Kimi: "We have problems with MP4-19"

[Pitstop]

GP Racer,

I don't think there is much likelyhood of any chinks in their armour, more like a 'bad day at the office'.

We all get them.

If BAR get into the top three this year old chum, I will most definately buy you a drink and be happy for you.

[GP Racer]

I'd love to see BAR get to #3, just so I can come to Devon, and have you buy me a fine pint or two Pitstop.

Hell, even if BAR doesn't get to #3, I'd still like to get to Devon and have you buy me a pint or two!

[Snrub]

I don't get the continued over optimism regarding McLaren. Last year everyone was confident that the MP19 was going to arrive and destroy all. We basically have three things to go by:
1. McLaren has been fast for the last while.
2. McLaren has struggled a lot in getting their act together for the last year or two.
3. McLaren has now publically said negative things about their car.

Everyone looks at #1 but ignores the fact that no team has always been consistently at the top. Competition is stiffer than ever why is it inconceivable that they've dropped back relative to their competition? Williams is typically strong, but they were slow a few years ago. Why couldn't the same happen to McLaren?

As for #3 why on earth would they sandbag? What are the gains? Do the sponsors pay to be associated with a team that says "we're not doing so well?"

Point is I'm not saying McLaren will certainly be slow, but I don't understand how people can repeatedly insist that they will certainly be fast.

[Gt_R]

Remember, the period where Williams was slow was primarily down to the transition of Renault, or rather ex-Renault,engines to BMW. They really grew on from there.

Secondly, I agree that every team had it's ups and downs. And its precisely that which makes me think Mclaren really would have regained their edge. They have been on a dip post-Mika, and a few unfortunate events coupled with moving to their new base and the integration of Ilmor/Mclaren/Mercedes, really kind of threw them off foot. Now however, is really time Mclaren would have pulled everything back, when things look so favourable.

Nobody can "insist that they will be CERTAINLY fast", but it'd be real dumb of anybody to underestimate the opposition, especially if the team in question is Mclaren with Ron at the head. Call it faith, call it respect, i don't think Mclaren's struggling as bad as they make it seem.

[Mattracer]

I think that sandbagging in F1 is about as futile as thinking that the opposition will fall for it.

[Gt_R]

But at least it doesnt provide the direct competitors any realistic/direct competition.

[shiny side up!]

Looking at the pictures from testing in Jerez today, Kimi is running with a 2003 spec wing... I wonder why McLaren would be doing that?? The pictures I'm talking about are on page 4 of the testing photos. On page 2 (pics taken yesterday), DC has a 2004 spec wing...

I have no idea if there is anything to read into this, but I found it interesting...

[Kicking-back]

Today Kimi did 95 laps and DC 96 with no reliability problems.

They said after Barcelona they'd have solutions to the problems and it looks like they do.

[twig]

But what about the speed thing?

Are McLaren usually ones to sandbag?

[Gt_R]

Let's just say they reserve the right to not unleash their fullest potential.

Mclaren's a seriously great team, and they had some of the best people/brains in the sports... unlikely they'd be not at the top. If they can make the MP4-17 into a "D" spec capable of challenging the new Williams, what's stopping them to go even quicker with a brand new car?

[Kicking-back]

109 reliable laps from Kimi today - and similar pace to Williams.

Looking better all the time....

[f1manoz]

The problem is the car isn't two seconds faster than everything else!

[Kicking-back]

Alex Wurz today had what he called "good runs" in the MP4-19 at Jerez, and Pedro de la Rosa put another 90-odd laps on the car.

The reliability problems today were on an experimental version of the car - not the specification which will go to Melbourne.

[jhansen]

The new Ferrari isn't exactly setting the time sheets on fire either. Does that mean Ferrari are also doomed in 2004? Not likely. There's nothing else to talk about, so might as well spout off all this dribble. Let's wait till Round 1 in Oz to see what's really what.