2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

[McL-H]

Balance of the car looks really good. Norris seems to be preserving the tyres well also. But the car is too slow to overtake. Even when Hulk lost DRS, Norris even with DRS could not catch up. Maybe better to pit for a new set and try to undercut. But with potential SC very tricky also..

Edit: forgot Ocon and Hulk still need to pit. So not that bad of a position. Just have to wait a while longer.

[Szabi1112]

The car is a non-raceable brick, as slow as a snail. In additon, Lando is very conservative today. Both the start and the SC restart he lost positions or/and were unable to pass the slowercars in front of him. (Magnussen was next to him) Just to compare to Hamilton. Hamilton gained 2 pos in the first lap after the SC restart. Needless to say that that is a mercedes. Out raw pace is very close to the Mercedes' one, the top speed is more or less the same. So it was a missed chance.. A very big missed chance.. It is not lando's day.

[Darth-Piekus]

What was the difference between the car of 2021 that won Monza, got a pole in Sochi and nearly won Sochi being also competitive to top speed circuits and the cars of 2022 and 2023? How was it possible for the car to lose its top speed advantage? The car isn't slow in terms of aerodynamics. We can see that in the aerodynamic part of the race.

[SmallSoldier]

It’s simply hard to make the overtake at Baku, is not just a McLaren issue… In addition, even on the laps where Hulk was out of DRS from Ocon, he still was within 1.5 seconds and therefore with a massive tow helping him stay in front.

Unless the driver in front makes a mistake coming out of the last turn or your are in within half a second of the car in front exiting it, making the overtake is difficult (unless you are a Red Bull, and even they needed to be within 0.7 seconds to make the overtake with DRS)

[SmallSoldier]

What was the difference between the car of 2021 that won Monza, got a pole in Sochi and nearly won Sochi being also competitive to top speed circuits and the cars of 2022 and 2023? How was it possible for the car to lose its top speed advantage? The car isn't slow in terms of aerodynamics. We can see that in the aerodynamic part of the race.

Just an small difference… A completely different set of regulations

[Darth-Piekus]

Does mechanical downforce affect top speed? From what I see both Mclarens are not going to do another pit. Both Ocon and Hulkenberg must do one pit stop by rules if I'm correct.

[Mansell89]

Looks to me like any Merc power is struggling to fight a Ferrari or Honda power - seems to ring true across the field.

[Darth-Piekus]

I don't think it's just engine matter. Red Bull is a quick car with the advantage they gained in 2021 and possibly in 2022.

[mwillems]

Lando gets past as Ted Kravitz say the upgrade is worth 2 tenths and that the next one is too.

[Darth-Piekus]

Good job. Now to get Ocon but Ocon is gonna pit sooner or later. Can you finish the race without a single pit stop?

[mwillems]

Looks to me like any Merc power is struggling to fight a Ferrari or Honda power - seems to ring true across the field.

Tell Fernando he is slow.

Our car has work to do, it isn't the engine.

Folks also forget we are running with more downforce abd were quicker through many of the corners than Fernando.

This is great in the race if you want to look after the tyres and don't get stuck behind someone.

Bad strategy if you're going to need to overtake.

[Darth-Piekus]

Can you finish a race without doing a pit stop? Is it allowed?

[Lucky]

Looks to me like any Merc power is struggling to fight a Ferrari or Honda power - seems to ring true across the field.

Williams is very fast on the straights

[Darth-Piekus]

Obviousle the top speed decifit is only a Mclaren problem. I see most of the teams and even those that have weaker cars not having problems with top speed. The Mclaren crew has to find out what makes the car have that decifit. On the positive side it seems that the new philosophy is working much better compared to what was happening in Bahrain. While we are not yet on the level of the top 4 we are faster than all of the rest in a circuit that the car has drag decifit.

[michl420]

Can you finish a race without doing a pit stop? Is it allowed?

Only with wet tyres!