The F1 2014 season

englishpremier said:
The problem with McLaren for me is they are about as exciting as tax disc collector convention. Their public image is dull as dishwater, even the tooned series (which is good) doesn't make them any more appealing.

I've never seen DiCe but I wouldn't be surprised if the McLaren factory was fully of Spitting Image John Mayor types ;-)

On on more serious note. Despite being his boyhood favourite team, Alonso will never consider going back there is there is a risk Dennis will appoint himself team principle.
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They really are trying to change that, but at the same time they are not going to be Lotus, posting crazy stuff on Twitter, McLarens brand is their attention to detail, MTC etc love them or hate them you talk about them because of their persona.

Thomas. PLease. said:
You work at MTC? What do you do there out of interest?
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I do, not been there long but the people I work with have told me "5 years ago you wouldnt get away with *blank*" I work on the in house audio visual team, I love it!
 
Sounds like McLaren have much deeper issues than just not having a fast car, and doesn't sound like Whitmarsh was doing anything about it.

Ron stepped aside to sacrifice himself to save the team. It was quite obvious that the FIA (i.e. Max) had a crosshair on Rons back. With Max gone, and Whitmarsh letting the team lapse far worse than their on track performances alone suggest, its great that he's back.

Here's to a strong future for McLaren.

Also, DiCe! for Team Principle! :D
 
Car wise, sure, but as for the mentality of the staff and work ethic he will have already started. I imagine some of the slackers who know what it was like under Ron before will have ironed their shirts better this morning, and tidied up their desks.
 
I suppose in an ideal world they can get any issues they may have sorted during this season and be on the ball for the Honda switch.
 
Skeeter said:
Car wise, sure, but as for the mentality of the staff and work ethic he will have already started. I imagine some of the slackers who know what it was like under Ron before will have ironed their shirts better this morning, and tidied up their desks.
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You forgot polishing their shoes. :p
 
I've been saying the same thing for over a year now. McLaren have lost their will to win.
If they win - great.
If they don't win - no big deal.

Top teams work in a way, where if they lose their No.1 driver, they fight tooth and nail to bring in a suitable replacement. McLaren lost Hamilton and brought in Perez! Yes, you read that right.

...and to compound their poor decision in 2012, they have replaced Perez (who was always going to be a failure), with a complete rookie! Yes, you read this right.

At least Perez had experience, was bringing in big money (to be spent on improving the car) and was a good wet-weather driver, who could look after his tyres better than most drivers.

Until McLaren bring in a top line driver (or create a car which is 0.5s/lap faster than everybody else - unlikely), they will continue to struggle to win races. In 2012, they had (arguably) the fastest car on the grid and none of their drivers were able to beat Vettel, Alonso or Kimi. This was the point that McLaren should've made key changes.

I will say that McLaren have every chance of producing a good car. Their resources. Their staff. Their back-ground. Their experience. BUT without a driver on par with Alonso or Vettel, they have a small probability of winning a title or even a race. Alonso and Vettel are mind-blowingly good. Amongst the greatest ever drivers.

And as for R.Denis. This was the guy who "shopped" his own team in 2007. Made a complete hash of managing 2 great (young) drivers, which resulted in McLaren losing the WDC by 1 point. C.Horner who I rate as the best team principal I have ever seen in F1, would've managed Alonso and Hamilton and seen McLaren win the title in 2007.

McLaren need to try and beat Vettel/RBR. With Button as their lead driver, they have virtually no chance. This is a reality that they must face and attempt to sort out.

Once McLaren hire Alonso, Vettel (or even Hamilton), as their lead, No.1 driver, I predict within 2 years, they will compete for titles and race wins. But until then, they will continue to coast.

Personally, I think they should make a HUGE/ASTRONOMICAL bid for Vettel's services in 2015. After Vettel wins his 5th title this year, they should bring him to McLaren and ask him to do for them what MSc did for Ferrari. They'll have to really work hard for Vettel though, as he won't tolerate their attitude of "coasting" and hoping for the best.
 
DiCe! said:
I wouldnt be so sure. Standards have slipped. He said so himself tonight "I will make this a fun place to work, I will add family days etc. But things need to change, standards have slipped. When we opened this building we had a code, that doesnt exist any more"

Some people are going to get a rocket, and rightly so, some of the lax people there beggar belief.
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lol, are people ignoring his clean desk policy then? Man, I hate it when an office lets itself slide. :D
 
sunama said:
Top teams work in a way, where if they lose their No.1 driver, they fight tooth and nail to bring in a suitable replacement. McLaren lost Hamilton and brought in Perez! Yes, you read that right.

...and to compound their poor decision in 2012, they have replaced Perez (who was always going to be a failure), with a complete rookie! Yes, you read this right.
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It's not as simple as that, as you well know (I hope, maybe you really are that dozy....). I seem to recall fairly recently that McLaren took a chance on a complete rookie, now what was his name? Um....er....oh yes! Lewis Hamilton! And who was that driver that Sauber took on who had pretty much no experience.....no, I know this one, it was....no, no, I'll get it.....Kimi Raikkonen, that's the one! Alonso didn't have a whole heap of experience either. Or Vettel. Doubtless you remember all this, though. *chortle*

Now, I think that they should have given Perez at least another year. But I'm very interested to see what Magnussen can do. Hell, it's one of the ve-e-e-eeery few interesting things about the coming year in F1.
 
Bringing in a rookie is brilliant if he's good. Its not like Hamilton was a mistake.
Ive always said 2014 is a bridge year for them and not expecting them to win. It gives Magnusson a season to gain experience, before the switch to Honda in 2015. Now with big Ron, its even better news and even more if a transition year. Just need them to declare whitmarsh is out and get Ross in asap (I hope and even if he just shadows). So he can start learning what's what etc. Certainly needs to be in the team by the half way mark, or who ever they pick.
 
I don't agree that Horner is the best TP, not by a long shot. IMO he doesn't make that many non-technical decisions and Vettel proved that he can do what the hell he wants regardless of what CH says and will get away with it because he's number one Son according to Red Bull. I suspect CH wanted to tear strips off Vettel after Malaysia but was probably overruled. He's a figurehead and little else.
 
Any number 1 driver would get away with that and as they should.
Just look at f1 history for plenty of examples. Its pretty much a defining character of multiple world champions.
 
leaskovski said:
Yet another employee legs it to Williams just down the road. This time the IT dude has left.

I guess no money at Lotus means that staff are running away to new jobs.
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Yep, I can't ignore it anymore. They are done. Can't believe it Tbh. Years of the same team (different names) done.
I will follow f1 on the news next year.. That is all. I just can't see my team fade
 
al4x said:
Yep, I can't ignore it anymore. They are done. Can't believe it Tbh. Years of the same team (different names) done.
I will follow f1 on the news next year.. That is all. I just can't see my team fade
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I wouldn't panic just yet. There are invite for new teams - maybe it would be cheaper to buy a team on the ropes and rebuild?

I'd honestly be stunned if Toleman :) really did end. My old man ran their favorite boozer in the early 80s so have always had a soft spot for the team (no matter the name)
 
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