2016 McLaren F1 Team - Honda

[Andres125sx]

They are adults and they know that the enginner is only tring to give them the best explanations, ideas and strategies to do each moment of the race. Experienced drives should be react in a better way, at least not being so harsh.

IMO it´s the experienced strategists who should know how to say things without implying driver is not pushing.

The one driving at 300km/h, taking 5G corners, and whose heart is pumping at 160 bpm is the driver, not the strategist, so IMO it´s the strategists who should think twice before opening any radio comunication

Moreover, it´s the strategist who can choose when to talk, unlike the driver who can only talk on some straight while he´s adjusting some parameter in the wheel, so he´s too busy to be diplomatic. Strategist isn´t, so it´s he who should be careful, choose best moment, and say things with some diplomacy


But it´s easier to bash drivers than any strategist who people really don´t know and don´t care about

[Vasconia]

But it´s easier to bash drivers than any strategist who people really don´t know and don´t care about

Or even easier to defend a certain driver in any circustance, right? what I have said is perfectly logic. The engineer cant loose to much time being super diplomatic because thing happen fastly. If the strategy requires to be slightly faster because he is going to pit(for example), he must say it and driver tries to do it. If he cant, ok he cant and there no more to discuss.

Its seems that according to you a driver cant be criticized. Its not that difficult to treat your teanmate(because both are employees) with a slightly more respect. Or Alonso and other few ones have more rights?

Once again, Alonso has complained several times that he cant push because of those cars and tyres. So I imply that he is not pushing at 100% all the time, being careful with tyres and fuel, for example. Then, there is a certain crucial moment when is required to push at a 100%, so the engineer informs him to do it, Is that difficult to simply anser "I can" or "I cant do it, I am already pushing" without sounding disrespectful? because "do it your job" sounds really bad man. It implies that the engineer is not doing his job when he is doing it.

And this is not only about Alonso, its also about any driver who cant answer in a proper way. I can accept that there are certain moments where its difficult to be cold, but with Alonso I have always thought that he is a cold guy who can keep things under control.

[GoranF1]

Given the car/track characteristics, how will Mclaren do in Brazil?

[ALO_Power]

Alonso has all the rights in the world to be harsh and EVEN harsher than that. He is potentially one of the best (if not the best) on the grid out there and never had a proper championship car after Renault. After the mediocre F14-T he went to McLaren and last year he couldn't even finish the races with this poor reliability. Bashing the team a bit can sometimes apply positive pressure for progress. Can you understand how much disappointment and anger is that for a top driver and world champion ? Let alone the devastating pressure of driving an F1 car in race conditions. And this year, the car is more competitive but still not enough. In Mexico they could do better but sticking behind slower cars is even more frustrating. Also, some guys here seem to not know basic stuff about F1. There are tons of radio messages that are not even get transmitted and are much worse/harsher than this. So, many drivers that you think that are "gentlemen" may swear more than truck drivers. (when ricciardo called rosberg "m@therf@cker" nobody remembered it) The policy on what to transmit on F1 airtime is weird. Alonso told in a press conference after the "GP2 engine" message that they say even worse messages that don't even get transmitted and if they did we would all be even more surprised. Just don't pay soooo much attention on the radios and make so much fuss about them. Judge on track action instead. By the way, few minutes before this message Alonso was pushed off the track by Sainz and couldn't make stellar progress on start/lap 1 as he always does. Anyway, eyes on 2017, the moment of truth. I'm optimistic tho.

[Alonso Fan]

Nothing to see here. Vettel has said much much worse.

I agree Alonso is harsh at times, but not anywhere near to being a bad influence to the team which influences the competitiveness of the car, like some like to claim.

Anyhow, the context of the message is not fully understood and likely never will be.

[mrluke]

Given the car/track characteristics, how will Mclaren do in Brazil?

I am predicting a best case of 2% slower than pole (about 1.4s).

[Andres125sx]

But it´s easier to bash drivers than any strategist who people really don´t know and don´t care about

The engineer cant loose to much time being super diplomatic because thing happen fastly.

But driver can while bearing 5G at corners and brakings and dialing buttons and knobs at the straights?

