2024 Mclaren Formula 1 Team

[venkyhere]

Switching back from endless discussion on Max v Lando in mexico and the 'rules' (let's just accept that everyone has their own opinion, and that no amount of writing is going to convince anyone otherwise - even stewards are showing no consistency), coming straight to the WDC :

26+8, 26, 26+8, 26 on the table.
Realistically, RB20 is a P5-P6 car, even then it needs to beat atleast one Mercedes.
Let's say, on average, Max finishes P5 in every race (behind both McLarens and behind both Ferraris) - that means he bags 10+4, 10, 10+4, 10 in the next four races. That's 48 points. Let's say probably 40, if he maximizes the ability of the car but still has some bad pitstops or with the engine penalty, finishes P8 in one of the races.

What Norris has to do, is to gain 40+47(the current deficit he has) = 87 points. Let's say 25+6, 19, 18+8, 15 , which add upto 91 points, even with only one race win and one sprint win. Even if he loses 5 points out of this possible string of scores, still he wins WDC.

So, contrary to popular opinion, the pressure is actually on Max, to retain the WDC, not the other way around. Max has to not only do really well with the sub-par car (which is terrible on H tyre, whatever is chosen by Pirelli - C1 or C2 or C3) ; he also has to pray that both Ferraris do really well. All Norris has to do is stay away from dogfights with Max, he can easily overtake on the straights (whichever is the ckt, MCL38 > RB20 in any setup, any track).

I have a feeling that the final AbuDhabi GP is going to be a nail biter, like 2021. If any of these two drivers suffers a DNF before that final race, they can write off their WDC chances.

[FittingMechanics]

It is a tall order but if Max has to start mid pack and fight through, who knows.

Realistically Lando needs a Max DNF to have a proper shot but as a start, we need to maximize points in Brazil.

[venkyhere]

I genuinely think all Lando needs to do is win one race one sprint race, and finish on the podium for everything else, and he wins WDC. The pressure is squarely on Max, because of the state of his car.

[Darth-Piekus]

Venky I think that Mclaren should focus on the WCC first and that is finish in front of the Ferraris and if the WDC also comes from these good results so be it.

[Alex_Z]

Lots of wishful thinking here. Truth is Norris blew his opportunity to win the WDC when he had a similar points gap to Max post Miami and post the summer break. Max qualified 2nd in Mexico, he will probably qualify top 3 in the remaining races. It's done.

[Emag]

Lots of wishful thinking here. Truth is Norris blew his opportunity to win the WDC when he had a similar points gap to Max post Miami and post the summer break. Max qualified 2nd in Mexico, he will probably qualify top 3 in the remaining races. It's done.

Doesn't really change their approach. What do you expect them to do, come out and say "ah well we f*cked up, Max got this one so we are going to sit these last couple of races out".

They will still try to win the remaining races, also because the WCC is under serious threat. Whether Lando beats Max by the end or not, that remains to be seen.

[Darth-Piekus]

Lots of wishful thinking here. Truth is Norris blew his opportunity to win the WDC when he had a similar points gap to Max post Miami and post the summer break. Max qualified 2nd in Mexico, he will probably qualify top 3 in the remaining races. It's done.

Hold that thought as there is always a good possibility it might get old very fast.

[bananapeel23]

It happened before with the great Michael Schumacher. You never know.

There is a difference between forcing someone off the track and backing them up at the cost of a penalty and intentionally crashing someone out of the race. It is the racing equivalent of playing time in football, just with a foul to get possession of the ball.

Schumacher wasn't disqualified becuase he attempted to ruin Villeneuves race. He was disqualified because he intentionally crashed, which is one of the biggest no-nos in F1. Crashing intentionally always results in black flags and race bans, with the one notable exception of Vettel in Baku 2017, probably because it was more of a tyre shove under safety car rather than a full blown race-ending crash.

If you want to prevent what Max did, a drive-through penalty would suffice, since it has to be served within 3 laps.

[Darth-Piekus]

I dont disagree. Schumi was indeed disqualified because he crashed intentionally. However my opinion is that sending someone off the track and forcing him to take evasive action or there is a crash should still be punished harshly. We shouldn't wait for a crash to be the end result to take action against a driver that deliberately abuses it.

[mwillems]

Switching back from endless discussion on Max v Lando in mexico and the 'rules' (let's just accept that everyone has their own opinion, and that no amount of writing is going to convince anyone otherwise - even stewards are showing no consistency), coming straight to the WDC :

26+8, 26, 26+8, 26 on the table.
Realistically, RB20 is a P5-P6 car, even then it needs to beat atleast one Mercedes.
Let's say, on average, Max finishes P5 in every race (behind both McLarens and behind both Ferraris) - that means he bags 10+4, 10, 10+4, 10 in the next four races. That's 48 points. Let's say probably 40, if he maximizes the ability of the car but still has some bad pitstops or with the engine penalty, finishes P8 in one of the races.

What Norris has to do, is to gain 40+47(the current deficit he has) = 87 points. Let's say 25+6, 19, 18+8, 15 , which add upto 91 points, even with only one race win and one sprint win. Even if he loses 5 points out of this possible string of scores, still he wins WDC.

So, contrary to popular opinion, the pressure is actually on Max, to retain the WDC, not the other way around. Max has to not only do really well with the sub-par car (which is terrible on H tyre, whatever is chosen by Pirelli - C1 or C2 or C3) ; he also has to pray that both Ferraris do really well. All Norris has to do is stay away from dogfights with Max, he can easily overtake on the straights (whichever is the ckt, MCL38 > RB20 in any setup, any track).

I have a feeling that the final AbuDhabi GP is going to be a nail biter, like 2021. If any of these two drivers suffers a DNF before that final race, they can write off their WDC chances.

The last 6 races are the most dominant period that the Mclaren has had in direct comparison to the Red Bull in over a decade, and in those races Lando has been accruing 5 points a race more than Max and finishing on average a little better than third.

The idea that now we will win everything and max will average 6th place seems a little pie in the sky to me. We need a DNF or big points loss for Max to be able to take on the WDC. Can't see it coming to Lando any other way.

[PapayaFan481]

It is a tall order but if Max has to start mid pack and fight through, who knows.

Realistically Lando needs a Max DNF to have a proper shot but as a start, we need to maximize points in Brazil.

I think a DNF for Max really increases Lando's chances though. Because Max will really be under pressure then but without a car capable of doing so, which leads to him taking more risks and being more aggressive and, frankly increases the chances of him suffering a second DNF.

Mclaren need Oscar to defend HARD against Max, though at the same time, in the WCC they cannot afford to drop too many points to Ferrari....

Who says F1 is boring????

[chrisc90]

Even a Max DNF would still be a huge thing for Lando to beat.

I covered it in the RBR team thread here:
viewtopic.php?p=1254933#p1254933

The realistic finishing positions for max that case is about 5th in all remaining races.

[hollus]

Guys, seriously, if your post is mostly about Max, not here.
Warnings have started to happen for repeated off-topics.

Find the right threads.

If you find it relevant, drop a link in this thread, but move the discussions to the right threads.

[McL-H]

Upcoming GP we need a front row lockout. Stay as far away from Max as we can and just focus on beating both Ferrari’s. It’s all McLaren can and must do. Red Bull should not be a threat in Brazil. Most important thing is that we really need Piastri up there. Lando may have to drive defensively, but Oscar doesn’t. Let’s take advantage of that. He really needs to up his game though. He’s had 2 seasons now to adapt. Time to bring in the results. We need it.

[_cerber1]