Spanish Grand Prix 2015, Catalunya - Race 5/19

smr, for McLaren, to hopefully be on target for 10th, if they make it without breaking down and things go perfect - this is not something to brag about. In fact, this is embarrassing.

Earlier in the year, Button was waxing lyrical how good things will be (even though, his car was bad, at the time). However, now, I think the realization has set in that McLaren have built a turkey and are unlikely to compete at the front without major change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/32683716
In the same video, listen to Mark Webber's comment at the end.

For a company the size of McLaren - their resources, their background, their money, expertise, their staff, their attention to perfection, best driver in F1 - hoping to get 10th is a disaster. If this were a football club, heads would roll. Lets not beat around the bush, this season is an absolute disaster.

I've been watching F1 since 1991. I also watched races dating back to the mid-80s.
In all this time, I dont think I've seen a top (established) team fall from grace like this (perhaps Ferrari 25-odd years ago? Lotus also went down the pan in the space of 5 years). McLaren were competing for wins in 2012 and are back of the grid in 2015. Manor could well argue that if they had the resources of McLaren, they'd be getting far better results and I wouldn't disagree with them.

Re: Alonso, I can see no logical reason for him to stay at McLaren for 2016, unless McLaren make a spectacular turn-around.

Oh and as for this race - incredibly boring, sleep inducing. I cant see anybody but Hamilton winning this year's title. So long as he stays healthy, this year is a Hamilton benefit. Hamilton fans should not fret over the one race in 5 that Rosberg/Vettel win. Merc have done a fabulous job and deserve all the plaudits they get.
 
Where would Alonso go? We should start some rumours ;)

Ferraris gotta be a no. Perhaps Mercedes if Rosberg throws a wobbly or Hamilton doesn't re-sign? Red Bulk aren't afraid to drop drivers. Lotus? Maldonado's seat must be looking in threat. Williams? He could team up with Massa after Bottas goes to Ferrari to replace Kimi?

In all honesty I can see him sticking around for 2016, as he did a Hamilton and hasn't moved for imediate gain. However the moment the 2016 car is pants he will move to something else for 2017.
 
leaskovski said:
Instantly thought of the forums when Hamilton came on the radio and said... "I can't get close".

But why, Lewie, why can't you just drive faster?
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Different tracks. Did anyone go into Bahrain or China saying you can't usually overtake there? Nope, EVERYONE talking about Barcelona talks about it being a track that is exceptionally difficult to pass at and it's one of the tracks most people think is awful because there is no passing. HUGE difference.

Also even at one of the most abrasive tracks on the calendar AND in one of the hotter track temp conditions of the season Hamilton got within and stayed within 1 second and wasn't dropping off. He did that for what, a dozen laps and didn't manage to destroy his tires.

Rosberg says he would have destroyed his tires in a matter of a couple of laps so DIDN'T EVEN TRY.

Hamilton tried, and spent a dozen + laps within that gap, got within a half a second multiple times and he chose to pit to switch to a three stop to jump Vettel. He stopped at the normal 3 stop period time, his tires hadn't destroyed themselves, he didn't suddenly lose 1 second + a lap.

Rosberg didn't even try to get within a second of Hamilton and made up complete nonsense about how his tires would be destroyed. Completely different track, completely different situation, all of them favouring Rosberg, but Rosberg didn't even try.

That is what was pathetic about the situation.
 
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Well, as Lewis hasn't signed for Mercedes for next year he could go to Ferrari, and Alonso could go to Mercedes ;)

I'm sure Vettle would have something to say about it, though.
 
Why would he go, why would he move from the number 1 car, why would merc want their best driver to leave. It just doesn't make sense.
 
Glaucus said:
Why would he go, why would he move from the number 1 car, why would merc want their best driver to leave. It just doesn't make sense.
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Ferrari are the team that 99% of drivers want to drive for. They are improving. Catching Merc up fast!
 
In don't recall Hamilton ever expressing the desire to drive for Ferrari like Alonso and Vettel did?

