23 January 2014, a day which demonstrates that behind the scene Mclaren is quietly strenghtening. (areas of sporting decisions and marketing options)
1. A brave move, to promote Stoffel Vandoorne as reserve driver. Even if he is less than a year in Mclaren, he proved to be very fast and mature ( he was runner up, but the points that separeted him from Magnussen were largely because of bad luck and reliability problems with his car). He had last year a better FIRST season than Magnussen (2012) in Renaul 3.5 Series.
I really hope a Magnussen-Vandoorne partnership... if not in Mp4-30, than surely in Mp4-31 (Ron's coup means NO ALONSO IN MCLAREN, despite that he in a very diplomatic way said a few months ago that Alonso would be welcomed at Mclaren if can make them win... but... let's be realistic, Ron will never take back Alonso at Mclaren, whatever Mclaren's PR department will say. Ron is a strong man with a lot of qualities but his motto within Mclaren Group is "You cut yourselff... you bleed Mclaren", and he can't forget Alonso's blackmail before Monza 2007. Whatever he says to the press let's take it straight: for him Alonso is a traitor. Informations about Vandoorne as reserve driver:
http://en.espnf1.com/mclaren/motorsport ... 42487.html
2. A very clever move in combination with Honda to nurture future talents by establishing a long term alliance with GP2 team ART:
http://grandprix247.com/2014/01/23/mcla ... g-drivers/
3. Old and new sponsorhips/partnerships, new deal with Santander, corporate deal with Norton Rose Fulbright
http://grandprix247.com/2014/01/23/mcla ... al-eagles/
http://grandprix247.com/2014/01/23/mcla ... santander/