2024 Mclaren Formula 1 Team

[basti313]

they dish out the penalty without taking into the account mitigating factors (double waved was a mistake, no real danger, long time to reach a decision, ...).

That are no mitigating factors.

What I totally agree with is it took way too long. A full SC they could have had the mirror off the track in a lap. Not ruined Lewis and Sainz race and not had a longer SC with smashed carbon fibre everywhere. I know it takes a bit of time to assess but it took way too long

Again...it is neither good to mix the cleaning as you say yourself with the penalty as it does not change anything, nor does it make sense to discuss track cleaning in the McLaren thread. There are much better posts on this even in the penalty thread.
And a SC would have ruined other races like Russel for example.

Radio comunication really needs to improve. I don't know the behind the scenes discussions, but the "Lando, how is your pace compared to what my mother is cooking for Christmas. Also, box this lap if you think that Max will be skiing in the holidays." is simply not on.

Too much chatter. Should utter only the usefull/informative words.

Post of the day

[Juzh]

It's very reminiscent of Xavi and Leclerc in Ferrari 2022-2023. Xavi got replaced. Joseph should too. Sentimentality is not a reason to keep someone who isn't good at their job. I can't even count the number of times this year Joseph has caused Norris unnecessary confusion, and that's only the radios that get aired.

You gotta find a good and suitable replacement first, and those are hard to find. Remember when they replaced Will with some other guy last year and it was a horror show.

[Mclarenfanboy]

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/316488/m ... -ward.html

Is it smart to do that when you are fighting for a WCC, I bet Red Bull would not do a seasion with a test driver in a first practice on such a crucial weekend. Hope they know what they are doing.

[Ben1980]

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/316488/m ... -ward.html

Is it smart to do that when you are fighting for a WCC, I bet Red Bull would not do a seasion with a test driver in a first practice on such a crucial weekend. Hope they know what they are doing.

It's mandated isn't it? They have to do it.

[basti313]

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/316488/m ... -ward.html

Is it smart to do that when you are fighting for a WCC, I bet Red Bull would not do a seasion with a test driver in a first practice on such a crucial weekend. Hope they know what they are doing.

Well, I guess they could just fulfill their obligation next race?

[FittingMechanics]

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/316488/m ... -ward.html

Is it smart to do that when you are fighting for a WCC, I bet Red Bull would not do a seasion with a test driver in a first practice on such a crucial weekend. Hope they know what they are doing.

"All Formula 1 teams are required to put two 'rookies' in the car each season. Lando Norris' car has already been used once, so it is Piastri's turn to skip a practice in Abu Dhabi."

[bananapeel23]

It's very reminiscent of Xavi and Leclerc in Ferrari 2022-2023. Xavi got replaced. Joseph should too. Sentimentality is not a reason to keep someone who isn't good at their job. I can't even count the number of times this year Joseph has caused Norris unnecessary confusion, and that's only the radios that get aired.

Xavi was about 100x worse than Joseph. He famously said straight up unintelligible garbage a lot of the time that not even Leclerc understood. Not to mention the fact that he took about zero initiative ever and never gave straight answers without first confirming with the pit wall, even when the answer was obvious.

[organic]

Zak brown did an interview with telegraaf. Amusing

"Do you remember Max saying in Silverstone: 'Who is Zak Brown?'. I sent him a funny message and said: 'I want to introduce myself, you may not know me, but I manage McLaren'.

https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/70801643 ... te-stellen

Maybe more interestingly he talks about plans for 2025 on the car side

"We are going to compete with four top teams. I can reveal that we are going to develop the car a lot. I am impressed by how brave the team is in terms of the plans for next year. We are really going to change a lot. In Formula 1, you also have to take risks if you want to be the best. I think you have no choice," said Brown

[F1NAC]

It's very reminiscent of Xavi and Leclerc in Ferrari 2022-2023. Xavi got replaced. Joseph should too. Sentimentality is not a reason to keep someone who isn't good at their job. I can't even count the number of times this year Joseph has caused Norris unnecessary confusion, and that's only the radios that get aired.

Xavi was about 100x worse than Joseph. He famously said straight up unintelligible garbage a lot of the time that not even Leclerc understood. Not to mention the fact that he took about zero initiative ever and never gave straight answers without first confirming with the pit wall, even when the answer was obvious.

