2022 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

[SmallSoldier]

Lando’s fastest lap versus Leclerc versus Verstappen:

Not as big a disparity in the main straight as we saw in Bahrain, but I would venture to guess that there in an engine mode / mapping that either is protecting the battery or they are having deployment issues, since even though he doesn’t lift the rpm’s at the end of some straights just stop increasing, which would explain part of the S3 times.

Also of note is how both Lando and Max lift in T10, while Leclerc takes it WOT



This is also happening for Hamilton for example, that’s why it would seem as mapping/deployment related… Interestingly, Lando was actually up against Hamilton all the way to the final corner, only losing time to him on the run to the finishing line:

[Darth-Piekus]

The car seems a little stronger here.Let's hope for some points from this GP.

[SmallSoldier]

one poster actually asked why they moved to Mercedes. ... This fuelled by their infallible 20/20 hindsight and know it all attitude.

Nothing hindsight about it, I mentioned that since 2019 IIRC when it was first announced. McLaren and Renault had a good relationship, the McLaren-Renault was fast and improving, and crucially there was the potential to collaborate on gearboxes or other items.

It made no sense for McLaren to announce a Mercedes deal for 2 years in the future, especially when there were already other Mercedes customer teams with high integration and so there was no chance for McLaren to take that
role. Yet with Renault having no other customers there was that chance there.

For McLaren to seek out and sign an alternative arrangement showed a lack of faith from McLaren in the excellence of Renault and Viry.

[The Renault] is certainly a solid unit. So why the heck did McLaren not continue the Renault deal?

Why didn't Renault take the same approach by purchasing gearbox and suspension from McLaren (I had previously suggested the opposite, but McLaren had no interest in buying from Renault, so seems like it would have to be Renault buying from McLaren just like Force India used to) and sharing a wind tunnel -- it would be an important efficiency gain which would have improved economies of scale at both teams!!

Worse Renault let McLaren defect to Mercedes-Benz, instead of offering say Lada or Dacia sponsorship to keep McLaren in the fold!

Almost if the marraige between McLaren and Renault was only one of convenience, rather than one based on mutual admiration of technical excellence.

There was no reason for McLaren to stay with Renault if Mercedes was available… At the time it wasn’t a better PU, still today we don’t know if it is and Renault’s stability hasn’t been the best, with every seasons having ramblings that they may exit, so not the best option on either front, performance or stability.

McLaren will not be someone else’s “B-Team” and that’s what Renault (at least Cyril) wanted from a closer relationship… and for sure Renault didn’t want to be McLaren’s B-Team… So that relationship between both wasn’t going to go any further than a PU supplier and a customer.

Even this season, there is really nothing that says that been a Renault customer would have been better for McLaren than been a Mercedes customer.

[Emag]

Any long run data from fp2?

[SmallSoldier]

Top Speeds:

1 PER 333
2 VER 328
3 TSU 327
4 GAS 326
5 MAG 326
6 HUL 325
7 SCH 325
8 LEC 325
9 BOT 325
10 ALO 324
11 SAI 324
12 RUS 324
13 LAT 324
14 STR 323
15 ZHP 322
16 OCO 321
17 HAM 321
18 ALB 320
19 NOR 317
20 RIC 317
#f1 #Jeddah

Drag or Engine Mode? That will be interesting once we reach qualifying

[Emag]

Top Speeds:

1 PER 333
2 VER 328
3 TSU 327
4 GAS 326
5 MAG 326
6 HUL 325
7 SCH 325
8 LEC 325
9 BOT 325
10 ALO 324
11 SAI 324
12 RUS 324
13 LAT 324
14 STR 323
15 ZHP 322
16 OCO 321
17 HAM 321
18 ALB 320
19 NOR 317
20 RIC 317
#f1 #Jeddah

Drag or Engine Mode? That will be interesting once we reach qualifying

Or, they bolted as much downforce as they could get away with on the wings to compensate for their weaknesses. Judging by how things have gone so far, I would say it's the right call if they actually did that.

[McG]

McLaren clearly need to start recruiting certain people on this forum who clearly have all the answers. They could just look at the aero and sort it and then move them to the Renault engine, one poster actually asked why they moved to Mercedes. The same Mercedes who have had the best power unit for the hybrid era. Apparently it being a bit down now means you jump ship to Renault. This fuelled by their infallible 20/20 hindsight and know it all attitude.

As someone who was very good at something very difficult I know you don't always get it right. Most of the posters here remind me of the spotters who rocked up at the air show's I attended who would confidently tell me what the Tornado I was stood in front of could, and could not do. As a 1500 hour Weapons System Officer I clearly knew nothing. I would ask them the bold face drills for a double utilities failure and watch them genuinely try to bluff me.

