McLaren 2015 livery

[dren]

I'd like orange, but the only trouble is that it could look like a Spyker.
http://static.autoblog.nl/images/wp2007/Albers-2.jpg

I guess I don't remember Spyker being orange. I do love that color. It would really stand out. I bet they don't sway too much from what they have now.

[SidSidney]

Dennis:

When asked if he had then given up on chasing a new title sponsor, Dennis said: "We haven't given up on the idea of attracting larger sums of money to our car, but what we don't want to do is put big brand names on at low levels of money. I feel a bit like Manchester United, which has had a run of crappy football games and gone down in the league. I still think we are Man Utd, I still think that we can come along and say 'will you sponsor us? We are still Man Utd'."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117663

That looks to me like somebody over-pricing themselves. The truth is, and as a McLaren supporter it pains me to say this, McLaren is just not delivering the on track performance to make them worth $200M in sponsorship.

They last had a World Champion driver in [EDIT] 2008 and before that 1998 [EDIT], and I think they are going through the issues Williams faced after their successful run in the 1980's and early 1990's, when Newey quit over an equity issue. The Martin Whitmarsh period and world financial situation doesn't help.

But whatever: when Ron says "We haven't given up on the idea of attracting larger sums of money to our car" it looks like the fact is they can't and probably won't find a major sponsor in the shor-medium term. Luckily they are un ancien, and get a large chunk of the television money, so it's not panic stations, but still that monthly cash burn will drain your bank account.

[j2004p]

They last had a World Champion driver in 1998 - yes, 17 years ago, and I think they are going through the issues Williams faced after their successful run in the 1980's and early 1990', when Newey quit over an equity issue. The Martin Whitmarsh period and world financial situation doesn't help.

Not disagreeing with your point entirely, but was Lewis Hamilton not a World Champion with Mclaren in 2008, (only) 7 years ago?

[SidSidney]

They last had a World Champion driver in 1998 - yes, 17 years ago, and I think they are going through the issues Williams faced after their successful run in the 1980's and early 1990', when Newey quit over an equity issue. The Martin Whitmarsh period and world financial situation doesn't help.

Not disagreeing with your point entirely, but was Lewis Hamilton not a World Champion with Mclaren in 2008, (only) 7 years ago?

You are correct of course, sorry about that!

[EvilPhil II]

And of course they arguably won the Constructors Championship in 2007 and should have done so in 2005 (to this day Ive no idea how they didn't!).

And not being picky but also...
2008 Hamiton WDC
1999 Häkkinen WDC
1998 Häkkinen WDC

+ Current WDC Drivers
2010 Button (No.1)
2007 Alonso (No.1)

[EvilPhil II]

But on subject of sponsorship in Formula One, there are those people in the city of London right now, today, who are warning friends and family that we are about to be hit by a financial crisis that will be remembered for hundreds of years. So with that risk in mind, and with that on the radar of those companies who would be sponsoring, I think there are bigger problems coming Formula One's way than simply can Mclaren get a title sponsor.

[ScottB]

But on subject of sponsorship in Formula One, there are those people in the city of London right now, today, who are warning friends and family that we are about to be hit by a financial crisis that will be remembered for hundreds of years. So with that risk in mind, and with that on the radar of those companies who would be sponsoring, I think there are bigger problems coming Formula One's way than simply can Mclaren get a title sponsor.

Even if true, it's not stopping companies and broadcasters pouring billions into football.

A company will happily spend £200million if it'll get them more than that back in increased sales. Obviously the number of companies thinking they will get this return from F1, or from Mclaren in particular, is dwindling. Given the sponsorship levels in the top European football leagues, there are still plenty of businesses happy to spend such large sums of money.

[EvilPhil II]

But on subject of sponsorship in Formula One, there are those people in the city of London right now, today, who are warning friends and family that we are about to be hit by a financial crisis that will be remembered for hundreds of years. So with that risk in mind, and with that on the radar of those companies who would be sponsoring, I think there are bigger problems coming Formula One's way than simply can Mclaren get a title sponsor.

Even if true, it's not stopping companies and broadcasters pouring billions into football.

Well that's an interesting point isn't it. What was it today that they estimated that the TV rights cost of each Premiership Football match costing 10 million (GBP).

So why is that... it could be that one, there is a different objective to the marketing and branding of the football companies. In football it appears much more consumer based advertising and marketing. In formula 1 its about partnerships i.e. mainly Business 2 Business or occasionally when a brand goes global it helps a new brand get traction and recognition quickly in new markets.

So what I'm saying is that Football is advertising. Formula 1 is a brand exercise. Advertising has short term returns. Branding exercises are very complicated to calculate a return on investment and aim for 5-10-15 years time impact.

For example, why is Mercedes in F1? Its in F1 because it is currently viewed as a mature car brand. Where as BMW is viewed as sporty and young. So they are investing in changing the perception of their brand in 12-16 year olds now so that when they grow up in 10-15 years time they have a different perception of Mercedes when they come to buy a car.

[dren]

That looks to me like somebody over-pricing themselves. The truth is, and as a McLaren supporter it pains me to say this, McLaren is just not delivering the on track performance to make them worth $200M in sponsorship.

Exactly. Mclaren simply isn't worth what Ron thinks it is. Ron doesn't want to devalue the company. I think Ron was hoping last year was going to be much better for Mclaren so they would attract a top level sponsorship. Maybe they will if they perform this year. I don't expect it, though.

[CptPeanut]

That looks to me like somebody over-pricing themselves. The truth is, and as a McLaren supporter it pains me to say this, McLaren is just not delivering the on track performance to make them worth $200M in sponsorship.

Exactly. Mclaren simply isn't worth what Ron thinks it is. Ron doesn't want to devalue the company. I think Ron was hoping last year was going to be much better for Mclaren so they would attract a top level sponsorship. Maybe they will if they perform this year. I don't expect it, though.

Whilst that is true you also have to look longer term. If they drop the rate card now it will become very difficult to bring the price back up as and when success returns. A good analogy would be the supermarket price wars in the UK, all the big players have been relentlessly dropping prices to play a game of one-upmanship and now, because they can't afford to put prices back up due to the inherent loss of customers, are now struggling financially.

Plus, if you actually read what he is saying, there isn't as much need for external sponsorship as with other teams because of revenue from other arms of the McLaren business. I don't get why everyone is so het up about a lack of title sponsors when McLaren themselves aren't.

[bdr529]

I'd like orange, but the only trouble is that it could look like a Spyker.
http://static.autoblog.nl/images/wp2007/Albers-2.jpg

Wouldn't say that's a huge problem, only the diehards will remember Spyker being a team!

I don't remember anyone thinking the Spyker looked like the Arrows

[gridwalker]

I'd like orange, but the only trouble is that it could look like a Spyker.
http://static.autoblog.nl/images/wp2007/Albers-2.jpg

Wouldn't say that's a huge problem, only the diehards will remember Spyker being a team!

and every dutch fan out there......

It isn't really a problem though, spyker doesn't excist anymore and i'm sure there'll be enough work on it to differentiate it from spyker.

The Sauber looks like older williams, yet nobody will mistake it for a williams.

Judging by what people have said in this thread (especially about switching colours), nobody would have been able to tell the 2006 Williams and Sauber cars apart. Funnily enough, I don't remember it being a problem ...

Williams





Sauber

[SiLo]

Currently having even a medium sized sponsor would be nice for them. That car is bare.

[dren]

I don't think it's devaluing the company as much as the economy isn't there to support what Ron expects.

[SiLo]

Right now, anything is better than nothing.