Strategist is sitted on a chair, looking at some monitors, with loads of time to think twice before opening radio comunications. It only takes 5 seconds to rephrase a comunication. If you want to ask someone to be diplomatic, it´s utter nosense to assume it must be the driver

Also, when your heart rate is around 160bpm your brain simply don´t react the same as it would do if, let´s say, sitted on a chair in front of a monitor If you´ve practiced some demanding sport you´ll have experienced this yourself. I´ve done really stupid things playing tennis because of fatigue, and I´ve had uncountable crashes racing MX because of making stupid decisions I´d have never done if more calm. You can´t ask someone in this situation to think twice before responding.

F1 teams know this perfectly, and their strategists and engineers should be careful about how to say things. Some engineers/strategists do it perfectly, like "I know you´re doing your best but this is a crucial part of the race, try to close the gap". Some others simply don´t, like that "push now" wich can be easily taken as "you must have been cruising around", specially by someone tired and frustrated with a PU with problems and 45bhp less


But as said, it´s easier to bash drivers, nobody care about engineers/strategists

[Andres125sx]

Its seems that according to you a driver cant be criticized.

Because of being harsh on the radio?, no.

I didn´t even criticized Vettel after his insults, and that´s going some steps further as that´s loosing respect to your workmates, wich should never happen. But I understand the circumstances

[diffuser]

I don't remember Fred ever talking to Andrea Stella like that.

[nevill3]

They just need a code e.g. It's Hammer-Time.....I guess that what they are asking their drivers to do is push a little harder.

For Alonso I would suggest

Pamplona-Time

[diffuser]

They just need a code e.g. It's Hammer-Time.....I guess that what they are asking their drivers to do is push a little harder.

For Alonso I would suggest

Pamplona-Time

I think you missed the point... It doesn't really translate as "MC hammer" is a proper name..... "hora del martillo"

[godlameroso]

McLaren did a 1:13 last year, same soft compound. They were 2 1/2 seconds faster in Japan with a step up in the compounds so I'd say they'll be 1.2 seconds faster than last year. .4 from the power unit another .7 or .8 from the chassis. Maybe a mid 1:11, which may not be good enough for a top 10 start.

Abu Dhabi will be much better for them.

[Vasconia]

But it´s easier to bash drivers than any strategist who people really don´t know and don´t care about

The engineer cant loose to much time being super diplomatic because thing happen fastly.

But driver can while bearing 5G at corners and brakings and dialing buttons and knobs at the straights?

But as said, it´s easier to bash drivers, nobody care about engineers/strategists

Actually they can, they do it every race. I can imagine how they manage to do it. But hey, they are the best drivers so this is one of the reason why we follow/admire/respect them.

Not easier but being the stars of the team should not allow them to be that harsh with engineers. Perhaps nobody cares about them but they are an essential part of the team.

And its not easy to manage with the changeable humour of the drivers. I remember Hamilton screaming to his engineer saying "dont talk me now" when he was under pressure but on a similar situation(in another race) he was almost screming "give me some information!". Hahah, poor race engineers.

[Andres125sx]

And its not easy to manage with the changeable humour of the drivers. I remember Hamilton screaming to his engineer saying "dont talk me now"

What basically proves my point, drivers into the cockpit are under pressure and consequently jumpy, while the engineer can open comunications when he wants, choose the right words, and be more sensible.


Sorry to say this but expecting someone with 160-180bpm hearth rate to be calm is utter nosense

[Vasconia]

And its not easy to manage with the changeable humour of the drivers. I remember Hamilton screaming to his engineer saying "dont talk me now"

What basically proves my point, drivers into the cockpit are under pressure and consequently jumpy, while the engineer can open comunications when he wants, choose the right words, and be more sensible.


Sorry to say this but expecting someone with 160-180bpm hearth rate to be calm is utter nosense

I accept that there are certain moments that pressure can be really high but Alonso´s moment was not precisely a super intense moment. And taking into accoun that he is quite cold I dont think there is such an excusse for those comments.

Normal people probably can handle those moments, those drivers should can.

But we can leave it here, I dont think we will reach an agreement because we have almost opposite points of view with this.

I guess we give it more importance that the enginner actually gives , he may take it as part of his job.