[Team] McLaren - can they compete?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Does Vandoorne have any independent financial backing or was it all through being a McLaren protégé? Money and not being utterly hopeless are what’s keeping Ericsson in F1 despite the fierce competition for seats.

So are you comparing Ericsson to Vandoorne in talent of financial terms?

Ironically I always backed Marcus because he did very well in the junior formula up to GP2. But it did seem the further he went the harder it got. Whereas Stoffel did very well up to and including GP2.

However it's doubtful anyone would say the two of them are the same level.

[BSchneiderFan]

No, I wasn’t comparing them in terms of talent. But Ericsson has money and his links to Longbow. I genuinely don’t know if Vandoorne has any backing that might put him in the same frame as Ericsson and, therefore, a contender for the non-Ferrari seat at Sauber.

[S griffin]

I think Toro Rosso is his best hope if any

[BSchneiderFan]

You’re probably right, and that’s a long shot. Being dumped isn’t good for the reputation.

[BSchneiderFan]

This seemed very whiny and self-pitying to me: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13...rs-too-quickly. Let’s face it, people aren’t jumping to conclusions; Vandoorne’s had nearly two years. Bit of dignity in the face of adversity wouldn’t go amiss.

[S griffin]

But remember how quickly people were lauding him after his debut race at Bahrain in 2016?

[BSchneiderFan]

Yes, I don’t remember Vandoorne complaining then.

[chunterer]

I recall Checo getting jettisoned after one year even though the car was crap! There gave long been stories that his attitude wasn't enderaring to many at Woking but Force Blah blah normally praise him for spirit etc?! Maybe he's grown up a bit since 2013.

Magnussen got elbowed for political reasons after doing a pretty good job.

If Stoffel was removed for not doing much with a top car i think people would be fair to write him off. But the facts are the equipment has been rubbish and he's basically been Alonso's stooge. Frankly he did bloody well to get close to Alonso on pace. Only Hamilton has ever been able to do that on a regular basis.

[BSchneiderFan]

“McLaren: Can they compete?” They say no - https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13...-poorEURTM-car

[karting]

The thing I’m most happy about him being dropped, isn’t that he’s dropped, isn’t that Norris gets a chance. But it’s the fact I don’t have to see #2 on a car which doesn’t deserve the number as they are regularly lapped.

I always thought #1,2,3 should of been reserved and even Ricciardo shouldn’t run #3

[BSchneiderFan]

Prost won the championship in 1993 bearing #2. Either you number the cars in championship order, or you reserve #1 for the champion (if he wants it - Hamilton doesn’t use it) and allow otherwise free choice. Why reserve 1-3, but not 4-6, or 4-8, or 4-10? The move to allowing drivers to pick their own numbers was presumably a nod to the practice Stateside, but not many F1 drivers have really made canny commercial use of it (an exception being Bottas, or should I say “Bo77as”).

[chillibowl]

interesting point there about the lack of marketing/commercial applications stemming from the numbers.

Carlo55ainz does it as well with 55, but like Bo77as, im not sure they do much more with it other then their twitter/insta usernames. probably on some clothes and hats as well but really its not that much.

Hamilton has a new clothing line coming out with Hilfiger but from what i recall its just stuff with a big 'H' on it and not his number.

i always liked Kimi's reason for taking 7 as it was the number he had the year prior to the rule coming in and he saw no reason why to change it going forward. classic Kimi!

anyways, back on topic...i found that article refreshing. an honest assessment from Mclaren with the team not shying away from fault. no spin no BS no equivocation...just honest.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by karting

The thing I’m most happy about him being dropped, isn’t that he’s dropped, isn’t that Norris gets a chance. But it’s the fact I don’t have to see #2 on a car which doesn’t deserve the number as they are regularly lapped.

I always thought #1,2,3 should of been reserved and even Ricciardo shouldn’t run #3

I would have liked to see the numbers allocated according to the finishing positions of the previous year's championship.

[JHamilton]

Why?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Why?