At least Xavi in his defence has a language barrier issue. In not speaking clearly english nor Italian fluently, while Joseph is just underpreforming this season a lot

[McL-H]

Zak brown did an interview with telegraaf. Amusing

"Do you remember Max saying in Silverstone: 'Who is Zak Brown?'. I sent him a funny message and said: 'I want to introduce myself, you may not know me, but I manage McLaren'.

https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/70801643 ... te-stellen

Maybe more interestingly he talks about plans for 2025 on the car side

"We are going to compete with four top teams. I can reveal that we are going to develop the car a lot. I am impressed by how brave the team is in terms of the plans for next year. We are really going to change a lot. In Formula 1, you also have to take risks if you want to be the best. I think you have no choice," said Brown

Lovely interview. Very interesting that they are planning on making big changes for the final year of these regulations. I wonder what they’ll come up with. He really has built an amazing team at McLaren.

Funny to read about his relationship with Max. I hope it increases the chances of Max joining us in 2026.

[ScuderiaLeo]

Xavi was about 100x worse than Joseph. He famously said straight up unintelligible garbage a lot of the time that not even Leclerc understood. Not to mention the fact that he took about zero initiative ever and never gave straight answers without first confirming with the pit wall, even when the answer was obvious.

My point isn't that one is worse than the other, it's that they are both bad and unsuitable for their jobs. Bozzi was originally Leclerc's performance engineer and he got promoted to race engineer. I'm sure Norris has someone similar on his team who could be taught to do the job? I'm not saying it needs to be changed right now, but to keep Joseph in this position for 2025 would be ridiculous. He has been the cause of so many of Norris' issues. Especially when you compare him to Stallard, it's clear Norris is not receiving the same quality of information as Piastri is.

[Balalu]

Radio comunication really needs to improve. I don't know the behind the scenes discussions, but the "Lando, how is your pace compared to what my mother is cooking for Christmas. Also, box this lap if you think that Max will be skiing in the holidays." is simply not on.

Too much chatter. Should utter only the usefull/informative words.

There was another where he said "Lando, I know you might bite my head off for asking, but..."

To which Lando replied "Speak up, I can't hear you".

Too much friendship in that moment, it needs cold race management. Is there an issue that they can't distinguish between their race relationship, general working professional relationship and friendship?

This is was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

He needs a leading engineer, not a buddy.

[CjC]

Zak brown did an interview with telegraaf. Amusing

"Do you remember Max saying in Silverstone: 'Who is Zak Brown?'. I sent him a funny message and said: 'I want to introduce myself, you may not know me, but I manage McLaren'.

https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/70801643 ... te-stellen

Maybe more interestingly he talks about plans for 2025 on the car side

"We are going to compete with four top teams. I can reveal that we are going to develop the car a lot. I am impressed by how brave the team is in terms of the plans for next year. We are really going to change a lot. In Formula 1, you also have to take risks if you want to be the best. I think you have no choice," said Brown

Lovely interview. Very interesting that they are planning on making big changes for the final year of these regulations. I wonder what they’ll come up with. He really has built an amazing team at McLaren.

Funny to read about his relationship with Max. I hope it increases the chances of Max joining us in 2026.

That’d give the social media clowns something to think about if he ever did considering how much hate they have thrown Mclarens way this season.
Imagine if it’s Lando and Max at McLaren rather than Max and Lando at Red Bull from a few years ago… oh the irony but I doubt it’ll ever happen

[Balalu]

I woulden't be surprized if the turn up with essentially a moderately updated MCL38. Just remember F1 is not just played on track.

[BMMR61]

I find the discussion once again veers into some pretty irrelevant and barely verifiably true. Pages of stuff that over-eggs the pudding just becomes tedious - IN MY OPINION.

There appeared to be an unannounced decision by the FIA/Race Director/stewards of the day, to adjudicate with maximum force, maybe to announce to the drivers that they're a pack of upstarts and "WE" are under control here. That seems an inescapable conclusion from watching for a long time and seeing some pretty deliberate and dangerous behaviour by drivers (and teams) go unpunished or lightly punished.

I watched the race initially by a livestream watch along and there appeared to be a sector 1 yellow which was quickly removed then put back before becoming a full course yellow and safety car. My impression was Max and Lando arrived at the scene just in time to get the beginning of the yellow - please correct me if I am mistaken. The reason for the double waved yellows (normally reserved for major safety concerns) was for the mirror lying off the racing line but on the overtaking line. It was absolutely obvious that a normal yellow was sufficient. However I do agree Lando was at fault, a minor error but an error all the same. The penalty was one short of a black flag DSQ. If people think the penalty was appropriate then I don't have any energy to try and turn that opinion around, it's impossible I think.

I don't think McLaren has had any good luck come it's way since the Miami SC and lots, especially for Oscar, that has been cruel. Nevertheless it's racing sense to conclude "you have to make your own luck" which Max has been extremely good at.