[Team] McLaren - can they compete?

[peebee2]

Fair dos. It’s difficult to see McLaren ever getting back to the top, but we’ll see.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Without getting too tied up in this, I do believe that McLaren raised the money from outside sources and it is they that hold the lien on the assets put up by McLaren - not Ron Dennis. And that was only to cover the first instalment. They still have to find further funds to pay for the balance of the shares, and I am pretty sure that Dennis will not let them go without receiving the full amount.

This could yet end up in court if he doesn't get his money!

I thought Dennis made an offer of around £1.5bn to Mumtalakat and Ojjeh for McLaren, only for it to be rejected by his fellow shareholders as they wanted Dennis gone? Dennis then took those shareholders to the High Court, in order prevent them removing him from McLaren but lost the case and was subsequently removed in November 2016.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I thought Dennis made an offer of around £1.5bn to Mumtalakat and Ojjeh for McLaren, only for it to be rejected by his fellow shareholders as they wanted Dennis gone? Dennis then took those shareholders to the High Court, in order prevent them removing him from McLaren but lost the case and was subsequently removed in November 2016.

That is so; they forced him to stand down as principle of the various companies, but he still retained his shareholdings in two of the companies; one of 11% and the other of 25%. It is those that they agreed to buy in July, but those purchases will be made in tranches, with the first of them taking place only fairly recently in the last couple of months. And they had to borrow the money to effect the purchase.

[knighty]

Rather cutting from Alonso, but does say a lot about what Renault are now doing for McLaren.......I still think Renault want to do all they can to ensure McLaren crush RedBull this year, nothing like a bit of public punishment for Mr Horner the bear and whinge about, I'm sure McLaren would be only too happy to oblige.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/889241/...re-facts-honda

.

[S griffin]

Well Renault do have their own team too don’t forget

[Mekola]

Question isn't when the McLaren-Renault will work. We're not dumb, it will happen when Alonso Deportago will be replaced by Lando Norris....

[Adam43]

A kind of average start. A few teams, especially with Renault engines, seem to be ahead. However with good driving from Alonso and some luck with other’s bad luck McLaren are third in the championship:
https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2018/team.html

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Adam43

A kind of average start. A few teams, especially with Renault engines, seem to be ahead. However with good driving from Alonso and some luck with other’s bad luck McLaren are third in the championship:
https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2018/team.html

Alonso is 4th in the WDC, though it is early days.

[S griffin]

At least they recovered some points from this

[Hammerdown]

Hmmm. Really beginning to wonder about McLaren. When this years car was launched it was pretty apparent that it was last years car with a lick of paint and a Renault sticker. It still looks pretty much the same in spite of promised big upgrades. Still looks rather naked and aerodynamically immature. It seems like last years car hasn’t taken too kindly to the supposedly bulky Renault, whereas the recipient of the size zero engine has been contrastingly transformed. Are they having money problems or they up to something? A ‘B-spec’ car maybe? They often talk about how what’s coming, and what they’re seeing back at the factory, will be much better. Or is they just typical McLaren PR speak?

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Hammerdown

It seems like last years car hasn’t taken too kindly to the supposedly bulky Renault, whereas the recipient of the size zero engine has been contrastingly transformed. Are they having money problems or they up to something? A ‘B-spec’ car maybe?

Or the McLaren chassis was never as highly developed as claimed, and (seems to be) so slow on the straights (and faster in the corners) because it has the most wing angle of any team, not because the Honda is so underpowered compared to the Renault. I mean, maybe that's just the best McLaren can do? They will be well pleased with their 3rd WCC placing, though you'd expect RBR to best them sooner than later, and McLaren will have done well if they can place 4th in WCC by season's end.

[Gingers4Justice]

Boullier was trying to put a positive spin on today by saying it’s okay, the car has balance, it just needs to be faster in a straight line and in corners.

In other words, the car is just plain slow.

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Boullier was trying to put a positive spin on today by saying it’s okay, the car has balance, it just needs to be faster in a straight line and in corners.

In other words, the car is just plain slow.

Yup. Boullier sounds defeated. Maybe the Barcelona upgrade will provide a step forward, but, if it doesn’t, McLaren will finish behind Red Bull and Renault AT LEAST by season’s end. Something’s not right at Woking, but I don’t know what it is. More worrying is the thought that they don’t either.

[peebee2]

Bit of a joke really, after all their “how great the chassis” is. It’s still slow. It’s still draggy and it’s still down on df. Just as everyone else sniggered the last few years.

Similar to all their big new sponsors. All are tiny badges except for Kinia which is a freeby to keep Alonso happy. Joke.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Bit of a joke really, after all their “how great the chassis” is. It’s still slow. It’s still draggy and it’s still down on df. Just as everyone else sniggered the last few years.

Similar to all their big new sponsors. All are tiny badges except for Kinia which is a freeby to keep Alonso happy. Joke.

To me they have lost cred this year as they have blamed much of their recent years dreadfulness all on Honda and it has now backfired on them badly. It shows that they were likely as much to blame as Honda if not moreso.
The only reason they lead Red Bull in the WCC is thanks to Max's indiscretion at Bahrain.

Looking at the FIA qualy speed trap numbers they are no faster than the STR Honda.

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by peebee2

All are tiny badges except for Kinia which is a freeby to keep Alonso happy.

What/who is Kinia?

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

What/who is Kinia?

Kimoa

[E.B]

It is a surfwear and sunglasses company actually owned/set up last year by Fernando with a couple of mates.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by E.B

To me they have lost cred this year as they have blamed much of their recent years dreadfulness all on Honda and it has now backfired on them badly. It shows that they were likely as much to blame as Honda if not moreso.
The only reason they lead Red Bull in the WCC is thanks to Max's indiscretion at Bahrain.

Looking at the FIA qualy speed trap numbers they are no faster than the STR Honda.

Losing Ron was a massive blow to McLaren, they lack direction and focus!

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

What/who is Kinia?

Sorry, spellcheck got me. Kimoa is Alonso’s own new sunglasses company.

[Skam85]

Despite McLaren not being fantastic, Fernando bring it home again in the points. Brilliant.

[Gingers4Justice]

Indeed, Alonso drove an incredible race - a true great outperforming the car. In some ways, doing that consistently adds to his reputation more than a third WDC...

Meanwhile, Vandoorne’s star continues to wane.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Despite McLaren not being fantastic, Fernando bring it home again in the points. Brilliant.

A creditable 7th.

[S griffin]

Seems the McLaren is better in the race than quali, especially with Fred

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Seems the McLaren is better in the race than quali, especially with Fred

still slower than Red Bul and Renault