planetf1.com

I forgot to close this off, heh. Remarkable outcome, isn't it?

Well, I guess there are actually still two possibilities left from the poll, though.

Also, should've put "after both drivers and the engine supplier have left the team"

Oh dear!

I can't help feeling very sorry for Stoffel. It's hard enough to make it into F1 in the first place, let alone with a team that was considered one of the very best until then. Ah well, at least Alonso got all those titles for them...

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Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity.

Maria de Villota - Jules Bianchi

I voted for first half of 2016...

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion

I said 2017...

At the time I chose "After both current drivers have left the team". Still looking good

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I don't rely entirely on God

I rely on Prost

I actually didn't vote which maybe says it all?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

Not claiming it will get them on the podium but McLaren are seemingly making a vey bold move in completely changing their aero philosophy here in Barcelona:

https://www.racefans.net/2019/05/10/analysis-mclaren-reveals-f1s-biggest-update-of-2019-so-far/

Yeah I don't quite understand their change in philosophy. They seem to be the most consistent midfield team so far, and look to be on the right path. So why change? Perhaps just a trial? It does not seem to have brought them any closer to the front.

I'm a little concerned, tbh. They are apparently adopting the same aero philosophy that only Ferrari and Sauber have and both of those have recently started going backwards relative to their competition. I'm nervous that McLaren may be taking a wrong direction. Again.

News that McLaren's fuel sponsor is looking to terminate their relationship:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/brazil-bolsonaro-petrobras-mclaren/4390826/

Could be just another example of Bolsonaro throwing his weight around but not good news for McLaren if this goes ahead

I don't think losing sponsors is a major issue for Mclaren TBH. They are effectively owned by the Bahraini royal family. The budget is whatever they want it to be.

They were developing lubricants for them though apparently. Maybe not the end of the world but surely everything helps

I hope this does not effect them too much!......

Appreciate this article is about the Indy 500 but feel it's relevant as it shines a light on yet another management snafu by the team.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/05/20/ap-mclarens-failed-indy-500-effort-was-a-comedy-of-errors/

I've always been a massive fan of McLaren but they are making it harder and harder to respect them these days. They're the F1 equivalent of Manchester United in that they were always run like a well-oiled machine with their long-time patriarch but the minute he left they lost their superstar status and became one of the numbers. It's a travesty how this once-mighty team has fallen so far from grace and while I'm not one for scapegoating I'm not having a tremendous amount of faith in Zak Brown's management I have to say. Is he the right man for them?

The whole thing reads like a Spinal Tap movie script

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I don't rely entirely on God

I rely on Prost

and on a more positive note, Sainz claims they have identified why they were so poor in S3 in Barcelona which gives them hope for a better showing in Monaco:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/sainz-mclaren-spain-problem-monaco/4394149/

It looks like McLaren are firmly in control of the best of the rest competition. They are easily the fourth best team so far this year and they have gotten stronger since the start of the year. After the low point of 2018 I was beginning to think that McLaren would slowly go the way of Williams after so many bad seasons but finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. That first podium in ages might actually come in 2019. They are within range where, if they get really lucky, they could poach one.

I can't help but wonder if it might not be time to approach Mercedes and try to get that engine again. Mercedes are losing a customer in Williams and will have the bandwidth to take on McLaren. Unlike in 2015 when Red Bull wanted the Merc PU, Mercedes will not perceive McLaren as an imminent threat for the titles. I think McLaren should act sooner rather than later because at some point, if they keep improving, they will become too good to get that engine deal. We all know that McLaren will never run a Ferrari engine so I think Mercedes is the logical choice. I don't think it would be a huge difference maker at this stage but I think every little bit counts and I believe McLaren has a legitimate chance to get back to the front again by 2021.

Could McLaren manufacture their own engine?

Who builds the engines for their cars now? Perhaps if the engine regs are relaxed in 2021 it might entice them?

I dont follow things that closely so could be way off here.

Cheers

It's way to complicated for anyone to consider building there own engines right now.

Yeah F1 really needs to look at that. The current engine specs make it impossible for anyone to enter the sport as a manufacturer.

Considering much bigger car manufacture are not showing much interest in F1 I think it is not even possible for Mclaren. In fact I think RBR F1 team is bigger than Mclaren and Renault as well.

Mclaren are still getting lapped but their performance this year is good and their car is one of the fastest in straight line with low drag aero. It look Vettel some laps to overtake them in Austria. He had to do with late braking as well so it was not straight forward. I remember for past some years they used to be the slowest car in straights. If for some reason Renault fails to get out of midfield this year I think they should consider dropping their team and partner with Mclaren like RBR and Honda. IMO that is the only way Mclaren can get back to fighting top3 teams again.

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Sir Stirling Moss "Quite frankly, Kimi Raikkonen is the fastest driver in the world"

Sainz has done it, apparently?

12 people got it right.

Well, they still haven't been "on" the podium since 2014

Well, apparently I said "Before the end of the season". It didn't say which season though...

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===\ō͡≡\ō͡≡o˞̶ ===\ō͡≡\ō͡≡o˞̶ ===\ō͡≡\ō͡≡o˞̶ ===\ō͡≡\ō͡≡o˞̶ ===\ō͡≡\ō͡≡o˞̶===

Fantastic to see them back up there (officially at least).

Did they pit Norris for fresh tyres, he was running just in front of Saints before all the SC stuff? Perhaps if they’d stayed out they could have had a 3-4.

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I remember when this website was all fields.

If you want to go down that route, they got 'on' the podium the very next year in Brazil 2015!

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion

Called it!

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I don't rely entirely on God

I rely on Prost

Well then, was Honda holding McLaren back, or was Alonso (and Vandoorne) holding McLaren back, or are Zak Brown and Eric Boullier just getting up to speed?

The local know it alls around here will miss no opportunity to tell you that it's not the current drivers who are getting the McLarens up near the big three teams this year. Couldn't be Sainz or Norris!!!

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Mission WinLater

It really isn't. It's not plausible to think that Sainz is the better part of a second faster than Alonso, and that's less than the average amount McLaren has improved this year. The positive atmosphere from Lando and Carlos can't hurt, but the team builds the car, and the team is responsible for their change in fortunes.

For the rest:

a) Honda was holding McLaren back. But equally, I think McLaren was holding Honda back.
b) Alonso and Vandoorne were not holding McLaren back, except insofar as having Alonso there made it harder for them to admit to their faults.
c) Eric Boullier may have been holding McLaren back. I've seen a definite improvement since Seidl took over.

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion

I got it right

One of the 12 people here who voted "after both current drivers have left the team"

Next question(s)...

When will they next be on the podium?

When will the next get a podium that is achieved on pure performance?