2018 McLaren F1 Team - Renault

[ScottB]

They actually have two chances one next year with a full reset on aerodynamics and another on 2020 with the changes to engines.

2021 is the big aero change, next year is just front wing and brake ducts.

Engine change could well be 2023 now, but really that’s not an issue at the moment, if they were around Red Bull pace, sure, the engine would be a problem, but there’s a lot of other problems needing solved between here and there!

[Ground Effect]

They actually have two chances one next year with a full reset on aerodynamics and another on 2020 with the changes to engines.

Engines are possibly staying the same. The rules were being looked at to encourage new manufacturers, but none have shown commitment, so no point in spending huge funds on R&D when it'll still be as you were.

[diffuser]

They actually have two chances one next year with a full reset on aerodynamics and another on 2020 with the changes to engines.

Don't think there will be PU changes for 2020. Atleast not major ones.They haven't finalized what they want to do yet and in my opinion its already too little time left to develop a new pu for 2020.

[diffuser]

I think they should do what they did in the v8 era. Freeze merc and Ferrari PU development to allow Renault/Honda to catch up.Followed by freezing everyone and release the new PU regs to be instituted 4 years later.

[Ground Effect]

I think they should do what they did in the v8 era and freeze merc and Ferrari PU development to allow Renault/Honda to catch up.

Mercedes will say they can't freeze because they're chasing Ferrari

[ivanlesk]

Worst car since I follow F1 and cheer for Mclaren which is 21 years to date. Even the disastrous MP4-24, in 2009, first season with KERS got good by the 2nd half of the season & they were winning, but this is just too much, especially on high speed circus like Spa and I'm sure same will apply for Monza as well

nah ,, it the gp2 renault engine mclaren are running thats why mclaren struggling. they need a ferrari.

I see Honda has won few races by now...
Next year we expect for RBH championship title?

[techman]

I see Honda has won few races by now...
Next year we expect for RBH championship title?

renault is shining because of redbull chassis. redbull will be on podiums next season and finish 3rd or higher not anything less.renault will be the exposed next season.

[Darth-Piekus]

Honda will be shining because of Red Bull Chassis. See I can play that game too.

[Singabule]

Such doom and gloom, which I don't think is deserved because McLaren have shown they are doing a lot about it.

Comparisons with Williams is a moot point because Williams are completely different and don't have the strength and depth of McLaren. But McLaren will be losing milions of fans at the moment. The glory followers will be gone, can be seen on here already.

Ferrari have had their bad moments. Ferrari hasn't won a championship in 11 years. Mercedes will have their bad moments if they stay in F1 as a full team for long enough (through lots of rule changes). Mercedes have had bad patches with McLaren by being unreliable and Ron Dennis would usually take the blame saying it was a McLaren exhaust that failed or something.

F1 management are partly to blame for McLaren's situation. The engine rules make it impossible for other manufacturers to join F1, now they are thinking about extending these engines beyond 2021. Look at Red Bull having to take a massive risk in going with Honda because they have no choice really. Same with McLaren, they took the risk but had to take another with Renault hoping Renault will improve. Liberty are just as bad as Bernie. If they really keep these engines beyond 2021 then it shows they are happy with the money they are getting and that's it. It is a business after all. It'll only get worse once STR and Force India become more solid B teams, and maybe Sauber will become a Ferrari B team too.

One criticism that is quite unclear is
what the hell is Podromu doing? Supposed to be great and comes up with this car? Surely the matrix system wasn't so bad that his talent has been filtered by 2 seconds or something. As Ant on the Skypad was showing today the car doesn't look bad to drive, Alonso said the same. Seems like Podromu is nothing without Newey.

I agree with Prodromou part but disagree for the rest. This mentality for "no critizm and not accept blame and blaming FIA instead" that lead mclaren in current position. As you said, mclaren in dennis era wouldn't blame merc if it is unreliable and blaming cooling instead (which is theirs). No need to blame other party as it would not solving problem at all. They need leader from technical people, not marketing guru who sell their fantasy to other people. Hope Brown and Ojjeh did not touch what Gil de Ferran do.

[Ground Effect]

Such doom and gloom, which I don't think is deserved because McLaren have shown they are doing a lot about it.

Comparisons with Williams is a moot point because Williams are completely different and don't have the strength and depth of McLaren. But McLaren will be losing milions of fans at the moment. The glory followers will be gone, can be seen on here already.