Because that is the traditional way it was done prior to this recent drivers chosen career number nonsense.

[BSchneiderFan]

I wish the FIA would mandate more visible numbers.

[karting]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Prost won the championship in 1993 bearing #2. Either you number the cars in championship order, or you reserve #1 for the champion (if he wants it - Hamilton doesn’t use it) and allow otherwise free choice. Why reserve 1-3, but not 4-6, or 4-8, or 4-10? The move to allowing drivers to pick their own numbers was presumably a nod to the practice Stateside, but not many F1 drivers have really made canny commercial use of it (an exception being Bottas, or should I say “Bo77as”).

Why not give trophies to 1-6 in the race or 1-8 or even 1-10 then?

The top 3 numbers should be reserved for the top 3 in the championship. If they choose to run it that’s down to them, but no one should be allowed 1-3 in my opinion if they didn’t finish 1-3 in the previous year

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by wnut

I would have liked to see the numbers allocated according to the finishing positions of the previous year's championship.

Drivers' or Constructors' championship?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Drivers' or Constructors' championship?

Drivers, to me the plate is earned by the driver and should be his number the following season.

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by wnut

Drivers, to me the plate is earned by the driver and should be his number the following season.

What numbers would rookies run?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by wnut

Drivers, to me the plate is earned by the driver and should be his number the following season.

Ah - so different to how it used to be (aside from #1).

We are starting to see repeated use of numbers - notably #28 and # 10. Also a couple of drivers have raced with more than one number.

I think that reserving only #1 for the reigning champion is right, all other numbers should be free - but I also feel that the reigning champion should be obliged to run #1 on their car.

[Greem]

I genuinely don't care what numbers people carry as long as they're visible and don't change mid-season (or mid-session!).

Arguing over a numbering convention is fiddling while Rome burns. There are *vastly* more important problems that F1 needs to solve.

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by wnut

I would have liked to see the numbers allocated according to the finishing positions of the previous year's championship.

They just did that after '95. Before that teams got the numbers they more or less were stuck with for many years. It gave the Ferrari the iconic 27/28 and Williams the iconic 5. Tyrrell got 3/4.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by wnut

I would have liked to see the numbers allocated according to the finishing positions of the previous year's championship.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Drivers' or Constructors' championship?

Originally Posted by E.B

Because that is the traditional way it was done prior to this recent drivers chosen career number nonsense.

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

What numbers would rookies run?

I think the current system is just fine. Clearly messing with this a can of worms.

Other ideas to consider...

1. Driver points totals from the prior year.
2. Driver points totals for the current year
3. Driver power unit penalties points
4. Random draw at the start of each weekend.

Some of those may cause car numbers to change race to race or session to session. So be it! In case of ties in the numbering scheme, drivers will fight it out using inflatable Sumo wrestler suits.

Additional tweaks...

* Drivers who participated, but did not score any points in the prior year have both a large "L" for "loser" placed in front of their number as well as a graphic of a hand making an "L" on the forehead section of the helmet.
* Novices will have a large red "N" placed in front of their number along with a flashing red light above the roll-hoop.
* Pay drivers will have a large "$" sign (or use £ or € if that is more appropriate) placed in front of their number. Rear wing should include two values. Amount promised to the team and amount paid out so far. Optional tin cup can be affixed to right or left mirror mount so that fans can throw spare change at the car in an attempt to help raise funding.
* Drivers who have rich parents must glue a silver spoon to their helmet.
* Drivers who had their rich parents buy them a team must drive a car that looks like a large silver spoon.
* Prima donna drivers with an established record (such as prior world champions) will have an asterisk placed in front of their number as well as the number of explicit contract exceptions they have shown on the rear wing. For example, "I am #1 driver on my team", "I get veto rights on my #2 driver" and "No red M&Ms in my trailer" would mean "3" on the rear wing.



Richard

[crmalcolm]

I think when Webber gets his seat at Renault, he should run 21 (Multiple times on the car).