I'm out. Life's too short to entertain stupid.

It's embarrassing to read sometimes. Pure cringe.

[Mansell89]

Well if this was last year, I’d be super excited about quali. Just shy of 7 tenths off the pace in FP2, knowledge that McLaren usually ramp up the power gradually over the weekend, and speed traps to back that up- you’d be expecting the typical jump forward that McLaren so often showed from Friday to Saturday.

This season and based on Bahrain, you wonder- have they simply bolted on a big rear wing and as much downforce as they can to counter last weeks issue?

Alternatively- have they fixed the brake solution for this week, got the tyres in the window as a result, and are just experiencing having to run the Merc in a low mode like all Merc teams so far?

It remains to be seen!

Did anyone see confirmation if we got our brake fix out to Saudi for this weekend?

[Emag]

Well if this was last year, I’d be super excited about quali. Just shy of 7 tenths off the pace in FP2, knowledge that McLaren usually ramp up the power gradually over the weekend, and speed traps to back that up- you’d be expecting the typical jump forward that McLaren so often showed from Friday to Saturday.

This season and based on Bahrain, you wonder- have they simply bolted on a big rear wing and as much downforce as they can to counter last weeks issue?

Alternatively- have they fixed the brake solution for this week, got the tyres in the window as a result, and are just experiencing having to run the Merc in a low mode like all Merc teams so far?

It remains to be seen!

Did anyone see confirmation if we got our brake fix out to Saudi for this weekend?

Nope, from the pictures we got they still have the somewhat "crude" weld job on the cake tins. Same as last week.

[Mansell89]

Well if this was last year, I’d be super excited about quali. Just shy of 7 tenths off the pace in FP2, knowledge that McLaren usually ramp up the power gradually over the weekend, and speed traps to back that up- you’d be expecting the typical jump forward that McLaren so often showed from Friday to Saturday.

This season and based on Bahrain, you wonder- have they simply bolted on a big rear wing and as much downforce as they can to counter last weeks issue?

Alternatively- have they fixed the brake solution for this week, got the tyres in the window as a result, and are just experiencing having to run the Merc in a low mode like all Merc teams so far?

It remains to be seen!

Did anyone see confirmation if we got our brake fix out to Saudi for this weekend?

Nope, from the pictures we got they still have the somewhat "crude" weld job on the cake tins. Same as last week.

Oh no Suspect we may have bolted on downforce then and might drop back tomorrow when everyone turns the wick up?

Hope not - really am willing this team forward, be nice to be fighting Ferrari at the front

[Emag]

Oh no Suspect we may have bolted on downforce then and might drop back tomorrow when everyone turns the wick up?

Hope not - really am willing this team forward, be nice to be fighting Ferrari at the front

I mean, what can you realistically expect them to change within a week? Which is in fact just a couple of days when you consider the packing/unpacking + the time it needs to get from one track to the other. Can't do much with this little time.


If they have indeed bolted on more downforce than the others then they are simply making the best out of the package they have, given the circumstances. However, early signs are better this week because they never cracked the top 10 in Bahrain, so they perhaps made the right choice if they went that way.

Remains to be seen tomorrow, but after that horrid performance in Bahrain, an improvement of any degree should be considered an achievement given the short timeframe from the last race to here.

[Marc.W]

Jeddah isn't very hard on brakes, just 2 big braking zones on the lap, so hopefully that masks that weakness, car was porpoising a little more in FP2 than I've ever seen from the 36, and it looked like Lando was running the Barcelona spec floor, so maybe a stronger result this week?

[runningmanz]

A lot more positive this weekend much better pace and without any upgrades. Hope we can carry this on through Saturday and Sunday.

[mclaren111]

Can we expect something better in Saudi Arabia this weekend? Some better set up that might move us up the order or some quick fix?

No updates brought to Saudi. So i dont think we will be better than last weekend.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-sau ... -revealed/

FW Changes...

[mclaren111]

McLaren clearly need to start recruiting certain people on this forum who clearly have all the answers. They could just look at the aero and sort it and then move them to the Renault engine, one poster actually asked why they moved to Mercedes. The same Mercedes who have had the best power unit for the hybrid era. Apparently it being a bit down now means you jump ship to Renault. This fuelled by their infallible 20/20 hindsight and know it all attitude.

As someone who was very good at something very difficult I know you don't always get it right. Most of the posters here remind me of the spotters who rocked up at the air show's I attended who would confidently tell me what the Tornado I was stood in front of could, and could not do. As a 1500 hour Weapons System Officer I clearly knew nothing. I would ask them the bold face drills for a double utilities failure and watch them genuinely try to bluff me.

I'm out. Life's too short to entertain stupid.