[ 2020 ] Mclaren F1 Team - Renault

[godlameroso]

Norris has been quite disappointing as of late, slower in quali, slower in race.

He's fast, unfortunately he's also unprepared when it counts.

[bauc]

Sainz is gonna have to live with just 1 set of mediums. That set with the lockup are dead. Maybe a start on Hards tomorrow ? Hard/Medium/[Hard|soft] or Hard/medium for tomorrow?

yes, I just checked the rules as well, I don't think they allowed the damaged set to be replaced. So he either needs to make a one-stopper work (as he only has one set of hards as well), or run the softs at some point. Maybe an aggressive three-stop race isn't that bad a choice anyway though.

Damaged set is allowed to be changed based on safety grounds, FIA officials usually allow one tire or more to be replaced

[search]

Sainz is gonna have to live with just 1 set of mediums. That set with the lockup are dead. Maybe a start on Hards tomorrow ? Hard/Medium/[Hard|soft] or Hard/medium for tomorrow?

yes, I just checked the rules as well, I don't think they allowed the damaged set to be replaced. So he either needs to make a one-stopper work (as he only has one set of hards as well), or run the softs at some point. Maybe an aggressive three-stop race isn't that bad a choice anyway though.

Damaged set is allowed to be changed based on safety grounds, FIA officials usually allow one tire or more to be replaced

only if it's the starting tire from Q2, as far as I can see. Or which rule are you refering to?

In the post-qualifying interview, it also sounded like Sainz himself was pretty sure that he won't have that set available.

[Jackles-UK]

Silver linings are that it’s the two Renault’s that were the big winners today who are a fair chunk of points behind in the constructors - Stroll underperforming gives McLaren a chance of keeping in touch with the RP if the issue with Carlos’ car can be rectified without penalty. Unbelievably close spread though (4th to 9th only separated by about 2 tenths!) so race pace and tyre deg will be the determining factor this weekend, particularly given the fact that overtaking is very possible on this track.

Sainz is gonna have to live with just 1 set of mediums. That set with the lockup are dead. Maybe a start on Hards tomorrow ? Hard/Medium/[Hard|soft] or Hard/medium for tomorrow?

If they are looking at a two-stop anyway, surely it would be better to start on the brand new softs they would have set aside for Q3? This would give Carlos a chance to make up positions off the line (a particular strength of his anyway) with most of the field around him on mediums?

[ALO_Power]

So, what was the problem with Sainz? They announced?

[billamend]

So, what was the problem with Sainz? They announced?

Break by Wire.

[Darth-Piekus]

Our job at capturing that 3rd place is becoming extremely hard if we keep having problems race after race. Is there anyway to avoid them for these last 3 races and finish in front as best of the rest?

[diffuser]

Our job at capturing that 3rd place is becoming extremely hard if we keep having problems race after race. Is there anyway to avoid them for these last 3 races and finish in front as best of the rest?

All we know is brake by wire. We don't know if it was a failure or install issue. Obviously failure, not much you can do if they're first times.

[mwillems]

I'm not suggesting the circumstances are too similar, but one race ago we were doom and gloom after qualifying and had we not been too cautious, would have finished on the podium in the race.

Tomorrow is a different day but we have the pace and a good start puts us right back in it.

[Darth-Piekus]

I'm not suggesting the circumstances are too similar, but one race ago we were doom and gloom after qualifying and had we not been too cautious, would have finished on the podium in the race.

Tomorrow is a different day but we have the pace and a good start puts us right back in it.

How many places do we expect from Norris and Sainz to gain? In order to call tomorrow a victory we must have both drivers in front of the Renaults and Racing Points.

[Chicane]

If you look at Ricciardo's season so far he has delivered week in week out on Saturdays which makes his job so much more easier on Sundays. This is F1 where every tenth counts and in midfield every tenth is gold dust. I am sad to say we have failed to see where the car truly stands on Saturdays off late. Sainz has been decent but Lando has been miserable on Saturdays and next season he will be exposed massively if he does not raise his game. Mclaren are aiming t to return to the sharp end of the grid and they cannot afford a driver who leaves a couple of tenths on the table on Saturdays.

[johnboyholmes]

Norris has been quite disappointing as of late, slower in quali, slower in race.

In the last race Lando set the fastest, third, fourth and fifth fastest laps. That isn't slow, it is next level!

[diffuser]

Silver linings are that it’s the two Renault’s that were the big winners today who are a fair chunk of points behind in the constructors - Stroll underperforming gives McLaren a chance of keeping in touch with the RP if the issue with Carlos’ car can be rectified without penalty. Unbelievably close spread though (4th to 9th only separated by about 2 tenths!) so race pace and tyre deg will be the determining factor this weekend, particularly given the fact that overtaking is very possible on this track.

Sainz is gonna have to live with just 1 set of mediums. That set with the lockup are dead. Maybe a start on Hards tomorrow ? Hard/Medium/[Hard|soft] or Hard/medium for tomorrow?

If they are looking at a two-stop anyway, surely it would be better to start on the brand new softs they would have set aside for Q3? This would give Carlos a chance to make up positions off the line (a particular strength of his anyway) with most of the field around him on mediums?

Think, if he has to, run the softs on the last stint. It'll be cooler and the car lighter. Starting on them and having to pit after 5 laps, would just be a waste. Unless it's a little cooler at the start of the raxce...

[diffuser]

If you look at Ricciardo's season so far he has delivered week in week out on Saturdays which makes his job so much more easier on Sundays. This is F1 where every tenth counts and in midfield every tenth is gold dust. I am sad to say we have failed to see where the car truly stands on Saturdays off late. Sainz has been decent but Lando has been miserable on Saturdays and next season he will be exposed massively if he does not raise his game. Mclaren are aiming t to return to the sharp end of the grid and they cannot afford a driver who leaves a couple of tenths on the table on Saturdays.

I think Norris is pretty good on Saturdays. Does he have tracks where he is weaker? Yes he does. He does need to keep improving. We'll see next year how good both he and Sainz are. My guess, you'll be surprised by how good Norris and Sainz are on Saturdays. Norris's weakness has been his race craft on Sundays. Especially those early laps in a race.

[Ground Effect]

Of drivers in the same category as him, Norris is better than most, if not all. Russell, still needs a good car and a decent team mate to go up against. Of drivers with more experience, he’s better than quite a few, at least his results and points tally agree with this. I don’t think any team in the midfield has had to do as much testing and trialing of parts for future races as McLaren, which ends up compromising their weekend. He’s also had bad luck, most through no fault of his own. He still has a lot to work on, but I think he’s on a good schedule progress wise. He’s made very very few mistakes and doesn’t throw points away. He stacks up well against Carlos most times, when the car is on song he performs, like in Austria and Monza. When he has a car that is closer to a plug and play, I’m sure he’ll do better. Depending on how good the car is in 2021, I’m expecting decent progress from him. Ideally, I’d like a Carlos and Ricciardo combo for next year, but Norris isn’t a bad option at all, the potential is there.