectable laptimes if this is the opening stint - LAP TIMES OF ALONSO

Fernando Alonso is doing a longer run on the soft compound. His lap times: 1:25.1, 1:24.3, 1:24.5, 1:23.9, 1:24.5, 1:24.1, 1:23.7, 1:23.8, 1:23.9, 1:23.8 and 1:23.6. (from f1today). 

[Mc_Silver]

 

Very respectable laptimes if this is the opening stint - LAP TIMES OF ALONSO

Fernando Alonso is doing a longer run on the soft compound. His lap times: 1:25.1, 1:24.3, 1:24.5, 1:23.9, 1:24.5, 1:24.1, 1:23.7, 1:23.8, 1:23.9, 1:23.8 and 1:23.6. (from f1today). 

 

 

Yeah looks strong for the 1st stint. hopefully, he will be able to finish his race simulation without any issues. 

[Tsarwash]

Well you seem to have it all sorted, see you next year!

Well we shall see in a few weeks if they are likely to be challenging for podiums this coming season. Not long to wait. I would like to see McLaren leave their recent woes behind, but I'll not be holding my breathe just yet. I think that 6th in the WCC would be a good result for them this year, 5th would be great. (Remember that last year only there was only one podium all season outside of the top three teams, and that was Stoll's fortunate result in Baku.)

[STIGG]

Alonso just cruised by the last corner with a very sick sounding car Looks like he'll make it back to the pits though.

[kosmos]

Bullier is saying Fernando had enough time with the car to judge it but engineers didn't.

 

https://www.auto-mot...-bremst-alonso/

[Mc_Silver]

Alonso just cruised by the last corner with a very sick sounding car Looks like he'll make it back to the pits though.

 

Are you on the track ?

[GoRacing]

Alonso just cruised by the last corner with a very sick sounding car Looks like he'll make it back to the pits though.

His race simulation is certainly interrupted, he's been in the pits for a while now.

[STIGG]

Are you on the track ?

Yes! Been here all day and have taken some videos which I plan on uploading later.

[STIGG]

He's back out! Sounding a lot better too!

[jstrains]

According to AMUS article above McLaren car too complicated. Very tight aerodynamics leaving no room for compromises. Boullier thinks they cannot learn to change engine under 3 hrs. They will rather need to develop new tools to handle the tight car when repairs needed (maybe they can use the chair spacer for something).

 

We are in 1 group with Renault and Haas.

Edited by jstrains, 09 March 2018 - 15:55.

[MastaKink]

Could you see if they put more fuel in or not?

[STIGG]

Could you see if they put more fuel in or not?

I'm not in front of the garage anymore unfortunately. But that could be a good shout. He was trundling around on the last lap before stopping and it sounded like the car was dying but maybe he was out of fuel and just coasting back. It would explain the reported fast lap times (I haven't seen the exact times).

[Mc_Silver]

I think if the gap is half a second to Red Bull and 1 second to Mercedes in Australia, I would take it. There will be lots of improvement and optimizations on the car during the course of the year. I believe McLaren, Renault and Haas will be very close to each other in the first few races. 

[Mc_Silver]

I'm not in front of the garage anymore unfortunately. But that could be a good shout. He was trundling around on the last lap before stopping and it sounded like the car was dying but maybe he was out of fuel and just coasting back. It would explain the reported fast lap times (I haven't seen the exact times).

 

He was doing a race sim definitely. His laps were around 1.23s. 

[aray]

It is actually good to hear Boullier being defensive for once.At least for the fans,it helps to calm down the misguided hopes that come from the mouth of Alonso.

[Kimiraikkonen]

Boullier: "We hope be in middle grid in Australia: :/