2021 Mclaren F1 Team

[Macklaren]

Like Horner says, the traditional formbook is broken this year. Ferrari has outperformed at "McLaren" tracks and vice versa (just like RBR and Merc). I don't think we can take anything for certain.

[diffuser]

I love the optimism and Andreas has to be but unless Mclaren get a 1-2 and fastest lap in Abu Dhabi I can’t see them beating Ferrari who are favourites for P3 now if you ask me.
I’m expecting them to murder Mclaren at the likes of Brazil and Qatar I’m afraid because when it comes to Mclaren I’m a glass half full kinda guy

Ferrari's big failing has always been the monumental 'mess up'. It has cost them a championship more than once, so it is still a possibility. Better to see head to head on the track, but they seem due for one, so...
(not wishing it on them, just the seem historically capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory)

Attributing a "trait" to Ferrari from their recent past when the members of Ferrari have all changed isn't really applicable. This is the rise of Binotto at Ferrari, we'll have to see how his team fairs. When you considering where they were last year, the season has already been a victory for them. Internally at Ferrari, there isn't any pressure to finish 3ird.

I do agree it is a little early to write off McLaren.

[diffuser]

Emag have in mind though that Mclaren wasn't allowed to develop the car as they wanted as they had restrictions not to mention Ferrari has double our budget. Who knows how much faster our car would be had we been let to develop it as we wanted.

The Budget Cap is already in place this year if I'm not mistaken...

You are correct. For 2021, the cap is set at $145m. That will reduce to $140m in 2022 and $135m from 2023 onwards. It will be further clamped down in terms of aero time (tunnel CFD) allowed for development.


There is a regulation to increase the CAP if inflation is above 3% in any of those given years.

[Emag]

To be honest I am scared about Mexico and Brazil. It could seal the championship for us if Ferrari are as strong as expected.

[CjC]

Emag have in mind though that Mclaren wasn't allowed to develop the car as they wanted as they had restrictions not to mention Ferrari has double our budget. Who knows how much faster our car would be had we been let to develop it as we wanted.

The Budget Cap is already in place this year if I'm not mistaken...

Yea but Ferrari would have developed the ‘21 car during the un-budgeted 2020 season?
I think that’s is what Darth-Piekus is referring to

[CjC]

To be honest I am scared about Mexico and Brazil. It could seal the championship for us if Ferrari are as strong as expected.

Qatar too- Ferrari will give Mclaren a hiding there too me thinks.

When MotoGP raced there this season it was won by Viniales on a Yamaha- the Yamaha is easily the slowest bike on the straights but is great in the corners which we know is a trait of the Ferrari

[mwillems]

Emag have in mind though that Mclaren wasn't allowed to develop the car as they wanted as they had restrictions not to mention Ferrari has double our budget. Who knows how much faster our car would be had we been let to develop it as we wanted.

The Budget Cap is already in place this year if I'm not mistaken...

Yea but Ferrari would have developed the ‘21 car during the un-budgeted 2020 season?
I think that’s is what Darth-Piekus is referring to

Yes, and the restrictions in which he refers to are the ones that many feel that Mclaren managed to get a wider scope to make more changes than most. Gearbox, engine, mounting points, cooling and car length. And yet Ferrari still managed to pull it out of the bag. Kudos to Ferrari I think.

[the EDGE]

The Budget Cap is already in place this year if I'm not mistaken...

Yea but Ferrari would have developed the ‘21 car during the un-budgeted 2020 season?
I think that’s is what Darth-Piekus is referring to

Yes, and the restrictions in which he refers to are the ones that many feel that Mclaren managed to get a wider scope to make more changes than most. Gearbox, engine, mounting points, cooling and car length. And yet Ferrari still managed to pull it out of the bag. Kudos to Ferrari I think.

All teams were permitted to change the wheel base length & cooling, Mounting points are fixed under regs, & the only changes McLaren were permitted to make were to adapt current spec parts to accommodate the Merc PU. They weren’t allowed to re-design anything

McLaren undoubtedly drew the short straw (engine gains aside)

[Darth-Piekus]

That is what I am saying. Mclaren was not able to make as many changes as teams without an engine change made. The Mercedes Engine works differently with the chassis compared to the Renault Engine. The changes made were just to adapt parts but not changes as Mclaren wanted. I think a lot of time was lost from those parts.

Still I believe that Mclaren will be able to beat Ferrari in some tracks and Ferrari will sweat and bleed in order to get that 3rd place as Mclaren will do everything in their power to get 3rd. I still think we can find some more time from that last package and I still believe we can beat the Ferrari if we perform better in Q3.

[mwillems]

Yea but Ferrari would have developed the ‘21 car during the un-budgeted 2020 season?
I think that’s is what Darth-Piekus is referring to

Yes, and the restrictions in which he refers to are the ones that many feel that Mclaren managed to get a wider scope to make more changes than most. Gearbox, engine, mounting points, cooling and car length. And yet Ferrari still managed to pull it out of the bag. Kudos to Ferrari I think.

All teams were permitted to change the wheel base length & cooling, Mounting points are fixed under regs, & the openly changes McLaren were permitted to make were to adapt current spec parts to accommodate the Merc PU. They were it allowed to re-design anything

McLaren undoubtedly drew the short straw (engine gains aside)

Most cooling was restricted, particularly the sidepods. Take away the length and you still have significant changes amounting to multiplle areas to the other teams more restrictive changes.

[Mansell89]

To be honest I am scared about Mexico and Brazil. It could seal the championship for us if Ferrari are as strong as expected.

Qatar too- Ferrari will give Mclaren a hiding there too me thinks.

When MotoGP raced there this season it was won by Viniales on a Yamaha- the Yamaha is easily the slowest bike on the straights but is great in the corners which we know is a trait of the Ferrari

It’s an interesting one- it does look to have straights that would suit the likes of McLaren or Merc but perhaps it will work more like Baku?

Is there anything in the tarmac/conditions that would replicate Baku or perhaps Mexico?

Brazil will be an interesting one - I don’t think we will be far away from Ferrari there.

[diffuser]

Emag have in mind though that Mclaren wasn't allowed to develop the car as they wanted as they had restrictions not to mention Ferrari has double our budget. Who knows how much faster our car would be had we been let to develop it as we wanted.

The Budget Cap is already in place this year if I'm not mistaken...

Yea but Ferrari would have developed the ‘21 car during the un-budgeted 2020 season?
I think that’s is what Darth-Piekus is referring to

McLaren were allowed to develop the car as they wanted with the same restriction as everyone else, well minus the Capital restrictions that Ferrari had fewer of. It wasn't Ferrari's fault that McLaren didn't have as much money as them? If you mention the restriction cause of the PU manufacturer change that McLaren made, again that was a choice. If Ferrari would have chosen to put in their front Turbo PU, they would have had the same issue. They didn't. Plus Ferrari abandoned their whole front Turbo PU program for 2022, which is why they were able to bring a PU update this year. So Ferrari are making choices.

@Emag It's all water under the bridge, look forward, from now on there is a more level playing field in F1. At this point in time, Ferrari is not allowed to spend more money on the 2021 car that McLaren or any other team.

[diffuser]

Off topic...

Ever notice that is really hard to read most car's numbers from the front ?



I find it very frustrating.....

[Big Tea]

Off topic...

Ever notice that is really hard to read most car's numbers from the front ?

https://f1tcdn.net/images/news/2021/usagp-start.jpg

I find it very frustrating.....

Well the black one in front is number 6.

[Xero]

I still think halos should be allowed to be painted to reflect the drivers helmet for easy ID.