Mp4-19

neilap · 29 Dec 2003, 01:01 (Ref:822133)

Quote:

"On my first day in the car, I broke the lap record. The team wanted me to slow down, but I told them: 'I'm not pushing'. It's always the same when you drive a good car - it's always easy. It doesn't feel quick, but the time is just there. Even so, the lap times kept coming down. I feel very positive. The car is so easy to drive. It is very sensitive to changes - responsive in a good way. If you have a problem, you change something, and the car behaves better."

Words taken from an article on F1-live. PDLR seems to think this car is a pure weapon. I especially liked the part about the team telling him to slow down. Michelin was also working on some new compounds with Mclaren so that may be a sign! Is this car going to dethrone Ferrari? Mclaren always seems to be fast in testing but this time the team seems to be more than optimistic.

f1_smiley · 29 Dec 2003, 01:15 (Ref:822142)

wonder what they said before about the 1998 contender prior to the start of that winning season.....

Mr V · 29 Dec 2003, 02:19 (Ref:822196)

McLaren can be very optomistic in my opinion, but the new Williams and ferrari haven't been tested properly yet, we should wait and see.

I, for one, can't wait for battle to commence.

BARrouette · 29 Dec 2003, 02:37 (Ref:822207)

It is shure looking verry good...

**GTRMagic** · 29 Dec 2003, 03:14 (Ref:822219)

Wish Jaguar had that kind of news to share

Led ZeppF1 · 29 Dec 2003, 04:12 (Ref:822257)

Quote:

Originally posted by f1_smiley
wonder what they said before about the 1998 contender prior to the start of that winning season.....

Yup, its just testing.

So, we just should wait and see.

avsfan733 · 29 Dec 2003, 05:11 (Ref:822294)

...every year we hear the same thing from the Williams camp, "this is our year" usually its DC with "this is my year, the car is great I'm feeling it etc." the only difference this time is that its PDLR saying it. Testing quotes mean nothing, this car is an evolution of a car that sat in development for 18 months without racing. That wouldn't be very confidence building to me.

Thorstone · 30 Dec 2003, 02:45 (Ref:823171)

After one year development it not strange it will make some progress.

DriverT · 31 Dec 2003, 21:49 (Ref:824802)

Quote:

Originally posted by GTRMagic
Wish Jaguar had that kind of news to share

They need a huge injection of cash and the services of a top designer. They have one great driver already.

Damon · 31 Dec 2003, 22:14 (Ref:824808)

It certainly looks good for McLaren so far and I'd love them to be quick next knowing where JPM will be in 2005 but read too much into testing times at your peril. Remember how quick the Ferrari was prior to the 1991 season.

twig · 31 Dec 2003, 23:05 (Ref:824821)

Yes but remember how fast the 1998 Mclaren MP4/13 was before the 1998 season? Apparently it broke the lap record by nearly 2 seconds.
Now that's damn quick. Also of course, since the regulations changed so much, it may have become easier.

None the less, the new Mac is looking very good - Although we havent even seen the new Williams, Ferrari or Renault cars.

Zinger · 1 Jan 2004, 00:28 (Ref:824855)

what about the MP4-18 ???

Damon · 1 Jan 2004, 00:43 (Ref:824858)

That was an "interim car". Technical speak for a balls up.

Zinger · 1 Jan 2004, 02:03 (Ref:824895)

It may just sit in the McLaren Museme. Race Starts 0 Race Wins 0 Race Finish 0 (100% finish ratio) could be McLarens most reliable car built yet.

flexible-flyer · 1 Jan 2004, 02:14 (Ref:824909)

it makes grooved tyres and narrows chassis look good.

and there was me thinking they needed a livery change!

thing is how will it perform against the rest?

DNQ · 1 Jan 2004, 02:19 (Ref:824915)

As a McLaren fan, this is good news

With reserved optimism, I look forward to Albert Park.

Hazza · 1 Jan 2004, 03:13 (Ref:824956)

"I belive that Williams will score more victories and lessen the Ferrari dominance in 2002"
(Or words to that effect) P.Head - 2001.

C'mon guys, no-one will know untill Albert Park

**GTRMagic** · 1 Jan 2004, 03:38 (Ref:824975)

Maybe DC is going to run the MP4-18 while Kimi gives the 19 a whirl??

D_Marshall · 2 Jan 2004, 00:52 (Ref:825425)

I for one was gutted to not see the MP4-18 out last year. I know that the 17D was a very different car to the 17 but you can't help wondering what Raikkonen would have been like with the 18 underneath him. McLaren said they would only bring the 18 out if they were not fighting for the championship because of reliability issues, but the 17D was just not quick enough. Maybe they should have taken a gamble and 2003 might have had a different champion.

Damon · 2 Jan 2004, 11:45 (Ref:825625)

Quote:

Originally posted by D_Marshall
I for one was gutted to not see the MP4-18 out last year. I know that the 17D was a very different car to the 17 but you can't help wondering what Raikkonen would have been like with the 18 underneath him. McLaren said they would only bring the 18 out if they were not fighting for the championship because of reliability issues, but the 17D was just not quick enough. Maybe they should have taken a gamble and 2003 might have had a different champion.

They could never race it because it never passed a crash test, that's the reason.

mansellmania · 2 Jan 2004, 14:15 (Ref:825721)

Quote:

Originally posted by Damon
They could never race it because it never passed a crash test, that's the reason.

Iirc it was not just the crashtest.. the engine was running too hot and some suspension parts broke off wich resulted in the crashes the testing drivers had.

Damon · 2 Jan 2004, 14:21 (Ref:825723)

Absolutely right, but it was illegal from a regulations point of view as it didn't meet the minimum crash test requirements. The other problems were just raised the embarressment factor somewhat.

Teretonga · 2 Jan 2004, 22:16 (Ref:826008)

The MP4/12, prior to the 1997 season was earlier than the the other cars and was fantastic in testing. DC won in Australia and Italy, Mika at Jerez (after DC was told to move over)and the car was fairly competitive all year. I can't see the MP4/19 being less competitive, probably more so. we still haven't seen the new Williams but I can't see Ferrari taking a quantum leap forward next year. Williams and McLaren will catch up.