Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

[twoshots]

Scotracer said there was something "horribly wrong" with the photo, but it's accurate. Besides, you can paint someone in any light you wish to.

I happen to know a lady who was awarded her MBE on the same day as Hamilton. She described him as an absolute gentleman who spent most of his day looking after an 80+ year old woman who was getting an MBE. Fetching her drinks, talking to her and making sure someone else looked after her while he went up for his award. I'll wager that there are many people throwing comments around on here who wouldn't have done the same.

Personally, I don't know him so can't and won't pass comment either way, but frankly some of the comments on here are getting a bit silly. It's not like I never got above my station when I was younger. Ah, the arrogance of youth, I miss those days

Christ this board really is degenerating into the same juvenile hate fest that plagues other boards. Grow up people or take your hate elsewhere.

This.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing more of the cars development over the next few days. If McL work out the problem with their simulations I wouldn't put it past them to stick someone up near the front in Melbourne. I'd like to see Heikki run at least one decent time before the end of the Jerez test. Anyone know if he'll be testing this week and when?

[vall]

lkocev wrote:
Its nice that McLaren got into the 1:19's at Jerez, hopefully their pace will continue to improve at that rate...

Right, but I just checked and others are in the low 1:18s, close to 1:17s. Perhaps the track is getting faster? So, don't get excited

[myurr]

lkocev wrote:
Its nice that McLaren got into the 1:19's at Jerez, hopefully their pace will continue to improve at that rate...

Right, but I just checked and others are in the low 1:18s, close to 1:17s. Perhaps the track is getting faster? So, don't get excited

We're looking at the long run pace, which is pretty similar across the McLaren, Renault, and Williams with the Brawn about a second ahead.

Yesterday Alonso did a flat out qualifying run to get his headline time, the rest of his running was in the 1:19's - 1:20's.

Today Rosberg's time has blitzed that, presumably another qualifying run (which leads me to believe that maybe the Renault wasn't running underweight yesterday after all). I haven't checked yet but I'd imagine the rest of his laps will be in the 19's and 20's again.

So yes, McLaren are making progress but they're not at the front yet.

[lkocev]

lkocev wrote:
Its nice that McLaren got into the 1:19's at Jerez, hopefully their pace will continue to improve at that rate...

Right, but I just checked and others are in the low 1:18s, close to 1:17s. Perhaps the track is getting faster? So, don't get excited

1:19's is better than the 1:21's they were doing smart ass. Stop being a dusch bag, I was merely commenting on the the fact it is positive there pace appears to have moved foward a bit. In the end thats what this thread is about, not about making smart ass comments about other peoples posts...

[geordie racer]

It appears the track is much faster today. McL are still 1.5 off the Brawn. About the same as yesterday i think. Although track temp today is about 20-25 whereas yesterday it was up over 30 so thought times would be similar. A dry night must have kept the rubber in good condition. Oh yeah i happened to see this picture yesterday... I heard a few posts last week about them covering up the diffuser, perhaps they are still waiting on melbourne spec. Surely they wont leave it till practice 1 to show it?!

EDIT: Hmmm theF1 changed the pics round but its picture 12 on formula1.com - jerez photos

[vall]

1:19's is better than the 1:21's they were doing smart ass. Stop being a dusch bag, I was merely commenting on the the fact it is positive there pace appears to have moved foward a bit. In the end thats what this thread is about, not about making smart ass comments about other peoples posts...

'positive' is relative term, isn't it? That they improved is not positive for me. I would very much enjoy to see them start the season at the back

[Spencifer_Murphy]

Don't mean to drag the convo back to less savoury topics but thort I'd point this out:
(btw djos, this is NOT aimed at you, its just your post (quoted below) sums up a lot of people's views quite nicely...no offence incurred I hope )

Still incredibly arrogant, makes me like the little twat even less!