A top driver leaving a top team isn't that rare though. Some drivers like the challenge.
 
koolpc said:
Ferrari are the team that 99% of drivers want to drive for. They are improving. Catching Merc up fast!
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Debatable on the catching up. They were miles behind this weekend, merc have sped up their upgrade process.
I dint think top drivers care where they are at WDC is more important than team. Until they tart losing or near end if career.
 
leaskovski said:
I know...

I was refering to the comments in this thread...

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18664815&page=13

Where people were saying, Rosberg should shut up and just overtake Hamilton, and there is no such issue as dirty air. He was just too slow.
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Firstly no one said there isn't a dirty air issue, people like me said it was overstated. Again read my post. Rosberg was complaining about his tires getting ruined after a couple of laps even though he never got within a second of Hamilton for even 2 laps. He did not try at all to get ahead of Hamilton, no try AT ALL.

Barcelona is an infinitely worse track in this situation, it's a very little overtaking track, it's got a far more abrasive surface, it's far harder on tires and there are far less straights while also being hotter.

Yet Hamilton spent half the race closer to Vettel than Rosberg every got to Hamilton. More to the point, Hamilton did try repeatedly, he complained a little once, then went and got within half a second multiple times. He spent what 7-8 laps in a row within DRS range, something Rosberg didn't even try let alone achieve.

THe problem people had is that Rosberg complained without even trying to overtake. Hamilton DID try to overtake, apples and orange comparison even disregarded the track differences which mean it was 100 times harder for Hamilton than it would have been in China.

Rosberg apparently 'destroyed' his tires being over a second back for a couple of laps. Hamilton did many more laps WAY closer... with no significant drop off or problem. He didn't pit because the tires fell apart or any other reason. He was attempting the undercut and on a three stop strategy.
 
leaskovski said:
I knew you would reply. I love your posts, they make me get a warm feeling inside. xxx

:D
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So you'll make a reply about my post but won't actually respond to the points made in it?

Can you honestly not see the difference between Rosberg not getting within a second, and rarely closer than 1.5 seconds behind, not even trying and at a track that has ample overtaking opportunities and Hamilton being well within a second for long periods of time at a much worse track for overtaking.

You think it's a sensible comparison to compare Rosberg whining without trying when it was fully possible and Hamilton telling his team it's not going to happen AS HE IS TRYING to overtake, while he's closer and gets very close multiple times over?
 
sunama said:
smr, for McLaren, to hopefully be on target for 10th, if they make it without breaking down and things go perfect - this is not something to brag about. In fact, this is embarrassing.

Earlier in the year, Button was waxing lyrical how good things will be (even though, his car was bad, at the time). However, now, I think the realization has set in that McLaren have built a turkey and are unlikely to compete at the front without major change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/32683716
In the same video, listen to Mark Webber's comment at the end.

For a company the size of McLaren - their resources, their background, their money, expertise, their staff, their attention to perfection, best driver in F1 - hoping to get 10th is a disaster. If this were a football club, heads would roll. Lets not beat around the bush, this season is an absolute disaster.

I've been watching F1 since 1991. I also watched races dating back to the mid-80s.
In all this time, I dont think I've seen a top (established) team fall from grace like this (perhaps Ferrari 25-odd years ago? Lotus also went down the pan in the space of 5 years). McLaren were competing for wins in 2012 and are back of the grid in 2015. Manor could well argue that if they had the resources of McLaren, they'd be getting far better results and I wouldn't disagree with them.

Re: Alonso, I can see no logical reason for him to stay at McLaren for 2016, unless McLaren make a spectacular turn-around.

Oh and as for this race - incredibly boring, sleep inducing. I cant see anybody but Hamilton winning this year's title. So long as he stays healthy, this year is a Hamilton benefit. Hamilton fans should not fret over the one race in 5 that Rosberg/Vettel win. Merc have done a fabulous job and deserve all the plaudits they get.
Click to expand...

That is their problem, not a strength!
 
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