This forum contains threads to discuss teams themselves. Anything not technical about the cars, including restructuring, performances etc belongs here.
the tyre pressure thing will be a bit concerning for ferrari fans - I was suspecting a bit of gamesmanship until they did something last minute that clearly was going to get them in front of the stewards - looked like some low key panic going on
Having seen how things have transpired, I am positively confident that under a different technical leadership, McLaren should have had a car good enough to fight for occasional victories since 2021. Need to see how they develop next year and into the new regs of 2026 to confirm this, but I genuinely believe James Key is incompetent as a technical director. He took a great concept left by Pat Fry in 2019. Developed it in 2020 and 2021 but relatively speaking, they remained stationary. Just flattered by Ferrari hitting a slump with their PU and Aston complaining about low rake cars being screwed for 2021.
He lost the development war with Ferrari during 2021 and proceeded to go with the most cautious approach one could possibly have for the 2022 rules (just go back and look how barren of interesting features that car looks, except maybe the rear suspension). Stuck in limbo with the 2022 car, even though they had hopes the French GP upgrade package will break them free of the midfield.
Then, completely change concept for 2023, only to mess it up in a spectacular fashion. I am pretty sure that poor reaction from James Key regarding the lack of pace as well as the lukewarm development plans probably triggered an uproar within the factory from people who were likely not listened to, just because they fell lower in the hierarchy.
No competent individual would have ever developed a car that was initially the slowest on the grid while having a technical rooster like the one McLaren had plus the facilities McLaren had. To be outdeveloped by Haas and Williams (which at the time was still building up) is embarrassing.
And look what he is doing at Sauber. Car started slowest, 3 upgrades later, they are still the slowest. Grant it, it's a transition year for them preparing for the Audi takeover, but being dead last with zero points scored? It's impressive when you consider that freaking Alpine who started with an overweight dog of a car has scored 13.
I have one question about the rear wings here in Singapore. Yesterday in both Friday sessions Lando was running with a Netherlands spec rear wing, but Oscar was running either Monaco or Barcelona spec. So, did Oscar have a Netherlands spec rear wing in FP3 or not? I can't figure out where exactly he's losing time compared to Lando.
The Netherlands spec has slightly less downforce and therefore higher top speed on the straights. It can also contribute to more neutral steering, rather than understeer, as is the case with the Monaco spec.
I'd rather Zak not be throwing shade, seems a bit un Mckaren like, which is to be above it a bit.
Personally I'm of the opinion that Red Bull deserve to get a lot of flak for all those years of constant whining. They are doing that from 2015. Every team has highs and lows. In Greece we say that every team has a moon. Perhaps it's the moon of Mclaren this time and I don't see why Red Bull is making such a fuss over a team that has done a better job for once.
I have one question about the rear wings here in Singapore. Yesterday in both Friday sessions Lando was running with a Netherlands spec rear wing, but Oscar was running either Monaco or Barcelona spec. So, did Oscar have a Netherlands spec rear wing in FP3 or not? I can't figure out where exactly he's losing time compared to Lando.
The Netherlands spec has slightly less downforce and therefore higher top speed on the straights. It can also contribute to more neutral steering, rather than understeer, as is the case with the Monaco spec.
Zandvoort, both running the same I believe. Like last year, they did not run max DF.
Bear in mind that Oscar struggled here a lot last year, although not helped by a red flag.
Last edited by mwillems on 21 Sep 2024, 14:47, edited 3 times in total.
I'd rather Zak not be throwing shade, seems a bit un Mckaren like, which is to be above it a bit.
Personally I'm of the opinion that Red Bull deserve to get a lot of flak for all those years of constant whining. They are doing that from 2015. Every team has highs and lows. In Greece we say that every team has a moon. Perhaps it's the moon of Mclaren this time and I don't see why Red Bull is making such a fuss over a team that has done a better job for once.
Every single team whines. Red Bull just does it very openly. Ferrari for instance will whine to the FIA alongside Red Bull and then stay quiet while Red Bull airs their grievances to the media. Red Bull is not any more whiny than other teams, just more public.