REALLY? I'll be sure to point this out to:
SIR Frank Williams
SIR Stirling Moss
SIR Jackie Stewart
SIR Alex Ferguson
SIR Chris Hoy
SIR Jack Brabham
DAME Kelly Holmes
LORD Sebastian Coe KBE
etc etc etc

That's a list of just some sportsmen and Women
There's nothing wrong with being proud of one's achievements, having that TINY bit of text on his car is nothing more than a "Look at me mum! I did it!" piece of showing off, and can you really blame him? an MBE at his age...christ he's only 2years older than ME! It's not like he's saying:
"From now on in interviews I will respond only to 'Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE' that okay with you?" is it now?

Next time Sir Jackie Stewart appears on TV i'll be sure to complain to the broadcaster for placing "Sir" as a prefix to his name...the arrogance! Lighten up guys and stop SEARCHING for things to hate. You don't have to like him, but the hate mongering is getting a little "playgorund gossipy" now. It has been a long winter, he's not done much to amuse the haters recently, maybe there's an element of clutching at straws? I dunno.

I know I probably wouldn't have it on my car, but I know a lot of people who'd probably get a personalised number plate with the letters "MBE" at the end, if they get one at just 23. And unfortunatly the MP4-24 doesn't have plates, maybe this is just his little bit of "bling", something to make him smile and put him in a positive mind frame, or remind him how lucky he is to be living the life he dreamed of as a kid, every time he steps in his car.

On a side note, a terminally ill relative of a friend of mine is at Great Ormand Street hospital (he's only 10 and has some form of cancer - not sure which, i'd rather not go into the details with my friend) he met Lewis when he came to visit the hospital on one of his many PR events. He tells me that Lewis was extremely polite, friendly easy to talk to and willing to spend as much time as he could with as many children as he could even though the scheduled time slots were running out (this I'm told visibly irritaed his Mclaren PR nanny ). Add this story to the story from twoshots.

My point? Yes I'll agree he can be arrogant and over self-confident...i'm not blind. But the evidence suggests that does not define his personality. From time to time, give him a break.

Once again sorry for going OT.

[bidong]

i don't know about u guys, but i think this is related to the thread.

Jean Todt just resigned from Ferrari's Board and all positions held. Is he on his way to Brawn GP?

[djos]

Don't mean to drag the convo back to less savoury topics but thort I'd point this out:
(btw djos, this is NOT aimed at you, its just your post (quoted below) sums up a lot of people's views quite nicely...no offence incurred I hope )

none taken.

For me I dislike him mainly for his on-track antics eg:

a/ weaving behind the safety car in Japan when drivers told not too if wet before the race causing Vettel to run up Webbo's backside in surprise.

b/ his excessively aggressive OT move on Webbo which forced him to take the run off last year (cant remember the GP) - he pulled the same sort of "get the Fuk outta my way" move on someone else in the same race (again forgotten the details).

c/ I also dont like the "F1 owes me" attitude that he exudes - he really needs a season in a --- car to get some perspective. I might get my wish on that one as the Macca is a dog atm!

d/ I really got pissed off when he compared himself to Ayrton Senna at Monaco - yes it was a bloody great drive but comparing yourself to Senna should be a hanging offence!

/end rant/

[Wilfko]

ive always watched from the wings of this forum, but nows its just becomming a group of fanboys ruining it.

[CZOLG]

ive always watched from the wings of this forum, but nows its just becomming a group of fanboys ruining it.

Precisely, this is the Mp4-24 thread, right?
Please stop making the mess out of it.

[meves]

Back to the car which is I believe what this thread is about.

Has anyone heard if McLaren are developing new parts for Melbourne from the the information they are getting from this final test session? Part they can test on th friday?

[peroa]

Lall (head of testing at McLaren) : ''We receive new parts from Woking and we put them on the car straight away. We continually update the car, also in Melbourne the car will be different. We know in which areas we're struggling, but compared to Barcelona we're a second faster.''

[imightbewrong]

[myurr]

Lall (head of testing at McLaren) : ''We receive new parts from Woking and we put them on the car straight away. We continually update the car, also in Melbourne the car will be different. We know in which areas we're struggling, but compared to Barcelona we're a second faster.''

I'm still holding out for an extended diffuser, a la Brawn / Toyota / Williams. Compared to Ferrari and Renault the McLaren team have been pretty quiet on the issue so I'm still hopeful that they're working on their own solution rather than going down the political route trying to get it banned.