[Team] McLaren - can they compete?

[Bcarr6]

Can they complete? It looks like probably no again

[Mike Bell]

Not so shabby Q from Lando, at least!

[Aysedasi]

The kid did a brilliant job. Must have given everyone in the team a lift.

[Peter Mallett]

Indeed and they are the fastest Renault team.

[bjohnsonsmith]

A great debut drive from Lando Morris but I wonder if McLaren aren't ruing parting company, with Honda?

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

A great debut drive from Lando Morris but I wonder if McLaren aren't ruing parting company, with Honda?

Probably privately. But would Honda been able to make progress with McLaren? 2018 was not a stellar year for McLaren. You can blame that on the upheaval of the switch to a new power unit, but I expect the results would have been similar if Honda had stayed. So the Honda blame game and acrimonious relationship would have continued.

2018 was a year of wisely lower expectations by the team Honda was worked with. Not to mention a newfound freedom to do what they thought was right vs. being pushed into corners. That gave Honda coverage to continue to focus on progress vs. battling their "partner" in public spats. Honda made the right move to proceed with divorce rather than trying to repair a fractured marriage. Of course RBR may be just as vicious if things go south, but that is a story for a different thread.

Richard

[S griffin]

I think their time was up. They felt it was time for a change. It didn’t look that bad to begin with in 2018, even if they didn’t get the results they were expected to get. Honda had their chance and failed with McLaren

Who knows how long Honda will stay with RBR

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think their time was up. They felt it was time for a change. It didn’t look that bad to begin with in 2018, even if they didn’t get the results they were expected to get. Honda had their chance and failed with McLaren

Who knows how long Honda will stay with RBR

Did Honda fail with McLaren, or did McLaren fail with Honda?

Indeed, who knows how long Honda will stay with RBR but a whole season awaits to unfold. Looking forward to it.

[S griffin]

Neither party did well for each other.

I think Honda will be lucky if they get through the whole season without some tension unfolding. That’s my prediction

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Neither party did well for each other.

I think Honda will be lucky if they get through the whole season without some tension unfolding. That’s my prediction

Let's see what happens in Bahrain.

[S griffin]

Well anything can happen there

[bjohnsonsmith]

Alonso to drive McLaren's 2019 F1 car in next week's test, after the Bahrain Grand Prix.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/142392

[Adam43]

His recent Dakar car experience my help with the sand. He’s certainly driving a lot of different stuff - I bet he’s having a blast

[S griffin]

Hopefully his development role will help McLaren no end

[GT6]

Well they seem to be improving but they neede to convert that into points

[ApexTurtle]

Both cars looking good here, beating the factory Renault team handily.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by ApexTurtle

Both cars looking good here, beating the factory Renault team handily.

Nothing ground breaking yet but a positive sign so I hope they continue to progress well

[S griffin]

Yeah, well done to McLaren on the performance, a step in the right direction

[Aysedasi]

Very good to see.....

[Richard C]

Agree with comments above that things are looking better for McLaren.

Richard

[Peter Mallett]

Yes very pleasing. Lando only 2/10s from Carlos and both top ten.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Alonso to drive McLaren's 2019 F1 car in next week's test, after the Bahrain Grand Prix.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/142392

Once again another top decision by Alonso to miss this year. The man sure has a good record for making decisions that back fire on him.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Casper

Once again another top decision by Alonso to miss this year. The man sure has a good record for making decisions that back fire on him.

I am not sure I get your point? Are you saying Alonso screwed up by not racing for McLaren in 2019? If so, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. McLaren is showing evidence of fighting for the top of the midfield, not for wins. We are only barely two races in. I think Alonso would return only if he can drop into a winning team. I suspect he has zero regrets right now with respect to 2019.

Richard

[S griffin]

Not really, just that Fred almost seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like he left Ferrari just before they started winning again

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Casper

Once again another top decision by Alonso to miss this year. The man sure has a good record for making decisions that back fire on him.

He won Daytona and Sebring, so that must be some consolation, if indeed that's the right word. Nevertheless, his decisions to leave and join F1 teams over the last few years, haven't really worked out. I don't know if that's a case of bad luck, or bad timing but I don't think it's due to a lack of perseverance because he has certainly stuck at it.