2019 Mclaren F1 Team - Renault

[bauc]

Ahhh, that mistake cost Carlos place in Q3 and Lando was almost trough .... but I'm looking forward for the race tomorrow, I think we can be in the points

[Ground Effect]

So, with free tyre choice, start on new softs or mediums?

[Darth-Piekus]

Then what is the job of Newey or James Key? Wasn't he the head aerodynamist back at Mclaren?

[OviJohn]

I'm thinking start mediums and capitalize on the race pace shown on long runs yesterday.

They could easily extend the first stint on mediums while the cars at the front pit from their softs. From there they could push them hard while on "free air" and pit for the softer compound when most suitable towards the end.

But all in all, I'm just really hoping for a swift-clean start and stay out of troubles after turn 1

[godlameroso]

I'm thinking start mediums and capitalize on the race pace shown on long runs yesterday.

They could easily extend the first stint on mediums while the cars at the front pit from their softs. From there they could push them hard while on "free air" and pit for the softer compound when most suitable towards the end.

But all in all, I'm just really hoping for a swift-clean start and stay out of troubles after turn 1

Softs aren't good race tires. Id go medium hard and do an agressive one stop and try to maximize track position.

Soft/medium will be very slow and will require another stop. The mediums can last 35ish laps, the softs ~22, so they'll be struggling for almost 10 laps.

Medium hard is an easy 1 stop.

[M840TR]

Even despite the extensive upgrades the car clearly lacks a lot in slow and mid speed corners. I'm not sure this significant lack of mechanical grip can be recuperated till season's end or next year.

[diffuser]

Ahhh, that mistake cost Carlos place in Q3 and Lando was almost trough .... but I'm looking forward for the race tomorrow, I think we can be in the points

Carlos said that he saw that his times hadn't improve enough in that run. He tried a gamble that failed.

Lucky for him, he'll still benefit from Ricardo's penalty.

[GoranF1]

So last year P7 this year no Q3 whit clearly better car. Yes Alonso is God.

Yeah...no. SAI would have clearly been in Q3 if he hadn't made a big mistake on his last lap

Yeah, if he hadn't made a mistake.....BRAVO!!!

[diffuser]

Even despite the extensive upgrades the car clearly lacks a lot in slow and mid speed corners. I'm not sure this significant lack of mechanical grip can be recuperated till season's end or next year.

I still think they're lacking all around. FW and MW are still lacking. They need to be able to get their FW to look like RBR or Merc.

Also when Sainz pushed too hard in that Last Sector, the car understeared out onto the gravel.

[diffuser]

So last year P7 this year no Q3 whit clearly better car. Yes Alonso is God.

Yeah...no. SAI would have clearly been in Q3 if he hadn't made a big mistake on his last lap

Yeah, if he hadn't made a mistake.....BRAVO!!!

Yep, just like God. He's nowhere to be seen in Spain in McLaren colours.

Maybe talking about painting a helicopter in McLaren colours to race tomorrow would make as much sense as repeatedly talking about Alonso.
I loved the guy as a driver but he's not there and doesn't want to be there. Give it a rest!

[Jambier]

A bit disappointed

I think RIC is ahead just because he is a better driver.

Curious to see in race the pace, specially compared with Haas

[M840TR]

Even despite the extensive upgrades the car clearly lacks a lot in slow and mid speed corners. I'm not sure this significant lack of mechanical grip can be recuperated till season's end or next year.

I still think they're lacking all around. FW and MW are still lacking. They need to be able to get their FW to look like RBR or Merc.

Also when Sainz pushed too hard in that Last Sector, the car understeared out onto the gravel.

To be honest I think suspension is what really keeps the top 3 ahead of the rest. Even if the others do catch up on aero like Haas somewhat has, the deficit in mechanical grip is seemingly insurmountable. This is further compounded by tyre management which is linked to the suspension. Just like Steiner says, a couple of tenths on the aero, a couple on the tyre and the chassis; add em up and you have your 1.5 sec gap. Even Ferrari with this year's car is loosing almost a full second to Merc in the finally sector reportedly because they couldn't bring the front suspension design trialed in pre-season.
Mclaren has done great to catch up on aero especially given where they were last year, but Merc outspends them by about $250m every year and I'm not sure they can bridge the gap in such a predicament.

[Ground Effect]

Did we go in the wrong direction with the new Front Wing?

[PhillipM]

No, we just have Haas and Torro Rosso back on form on a track where they won't struggle with car setup to get the tyres working. That might not be the case next race.
Actual raw qualifying pace looks similar to the start of the season, similar gaps to Ferrari, Red Bull, etc, but Merc seems to have gained more than most.
Long run pace looks like a good improvement though, probably better able to manage the front tyres.

[FittingMechanics]

Until McLaren is fighting for race wins and championships, it's in recovery mode. Sure, it's been a while but that's what McLaren wants to do and what it used to do. Now given the growth of the automotive division I am betting that the pressure to improve results will only increase. Luckily for us McLaren fans, automotive division is a great success and this will ensure that McLaren will remain committed to Formula 1.

Bit disappointed with the qualy results, but at the end of the day it was so close it's hard to be critical of the team. Hopefully they can have a good race pace tomorrow and score good points.