2023 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

[djos]

The team does what they think is best for the team. As Stella said, if drivers don't like it, then they aren't thinking about the team. Which would indicate that if they aren't thinking about the team they shouldn't be on the team.

But, I think Oscar knows his position as the rookie, behind his teammate in points and qualifying. He doesn't seem like one to rock the apple cart, at this stage of his career at least.

If anyone thinks they have some anti Oscar agenda in the team, give your head a wobble.

I’m not saying they are biased against Oscar, they are biased towards Lando. Quite different!

The golden rule of F1 teams has always been to pit the driver in the best on track position first. McLaren hand have actually lost WCC points by favouring Lando to this extent. That’s just a fact.

Btw, AT managed to bring their big upgrade for both drivers, it doesn’t look great that McLaren couldn’t manage this.

What has this to got to do with our updates program ?

AT are a comparatively small team. Just saying.

[mwillems]

Mclaren and Mercedes look very close here this weekend.

Apparently nods and smiles at the Mclaren pit so it seems there is confidence.

[BMMR61]

Seems a little disappointing that in the middle of a GP weekend with major McLaren updates that the dominant discussion is a gripe about team tactic favouritism. Just my opinion.

It seems too early to get a read from our distance how the updates are working - Stella and Norris sounded upbeat enough, Oscar reflective of how much he needs to get out of the track.

Lando has just topped the times on softs with 15 minutes to go and Oscar is 0.4 slower - is this 0.4 the measure of the updates?

[MCLvamos]

Main positive is the step we seem to have made from yesterday, just looking at ourselves, not what everyone else is doing. Perhaps a bit more understanding of the new package and the optimal setup window for it. If we can get in the vicinity of the Ferrari in qualifying then we are in with a shot in the race with similar race pace from the data I've seen. And I really do hope this Red Bull (lack of) pace is genuine!

[mwillems]

Its a public forum. Expect conversations you don't agree with or see the relevance cos someone else does. Otherwise there'd be no discussion about anything. Read or dont read. Its a simple skill, but whether you are dissapointed or not adds even less

[MCLvamos]

Seems a little disappointing that in the middle of a GP weekend with major McLaren updates that the dominant discussion is a gripe about team tactic favouritism. Just my opinion.

It seems too early to get a read from our distance how the updates are working - Stella and Norris sounded upbeat enough, Oscar reflective of how much he needs to get out of the track.

Lando has just topped the times on softs with 15 minutes to go and Oscar is 0.4 slower - is this 0.4 the measure of the updates?

Yep, I'd suspect closer to 3 or so tenths with a bit of driver lap time variability thrown in. But no doubt the majority of that gap will be the new package, which may be exaggerated around this circuit due to the many slow corners.

[MrGapes]

Losing a chunk in the middle sector, need to see if any mistakes on that lap.

[mwillems]

Its nice to see that the Ferrari rear looks very very tricky, this bodes well for our chances.

[MCLvamos]

Its nice to see that the Ferrari rear looks very very tricky, this bodes well for our chances.

still fast as hell

[MCLvamos]

Losing a chunk in the middle sector, need to see if any mistakes on that lap.

no obvious errors when I watched the lap onboard

[MrGapes]

Losing a chunk in the middle sector, need to see if any mistakes on that lap.

no obvious errors when I watched the lap onboard

yup looked fairly fine, I'd guess he bled time through 8, 11-12, they are running the car stiffer than yesterday, and its quite bumpy through 10-13..

[Darth-Piekus]

Ferrari seems to have the upper hand for now. On to qualifying let's see if the team finds 2 or more tenths that they miss for pole and let's not count out Mercedes who seem improved.

There are two questionmarks of the day. Is it possible that Red Bull was hit hard by that flappy wings rule change? For a car that dominated the rest by half a second they lost 8 or more tenths from that change unless they are sandbagging.

If Mclaren is also hiding time from that last big upgrade.

[mwillems]

Its nice to see that the Ferrari rear looks very very tricky, this bodes well for our chances.

still fast as hell

Yeah until the rear end slips out, a little bit of that on a fast lap in Q and we could get ahead, otherwise they do look faster.

We seem to be mixing it with Merc at 3/4th fastest team at worst, after that we can only hope for the best.

[mwillems]

Losing a chunk in the middle sector, need to see if any mistakes on that lap.

no obvious errors when I watched the lap onboard

yup looked fairly fine, I'd guess he bled time through 8, 11-12, they are running the car stiffer than yesterday, and its quite bumpy through 10-13..

It looks like the weak sector for us, so far.

[MrGapes]

Losing a chunk in the middle sector, need to see if any mistakes on that lap.

no obvious errors when I watched the lap onboard

yup looked fairly fine, I'd guess he bled time through 8, 11-12, they are running the car stiffer than yesterday, and its quite bumpy through 10-13..

yup as I thought he slightly missed apex in 8 and lost about 2-3tenths, which hindered the drive out to 9

I still think come quali. ferrari will have 2-3 tenths in hand, will take a perfect lap.