2024 Mclaren Formula 1 Team

[Darth-Piekus]

Let's focus and win the last 3 races to secure the WCC. There isn't gonna be another rain expected in these races.

[chrisc90]

So what is the situation regarding the penalties and where our drivers ended.

Likely brushed under the carpet. Given the safety consequences, it deserves more than 10s. Its a basic procedural breach but one that carries a big safety risk.

Could also look why he wasnt noted for a unsafe rejoin - nearly hitting Russell at the restart, and the turn 1 incident. Both werent even noted.

[chrisc90]

Lando -its not talent but luck- Norris.
Yea whatever dude, you ain't winning anything with that attitude....

There's no luck in a masterclass drive like you seen from Max today.

Very poor attitude from Lando.

Its not luck when you dont understand an aborted start procedure

[CjC]

Exquisite performance by Norris, truly world championship material.

Why would you post in Red Bull thread how good Verstappen is and the haters are blind.

Then come to the McLaren thread and hate on Norris.

You are a massive hypocrite and I shouldn’t have even acknowledged the troll that you are but I can not stand hypocrites.

[Slahinki]

Lando -its not talent but luck- Norris.
Yea whatever dude, you ain't winning anything with that attitude....

There's no luck in a masterclass drive like you seen from Max today.

Very poor attitude from Lando.

Its not luck when you dont understand an aborted start procedure

That's just factually wrong though. The red flag came at the worst possible moment for Lando, and the best possible moment for Max. Yes, Max was flawless, but that doesn't mean he wasn't also immensly lucky.

[Ben1980]

Lando -its not talent but luck- Norris.
Yea whatever dude, you ain't winning anything with that attitude....

People really seem to take what he says quite personally. But also, people who dont accept the luck today are blinkered. Max drive great, but he got lucky. It happens, as many said Lando got lucky in Miami. I'm sure he said he had luck.

[chrisc90]

There's no luck in a masterclass drive like you seen from Max today.

Very poor attitude from Lando.

Its not luck when you dont understand an aborted start procedure

That's just factually wrong though. The red flag came at the worst possible moment for Lando, and the best possible moment for Max. Yes, Max was flawless, but that doesn't mean he wasn't also immensly lucky.

I'm not sure which bit is factually wrong. The rulebook states you need to wait for the GREEN lights before a extra formation lap. That's plain simple racing knowledge.

I agree the red flag was mega mega lucky for Max, but its the reward of a HUGE gamble that Red Bull took. Maybe they were thinking they could do the full race on 1 set of tyres once the SC had been out and cleared the worst of the storm. Lando got epically lucky with the SC picking up the wrong car in Miami - allowing him to take his first win. Thats racing.

[Cs98]

Lando -its not talent but luck- Norris.
Yea whatever dude, you ain't winning anything with that attitude....

There's no luck in a masterclass drive like you seen from Max today.

Very poor attitude from Lando.

Its not luck when you dont understand an aborted start procedure

That's just factually wrong though. The red flag came at the worst possible moment for Lando, and the best possible moment for Max. Yes, Max was flawless, but that doesn't mean he wasn't also immensly lucky.

Bad luck struck in quali putting him out of position, good luck struck in the race putting him back in position. The fact remains he didn't put a foot wrong whereas Lando made mistakes.

[Slahinki]

There's no luck in a masterclass drive like you seen from Max today.

Very poor attitude from Lando.

Its not luck when you dont understand an aborted start procedure

That's just factually wrong though. The red flag came at the worst possible moment for Lando, and the best possible moment for Max. Yes, Max was flawless, but that doesn't mean he wasn't also immensly lucky.

I'm not sure which bit is factually wrong. The rulebook states you need to wait for the GREEN lights before a extra formation lap. That's plain simple racing knowledge.

I agree the red flag was mega mega lucky for Max, but its the reward of a HUGE gamble that Red Bull took. Maybe they were thinking they could do the full race on 1 set of tyres once the SC had been out and cleared the worst of the storm. Lando got epically lucky with the SC picking up the wrong car in Miami - allowing him to take his first win. Thats racing.

Let me highlight it for you. There is luck, even in a masterclass like today. Saying that there wasn't any is wrong and plain to see for anyone. And that's fine. As you say, that's racing.

[Marc.W]

I forgot about the start proceedure infringment, hopefully the fact that everyone followed suit will negate any possible penalty

[McL-H]

I don’t think the red flag was luck at all. It’s about reading the race and playing your cards right. McLaren and Norris were scared to take the risk of going longer, while with the whole field on inters on a full wet track there was an enormous chance of someone losing it and the race being red flagged.

