Comments on: McLaren struggling or sandbagging?

By: adidas

adidas — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:52:40 +0000

McLaren have a major problem, which will see them running down in 10th most of the time and have them struggling to get into the points. This season they will have a mare just like they did in 2004. Hamilton will struggle. They should correct it again for 2010 im sure. Ferrari will be fighting it out with Renault, Red Bull, and more than likley the new BrawnGP team. Which im happy about as I am not a fan of Hamilton, Mclaren, and Dennis. Anyone Remember they stole Ferrari information? This is why with the new rule changes they have to think for themselves, and they just arnt that good at it.

Thanks

By: theRoswellite

theRoswellite — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:29:05 +0000

WOW…….what a post response!

Numerous comments seem to assume that it should be almost impossible to “get it wrong” when the teams have top computer simulation programs, wind tunnel and past data histories to feed into future design parameters. The problem is still complexity, and more to the point, that the system under question is dynamical or nonlinear in nature.

If you look at certain key ideas reflected in Chaos Theory, you find that extremely small changes can result in unpredictable results, and, in fact, it can be impossible to predict with absolute certainty the results if…. the elements are complex or variable enough. Remember, often the performance variation between success and failure falls well within one percent.

When you consider ALL the factors that come into play regarding the performance of a GP car….on track…it is easy to see why only actual testing can provide for an “ultimate reality check”.

By: Pete_F

Pete_F — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:07:27 +0000

So it is official now as this links suggests:

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/

So the main topic in the early part of the season (or the rest of the season if Brawn gests some big money sponsors)will be – Is JB faster than Rubens Barrichello? This is worth starting a new thread…

Cannot wait.

As for all of us McLaren supporters, mid season maybe, otherwise its all gone.

By: Kester

Kester — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:38:56 +0000

I agree, the way they spoke about it doesn’t make it sound like it’s a quick fix. Designing, manufacturing and testing of new parts is a lengthy process, especially with a lack of in season testing. Being behind at Melbourne could mean struggling all season.

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:14:47 +0000

It’s actually 2 second faster. Q2 time was 1:20.7, while Rubens’ time 1:18.9.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:50:46 +0000

I guess we know now, struggling, time is running out, lets hope it can be fixed. But to be honest the bullish talk from Martin and Haug is unconvincing. Lewis must be beside himself with worry.

By: Dragos

Dragos — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:24:21 +0000

So it seems they are struggling after all. If you think about it, if last year the best quali time was 1.20.7 or so… well McLaren have already achieved this (bearing in mind that it is said that the car should have less downforce than in 2008 and the slicks will not fully recover the loss of downforce) plus the drop of rpm from 19.000 to 18.000.
The problem is that some teams (and I’m really surprised by BrawnGP) have done extremely well, even going under 1.19 …. it seems staggering to me that the car of 2009 is about 1 second faster than the one from 2008.

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:06:56 +0000

Here is the full-stop to the discussion:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7941572.stm

“We are not competitive” -Mclaren.

By: alan

alan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Well here we go – McLaren sandbagging or do they have a finely developed donkey? – do no teams hold back just a bit during testing sessions? – which thankfully do not earn points – or do they thrash them to the point where they are only fit for scrap?
Roll on the real race in Australia and then we can see who and what works right – looking forward to then.

By: Becken

Becken — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:25:27 +0000

Reading this, I came to a conclusion that he should be doing a good job at his own team…

The time sheets doesn´t show anything special in the R29 so far…