2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

[SmallSoldier]

Let’s take this weekend with a grain of salt and not build too high expectations… This is a circuit that McLaren was expecting to have good performance regardless of the new package… The half a second between Piastri and Norris isn’t far off from other qualifying sessions and even though the upgrades may have had an effect, based on everything we’ve seeing so far this season a big part of the Delta is driver related.

On the other hand, the Team worked hard to get this package to the track and it’s following design cues that clearly work and there is nothing wrong with that, I’m actually happy that ego’s are not getting in the way and they have enough humility to copy what is proven to generate performance… Hopefully a bit of McLaren’s DNA has been mixed in and they can extract a bit more

I was thinking yesterday about throwing some cautionary tales in around seeing the platform at other tracks, this is just one qualy section and the fact that this track was always going to suit the car... but you've been that guy so thanks

But even though I agree in sentiment it is worth pointing out that half a second is generally bigger than the Delta between the Mclaren drivers, especially recently, and that at such a fast track with low lap times as Austria half a second is bigger than it sounds.

So it does seem with one small amount of evidence that the car could be a lot faster. But personally I think we need the "pinch test" to make sure that this wasn't circumstantial because its also possible that everything came together to make it look this way.

If the gap is consistently big after this weekend then the package works here, then we see about Silverstone etc

But I have to say it does look good for us right now and maybe, juuuuuust maybe, Mika wasn't smoking crack....

I would love for Mika to be spot on and that great things are coming for the Team… It’s just painful when we build expectations and then we have to go through several weeks of moaning, complaining and trolling… Which sometimes makes this space unbearable… I was told by someone at the team, that they expect good things, but that they are waiting for the whole package to be completed and still waiting to see if they can get the performance on track that they expect (it was that vague, lol).

[Ground Effect]

Stella plays down upgrades

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/stel ... /10489818/

[mwillems]

Let’s take this weekend with a grain of salt and not build too high expectations… This is a circuit that McLaren was expecting to have good performance regardless of the new package… The half a second between Piastri and Norris isn’t far off from other qualifying sessions and even though the upgrades may have had an effect, based on everything we’ve seeing so far this season a big part of the Delta is driver related.

On the other hand, the Team worked hard to get this package to the track and it’s following design cues that clearly work and there is nothing wrong with that, I’m actually happy that ego’s are not getting in the way and they have enough humility to copy what is proven to generate performance… Hopefully a bit of McLaren’s DNA has been mixed in and they can extract a bit more

I was thinking yesterday about throwing some cautionary tales in around seeing the platform at other tracks, this is just one qualy section and the fact that this track was always going to suit the car... but you've been that guy so thanks

But even though I agree in sentiment it is worth pointing out that half a second is generally bigger than the Delta between the Mclaren drivers, especially recently, and that at such a fast track with low lap times as Austria half a second is bigger than it sounds.

So it does seem with one small amount of evidence that the car could be a lot faster. But personally I think we need the "pinch test" to make sure that this wasn't circumstantial because its also possible that everything came together to make it look this way.

If the gap is consistently big after this weekend then the package works here, then we see about Silverstone etc

But I have to say it does look good for us right now and maybe, juuuuuust maybe, Mika wasn't smoking crack....

I would love for Mika to be spot on and that great things are coming for the Team… It’s just painful when we build expectations and then we have to go through several weeks of moaning, complaining and trolling… Which sometimes makes this space unbearable… I was told by someone at the team, that they expect good things, but that they are waiting for the whole package to be completed and still waiting to see if they can get the performance on track that they expect (it was that vague, lol).

Yeah totally agree, we absolutely need to temper expectations. That said, I am excited myself but holding it in for now

[Darth-Piekus]

Seriously with that Crashstappen and his dive bombs. He destroyed our Sprint and Norris has started well.

[Szabi1112]

I cant believe it. Why do we have so many bad luck?

[Darth-Piekus]

It wasn't bad luck this time. It was Verstappen and his usual you let me pass or you crash dive bombs. Norris paid the price to avoid that egotistical driver. This is becoming ridiculous with him. He has to learn that he is not alone racing. It pisses me off when someone does that.

Verstappen dive bombed into Perez, covered Perez but left them both open from Norris and when Norris was having the faster exit from both he comes straight to Norris and Norris had to avoid a collision.

[Szabi1112]

Sh*t. We really would have had
the chance to get a podium

[Darth-Piekus]

Sh*t. We really would have had
the chance to get a podium

I'm dissapointed cause Norris had turned normally and he had the chance to pass both Red Bulls but as always Verstappen does his Verstappen style of defending.

[proteus]

This season is like cursed.... They just cant catch a break....

[Darth-Piekus]

Not having DRS is damaging our chances of doing passes cause we seem to have the top speed to do passes. And now the idiotic FIA is enabling DRS.

[billamend]

Fascinating lines from Norris.

[mwillems]

We can still snatch 6th, not bad really, not 3rd but not bad. Exciting racing and great to see the Mclaren mixing it.

[mwillems]

Fascinating lines from Norris.

Every time he goes so wide at turn one and I can't understand how it keeps the time, Leclerc would close and Lando would get away.

He's kept his tyres cool I hope by looking for that wet line instead of looking for the outright fastest line.

[mwillems]

Piastri is loving the dry.

[Darth-Piekus]

Can we manage to finish in 7th? Hulkenberg is closing fast.