2022 - McLaren Formula 1 Team

[EddyBaggio]

Funny how many have written us off already. We have alot more to come and I can't help feeling we are sandbagging quite alot. Guys like Seidl and Key are highly rated and know how to get things done. Seidl guided McLaren back to where they now from 6th and also as Porsche team principal helped them win 3 WEC manufacturers titles in a row. Key mentioned by many as the successor to Newey as the best car designer in F1. We have assembled a very good team and will get on top of this braking issue that was referred to as not a fundamental problem anyway. That time on day 1 at Barca sticks out alot with a baseline car that was nowhere near dialed in. Can't wait to shock a few of the naysayers in the next few weeks.

I hope you have right. I myself is just a bit worried.

[MrGapes]

Do we have any grasp on the significance of the race 1 upgrade package? As of recently during testing they did introduce a new floor and front wing, so I’m curious as to the changes, maybe more work around the Venturi entry, wing mirror mounts?? - I do think this is what Piers meant in terms of introducing new parts as late as possible so running production all the way till first race

[CjC]

There is a chance that there isn’t another performance upgrade for the season opener as resources could be diverted to the reliability upgrade needed for the front brakes. The current specification will most likely result in a double DNF and no points.

[cliffgamerz]

There is a chance that there isn’t another performance upgrade for the season opener as resources could be diverted to the reliability upgrade needed for the front brakes. The current specification will most likely result in a double DNF and no points.

They had mentioned that they have a planned upgrade and i think its already ready but is due to be introduced for the race, but the details of the update is unknown, maybe we just need to wait and see, it could internal layout update or visible updates to bodywork.

[mclaren111]

Is Lando gonna try fast qualifying runs today or only tests for the rest of the day?

Will Lando have a sandwich after the test or full supper?

[mwillems]

Is it possible they made a huge mistake like in 2018 car?

Yes. I think the brake issue is huge.

Probably fine in the colder races, but next weekend will be tuff. A struggle to get to Q3.

Didn't they say the full fix comes next week and that this is just a partial fix?

Seems like the whole exit duct is overheating, there isn't enough airflow through to cool the brakes enough, but is it that the brakes are suffering or that the ducting itself is breaking up under the heat?

[mclaren111]

Is it possible they made a huge mistake like in 2018 car?

Yes. I think the brake issue is huge.

Probably fine in the colder races, but next weekend will be tuff. A struggle to get to Q3.

Didn't they say the full fix comes next week and that this is just a partial fix?

Seems like the whole exit duct is overheating, there isn't enough airflow through to cool the brakes enough, but is it that the brakes are suffering or that the ducting itself is breaking up under the heat?

I predict the fix will be even better than the original... Our braking solutions has been superb over the last few years including stability under braking...

[mwillems]

Yes. I think the brake issue is huge.

Probably fine in the colder races, but next weekend will be tuff. A struggle to get to Q3.

Didn't they say the full fix comes next week and that this is just a partial fix?

Seems like the whole exit duct is overheating, there isn't enough airflow through to cool the brakes enough, but is it that the brakes are suffering or that the ducting itself is breaking up under the heat?

I think the fix will be even better than the original... Our braking solutions has been superb over the last few years including stability under braking...

The fix will be bigger and heavier and not optimal. But what I'd like to know is where that air is going....

[Mansell89]

Do we have any mini sector breakdowns of our performance in Bahrain guys?

Watched a brief review and it was said we looked good at high speed and perhaps not so good at low speeds.

We know this was an issue in recent years so wondered what data or analysis was available?

I thought the car visually looked better than some in the more sweeping sections and given our Barcelona positives you would think some tracks will really suit us and some less so- but I thought James Key had said they had put some work into their low speed performance so any data would be great to see.

Conscious that we were limited by brake issues so not as easy as a “normal” test.

[DragonSGC]

Do we have any mini sector breakdowns of our performance in Bahrain guys?

Watched a brief review and it was said we looked good at high speed and perhaps not so good at low speeds.

We know this was an issue in recent years so wondered what data or analysis was available?

I thought the car visually looked better than some in the more sweeping sections and given our Barcelona positives you would think some tracks will really suit us and some less so- but I thought James Key had said they had put some work into their low speed performance so any data would be great to see.

Conscious that we were limited by brake issues so not as easy as a “normal” test.

The poor low speed performance could definitely be exacerbated by the braking issue, at least visually from what I saw we looked good, maybe not the best but nice and tidy into T8 and T10(when the brakes did work), while not really low speed the nose changes direction quite fast when coming off the kerbs out of T7 setting up for T8 and that was something that was remarked by journo's about how the car performed in t2/t3

[Ground Effect]

Does anyone have a video of Lando's fastest time yesterday? Just curious to see if there's more to be encouraged about. Did he make a mistake, hit traffic or lift off?

[bauc]

Is it possible they made a huge mistake like in 2018 car?

Yes. I think the brake issue is huge.

Probably fine in the colder races, but next weekend will be tuff. A struggle to get to Q3.

Didn't they say the full fix comes next week and that this is just a partial fix?

Seems like the whole exit duct is overheating, there isn't enough airflow through to cool the brakes enough, but is it that the brakes are suffering or that the ducting itself is breaking up under the heat?

The hole assembly tears apart due to the extreme heat that is why you have seen they have applied that red silicon which can withstand huge temperatures and still hold materials in place (I know, I've fixed my Brick oven with the same )

[bauc]

Is it possible they made a huge mistake like in 2018 car?

No, car fundamentals were proven ok in Barcelona, Bahrein heat and sand storm(lot of dust & debris) have exploited the weakness in design of the brake cooling unit, which was already partially fixed yesterday and a full fix is expected for race1.

[the EDGE]

Is it possible they made a huge mistake like in 2018 car?

No, car fundamentals were proven ok in Barcelona, Bahrein heat and sand storm(lot of dust & debris) have exploited the weakness in design of the brake cooling unit, which was already partially fixed yesterday and a full fix is expected for race1.

The issue wasn’t the Bahraini heat, it was the huge demand this circuit puts on braking, +20’ ambient temperature has little effect on 1000’ bake temps, other than that, I’d agree there is no other signs of reliability issues at this stage

[JPower]

Funny how many have written us off already. We have alot more to come and I can't help feeling we are sandbagging quite alot. Guys like Seidl and Key are highly rated and know how to get things done. Seidl guided McLaren back to where they now from 6th and also as Porsche team principal helped them win 3 WEC manufacturers titles in a row. Key mentioned by many as the successor to Newey as the best car designer in F1. We have assembled a very good team and will get on top of this braking issue that was referred to as not a fundamental problem anyway. That time on day 1 at Barca sticks out alot with a baseline car that was nowhere near dialed in. Can't wait to shock a few of the naysayers in the next few weeks.

Who has written off McLaren? The vast majority of opinions I’ve seen have put them in 4th right now, despite the brake issues.