Ferrari have had their bad moments. Ferrari hasn't won a championship in 11 years. Mercedes will have their bad moments if they stay in F1 as a full team for long enough (through lots of rule changes). Mercedes have had bad patches with McLaren by being unreliable and Ron Dennis would usually take the blame saying it was a McLaren exhaust that failed or something.

F1 management are partly to blame for McLaren's situation. The engine rules make it impossible for other manufacturers to join F1, now they are thinking about extending these engines beyond 2021. Look at Red Bull having to take a massive risk in going with Honda because they have no choice really. Same with McLaren, they took the risk but had to take another with Renault hoping Renault will improve. Liberty are just as bad as Bernie. If they really keep these engines beyond 2021 then it shows they are happy with the money they are getting and that's it. It is a business after all. It'll only get worse once STR and Force India become more solid B teams, and maybe Sauber will become a Ferrari B team too.

One criticism that is quite unclear is
what the hell is Podromu doing? Supposed to be great and comes up with this car? Surely the matrix system wasn't so bad that his talent has been filtered by 2 seconds or something. As Ant on the Skypad was showing today the car doesn't look bad to drive, Alonso said the same. Seems like Podromu is nothing without Newey.

I agree with Prodromou part but disagree for the rest. This mentality for "no critizm and not accept blame and blaming FIA instead" that lead mclaren in current position. As you said, mclaren in dennis era wouldn't blame merc if it is unreliable and blaming cooling instead (which is theirs). No need to blame other party as it would not solving problem at all. They need leader from technical people, not marketing guru who sell their fantasy to other people. Hope Brown and Ojjeh did not touch what Gil de Ferran do.

But that's what big teams do these days, Mclaren blames Honda, Red Bull blame Renault... They have to protect their sponsor card. Mercedes were part owner's of Mclaren, weren't they?

[ivanlesk]

renault is shining because of redbull chassis. redbull will be on podiums next season and finish 3rd or higher not anything less.renault will be the exposed next season.

So Honda will shine because of RB chassis?

[Fulcrum]

Relevant enough to show that they were again in the same situation where they bounced back. I don't see why they can't bounce back again. You don't seem to understand how big of a team they are and who is backing them in terms of money.

You sound like you revel in their suffering.

You don't seem to have comprehended that the situations you highlighted were nothing like as serious as what McLaren are going through now. I am not enjoying their performance, simply calling a spade a spade.

Referencing eras in the 70's, 80's is completely pointless because regulations were less strict, less money was required to go racing, and sponsors were more plentiful.

McLaren is actually not a very big business, and their intellectual capital has been fragmented since the launch of the automotive arm.

Their majority shareholder is a pension fund from the Middle East. How quickly do you think the money will last with sustained poor performance?

[McMika98]

So now people are now questioning Peter P and finally seeing the light. He had far too much power given and he dictated majority of car design by throwing his RedBull experience. Poor Tim Goss was made a scapegoat for his failures. If the drivers say they are happy with the car balance and not afraid to push the limits it aint the chassis that the problem. I maintain PP is a one trick pony but hopefully he will prove otherwise.
With GP2 engine they were never as bad as this after midseason. Thank god that the Williams were as awful as they are.

[Big Tea]

So now people are now questioning Peter P and finally seeing the light. He had far too much power given and he dictated majority of car design by throwing his RedBull experience. Poor Tim Goss was made a scapegoat for his failures. If the drivers say they are happy with the car balance and not afraid to push the limits it aint the chassis that the problem. I maintain PP is a one trick pony but hopefully he will prove otherwise.
With GP2 engine they were never as bad as this after midseason. Thank god that the Williams were as awful as they are.

Its impossible for us to know as outsiders, but I feel the problem is not with the people who design and build the cars, it is with the system that designs and builds the people. No matter how famous or well regarded an engineer or designer is, it is the team (not the one who turn up on a week end to run the car) that makes the decisions adoptions and tweaks to have the final product at is peak.

Somewhere along this path, something is going wrong. I know it is worlds apart, but I worked in a company where the bosses son had to put his stamp on everything just to 'show he was doing it'. A product would never be as it was intended because a small 'cost saving' changed the finished item. I cannot help get the feeling something like this is happening here. Someone is making bad decisions and overruling team decisions.
As I say, absolutely no evidence, but gut feeling when I look at the product and those who produce it

[techman]

But that's what big teams do these days, Mclaren blames Honda, Red Bull blame Renault... They have to protect their sponsor card. Mercedes were part owner's of Mclaren, weren't they?

so pleased mclaren ditched honda , now mclaren cant blame the renault engine.