Is McLaren really off the pace?

[chepoi]

if McLaren can trim the time @ S1 & S3 then they can beat the RB's

[Jimi_Hendrix_1967]

The drinks company car was faster on hards than the mclaren on soft tyres. No way the 26 is gonna beat the rbr.

[wunderkind]

The drinks company car was faster on hards than the mclaren on soft tyres. No way the 26 is gonna beat the rbr.

True, but let's hope the McLarens can line up immediately behind the Red Bulls on the grid and jump them with the Mercedes KERS.

McLarens usually have better race pace too, not to mention the DRS and the tyre factor.

[PlatinumZealot]

They appear to have done a good job.

STR on the other hand........I'm slightly disappointed. And Renault.

Buemi was balked on his last run. He's firing back in quali.

Now Is mclaren off the pace? Sadly yes we are off the pace by one second!

NEWEEEEEEEEEY!!!

[raymondu999]

Shouldn't you be mad at Goss/Lowe rather than Newey? It's always better to wish you were stronger, rather than the challenge easier

[raymondu999]

That was the 25. The Red Bull seems to be most consistent, along with the Ferrari, on long run laptimes. Ferrari is the only team even close to red bull on race pace.Besides, I don't think start-wise your KERS weight etc would matter, given that the startline difference would probably be only done by the 80 extra bhp. Which everyone has equal. Or was taht 60bhp?

[speedsense]

Hamilton highest top speed in sector 3, 315k, ..... Vettel .7 seconds faster than hamilton in S3...

[raymondu999]

Which isolates the car's speed due to grip.

[Jimi_Hendrix_1967]

The drinks company can qualify on hard tyres whereas the macs need everything they can get from the soft. So even if the 26 jumps them at the start, theyll need to pit in 4-5 laps time while the drinks company cars race away into the sunset.

[myurr]

The drinks company can qualify on hard tyres whereas the macs need everything they can get from the soft. So even if the 26 jumps them at the start, theyll need to pit in 4-5 laps time while the drinks company cars race away into the sunset.

Errr the drinks company is only one tenth up. It's Ferrari that are struggling!! 4 and 7 tenths off despite using the soft tyres.

[Poleman]

Not so bad for a car that it was doomed by everyone, right?P2 7 tenths down the RedBull with a prety much out of the box floor and exhaust.Im pleased with that.Ferrari struggled big time in contradiction to what people thought about them throughout testing.

[Just_a_fan]

In answer to the topic title - no, McLaren are not off the pace. Job done.

However, in reality everyone is off the pace because Vettel's poletime was astonishing - especially looking at Webber's time.

[fausto cedros]

During the race, anything can happen. And I still believe that a difference can be made as long as vettel doesn't have a flying start and builds a race on its own. But, first the guys have to finish the race, possibly in heavy points.This is the task for tomorrow.

[Richard]

No, not off the pace!

[Jimi_Hendrix_1967]

Mclaren did well vs all other cars except the drinks company rockets. In the section where downforce matters it was almost 7 tenths. Its no shame though. That Red Bull is a stunning piece of art.