The BAR factor

[Hugh Jarce]

I have been thinking about this one, and I noticed it came up in one of the other threads as a sub-point, but I think this is worthy of its own thread.

Why have BAR done so well?

Clearly there must be technology at the heart of the improvement but I would like to suggest another key issue.

Did you notice on the recent TV coverage all the team members names were on the rear wing. Nice one! Even the bloke who makes the tea.

My theory - The reason BAR are doing so well is down to a happy and focussed team, all pulling in one direction. And, perhaps this is most 'visible' with the drivers. Good attitude and honouring each other (unlike the rubbish with JV last season)

At the mo...

Teams doing the best characterised by great team spirit.
Teams doing badly characterised by whingers.

I know that can be a bit 'chicken and egg' but I think that's what counts.

So, maybe McLaren should spend a bit more money getting a good team building guru in, rather than buying more aluminium bog seats.

Any views!

[Adam43]

Chicken and egg is certainly true. However when winning there is less to 'whinge' about. I'm not sure McLaren fall into this situation. Make no mistake they are doing terribly at the moment, but they are trying to sort it out. They aren't complaining about rules, or luck, or others particularly. They might say the engine is pants or the rear end has no grip, but they are!

Generally and back to your main point. BAR. Yes they are performing so much better. I think this is because the team has direction. This has brought out direction from Honda too. It has been helped a little by McLaren and Williams underperforming, but thats not BARs problem.

Certainly BAR are a focused and happy. The first part was achieved when they wern't doing so well. The second part partially came because even before success the focus helped, however now there are getting points and podiums it has snowballed.

[Hugh Jarce]

I reckon teams that have been mid-pack (e.g. Renault) have had to work very hard to improve and now have momentum and teams like Willies and Mc's have got a bit more complacent that their positions are guaranteed?

[climb]

About team spirit, I'm happy to observe that someone at last has understood that copying Ferrari is not basically a matter of aerodynamics!

[Jordi]

Team spirit is a difficult science...

[Snrub]

Originally posted by Hugh Jarce
I reckon teams that have been mid-pack (e.g. Renault) have had to work very hard to improve and now have momentum and teams like Willies and Mc's have got a bit more complacent that their positions are guaranteed?

Might have something to do with it, but on the other hand Williams and McLaren knew they had to improve to beat Ferrari.

[Poddy]

it seems to be just the normal cycle of things really. Both Mclaren and Williams have obviously decided the basis they've built their last generation of cars on is no longer sound enough to take the fight to Ferrari and have invested in new technologies which need time to let them gather the sort of data to get the package reliable and up to speed.

By contrast, Renault and BAR are obviously at their point of the cycle where the package is hitting podium challenging form and Flav and Richards are now able to channel this into pushing their teams to make the next big step.

I don't think it'll be too long until Mclaren and Williams are back there with them though. Cream always rises to the top and Ron and Frank have been around far too long to not know what's needed.

[senna12]

Well, I think a good deal of the credit must go to Geoff Willis, Michelin, and Honda. Geoff's first car was absolutely quick right out of the box. I can see a team becoming very motivated when they realize they're going to be a couple of seconds quicker straight away, and podiums could become reality.

I think JV's so called de-stabilizing effect has/had been overstated. Richards has to take his share of the blame in that, as he was issuing mostly pay or attitude related ultimatums to Jacques right from the first day he took over. Talk about waving a red flag at a bull.

IMHO, the team would be performing at the same level or higher if he were in the car this season.

Apparently they will have more horsepower for Canada. I'm not sure it will be enough though.

[GTRMagic]

Isnt "Team Spirit" one of the alternate brandings from Mild Seven on the Renaults?

BAR are doing well, they have their ducks in a row at the moment, and their competitors arent looking so flash.

The Michelins seem to have transformed the car also, or perhaps the input BAR are having on Michelin development direction is a zillion miles away from the Ferrari-obsessed Bridgestone....

Makes you wonder what this operation would have been capable of if they didnt want to reinvent the wheel from the start huh....

[neilap]

BAR have been improving for a long time now. I feel their bbiggest deficit last year was the tires. They may have still finished in the position they did but in now way do I feel it would have been close. IMO, the team had outgrown JV and his rantings. They wanted a new team leader.
Honda finally made a motor that had the proper balance in the chassis and the chassis seems superb.

I wont give them too much credit yet though. The team is together but because of poor reliability they are falling behind the slower Renault team. On pace they are a clear cut 2nd but without the consistent finishes they still are underachieving. Last year they had many gearbox and hydraulic issues that led to failures this year Satos motors keep going bang.

Things are falling into place but they are still not entirely there. IMO, if they do not finish 2nd they have not lived up to their true potential. Teams like Toyota will not let Honda get the publicity forever. Next year will be even more difficult to catch Ferrari, especially with teams aiming for them.