I think Max would had won today regardless of VSC’s, SC, red flags. He was off another planet and showed why he deserves to be world champion. Hate him or love him (for the record: I absolutely hate both him and his moron dad). But he is by far the best driver in this sport and among the greatest drivers this sport has ever seen. With Red Bull being a house in flames right now, he is looking around for his future somewhere else and I’d say that if there is any chance that we could persuade him to join us, we definitely should. Because we’ve seen it today with both our drivers: yes they are very likeable and yes they are very quick too, but when it comes down to it, they lack that little extra that Max has.

[venkyhere]

But Max is almost on rails. Lando just has driven poorly in these conditions.

I.live the guy, i don't want to see him leave, but he's not close to.team leader material.

Max has been great, but he was stuck behind Leclerc.

But, I don't think either driver has stood out.( but lando still wins without the red flag)

Neither driver stood out? I cannot understand how anyone can't recognise the mastery of Maxs display and the absolute gap in class between the two drivers, it's that big here today

Bingo. Late to the thread, but this is the truth.
Mclaren went with a bigger wing compared to sprint, considering the rain, have far better aero-efficiency (drag per unit of downforce) than the Redbull, so there is no way to hide behind 'our car was not fast' excuse.

Coming to the drivers,

Norris - buckles under pressure. Even if there is a small 'racing talent gap' (note: not free-air-quali-run, but driving when other cars are alongside) with Verstappen, he should have done far better with the three starts he had to execute. Wasn't choosing his moments with 'battery deployment' well, is the first thing that came to mind, seeing him stuck behind Russel and LeClerc. The 2nd restart was terrible, going outside into T1. Then there was the faff with the aborted start. All going to show that he wilts under pressure.

Piastri - needs to hone his 'race awareness' , it was ridiculous the way he left the door open for Verstappen in T1. Struggled to get past Lawson. But he doesn't have 'experience' (just 2nd season in F1), so it would be incorrect to ascribe much guilt to him.

The car surely had pace, it's the same car with the same setup that got pole by almost 1s, in the same track conditions the same morning as the race. So 'we got the car wrong' isn't an excuse at all.

The only silver lining is that it's the first season that both drivers are driving a 'title contender' car. All these episodes are surely adding to their 'mental capability'. I'm hoping that McLaren wins the WCC and Norris does his absolute best in the remaining three races for the WDC. The sport will be far more exciting with different drivers and different teams winning it.

[Marc.W]

It'll be interesting to see how Lando race Max and vice versa now that Lando has nothing to loose

[venkyhere]

I don't disagree that Max drove masterfully today but still he would not be able to win without that Red Flag.

What about the red flag that put him in P17 (instead of a realistic P7/P8 ?). Luck goes around and comes around. Norris didn't bring his A game today. On fresh inters after 2nd restart, Verstappen was lapping 1.2 to 1.5 seconds faster than both McLarens. Don't say 'fresh engine advantage' because in the rain, without DRS, the capabilities of the car are almost levelled out. There is no way that the 1.2-1.5s is all coming from the car, in such a scenario. It's the driver. Accept the truth, Verstappen is a more 'polished' and more 'battle-hardened' driver than Norris. Norris has to sharpen himself and he surely will, he is very talented. But he needs such 'experiences' (not just driving technique wise, mental toughness wise) to sharpen himself. I am expecting a much sharper and a much more 'team-leader' type Norris in 2025.

[CjC]

Max has been great, but he was stuck behind Leclerc.

But, I don't think either driver has stood out.( but lando still wins without the red flag)

Neither driver stood out? I cannot understand how anyone can't recognise the mastery of Maxs display and the absolute gap in class between the two drivers, it's that big here today

Bingo. Late to the thread, but this is the truth.
Mclaren went with a bigger wing compared to sprint, considering the rain, have far better aero-efficiency (drag per unit of downforce) than the Redbull, so there is no way to hide behind 'our car was not fast' excuse.

Coming to the drivers,

Norris - buckles under pressure. Even if there is a small 'racing talent gap' (note: not free-air-quali-run, but driving when other cars are alongside) with Verstappen, he should have done far better with the three starts he had to execute. Wasn't choosing his moments with 'battery deployment' well, is the first thing that came to mind, seeing him stuck behind Russel and LeClerc. The 2nd restart was terrible, going outside into T1. Then there was the faff with the aborted start. All going to show that he wilts under pressure.

Piastri - needs to hone his 'race awareness' , it was ridiculous the way he left the door open for Verstappen in T1. Struggled to get past Lawson. But he doesn't have 'experience' (just 2nd season in F1), so it would be incorrect to ascribe much guilt to him.

The car surely had pace, it's the same car with the same setup that got pole by almost 1s, in the same track conditions the same morning as the race. So 'we got the car wrong' isn't an excuse at all.

The only silver lining is that it's the first season that both drivers are driving a 'title contender' car. All these episodes are surely adding to their 'mental capability'. I'm hoping that McLaren wins the WCC and Norris does his absolute best in the remaining three races for the WDC. The sport will be far more exciting with different drivers and different teams winning it.

+1
The post I wanted to write if I could be bothered