2016 McLaren F1 Team - Honda

[godlameroso]

I don't know, TR hasn't finished ahead of McLaren for the last 5 races, FI is ahead of McLaren on power tracks, then again so are Williams. But where was Williams today? Where was Force India? Alonso wasn't terribly pressured by Perez, in fact at no time was he ever under serious threat, maybe from Kyvat but even with DRS wide open he couldn't chase Alonso down.

Also, a bit of good news, this is the first time this year that a McLaren was not lapped, shame for Button.

[dr_cooke]

About one third into the race today (I think it was mid 2nd stint) ALO was lapping consistently within less than 0.5 s from the four ahead of him for about 7-8 laps (high 51s, low 52s). None of the 5 in any fight or anything, just pure pace on equal tyres and with still a heavy car. With a lighter car gap just grew enormously.

[SameSame]

About one third into the race today (I think it was mid 2nd stint) ALO was lapping consistently within less than 0.5 s from the four ahead of him for about 7-8 laps (high 51s, low 52s). None of the 5 in any fight or anything, just pure pace on equal tyres and with still a heavy car. With a lighter car gap just grew enormously.

I saw that too. The soft was really a poor race tyre as towards the end of the race he was still doing similar lap times to that stint. Wonder if the could have covered Verstappen by stopping when he did (and by taking another SS stint instead of the soft on the second to last stint) and then using the ultra soft at the end. Perez was so far behind so I don't think he was a threat. Vettel's second to last stint on the US was incredible and he kept those lap times up for about 18 laps I think.

[diffuser]

3 quarters of TR+ FI qualied better than Nando. Anyways there wasn't much between them and the Top 3 were in another league.

[GoranF1]

3 quarters of TR+ FI qualied better than Nando. Anyways there wasn't much between them and the Top 3 were in another league.

There was Alonso talent bwtween them.

[Joseki]

It's impossible the chassis is not at least better than Force India by a consistent margin considering the huge power deficit McLaren have.

[Sayeman]

Homeboy Alonso has been slowly creeping up the points ladder, 5 points to go till he catches Massa. With Suzuka, Malaysia coming up, seems doable

[Vasconia]

Homeboy Alonso has been slowly creeping up the points ladder, 5 points to go till he catches Massa. With Suzuka, Malaysia coming up, seems doable

With Malaysia´s long straights I doubt it.

Anyway I am disappoined with car´s peformance in Singapure. Alonso masked those problems with his inmense talent but overall the perfomance was rather underwhelming.

[Sayeman]

Homeboy Alonso has been slowly creeping up the points ladder, 5 points to go till he catches Massa. With Suzuka, Malaysia coming up, seems doable

With Malaysia´s long straights I doubt it.

Anyway I am disappoined with car´s peformance in Singapure. Alonso masked those problems with his inmense talent but overall the perfomance was rather underwhelming.

I think the long flowing corners in Malaysia will help Mclaren, we could get another Spa surprise.
Force India will be out of reach but with some luck Williams will be beatable. Torro-Rosso will struggle with their old PU.

[godlameroso]

Malaysia only has 2 straights, and they're not very long. The longest straight is 927 meters. Baku has the longest straight at 1,400 meters, just ahead of China's 1280 meter straight. What Malaysia does have is mid and high speed corners and tricky decreasing radius turns. This track suits McLaren more so than the last 3 races. Plus it's gonna be hot as in 34c ambient, the hard tire may actually come into play for once.

[diffuser]

It's impossible the chassis is not at least better than Force India by a consistent margin considering the huge power deficit McLaren have.

It might be be better but not by much and what difference does that make ? McHonda wants to be fighting with the top 3 (Merc, RB and Ferrari). McHonda's Chassis and PU are last when compared with the top 3.

[godlameroso]

It's not as clear cut as you make it. I think McLaren knew they weren't going to fight at the top. So everything they've done this year is preparation for next. That's why they spent so much time on the floor, rear wing end plates, front wing and brake ducts. While basically having the same rear wing all year, same suspension, same barge boards. Next year the chassis and the power unit will both take a step forward. Next year should suit McLaren because they're amongst the best at developing a car. The cars will improve by seconds a lap, at least 2010 pace to start the year. Could be have race pace to rival the refueling days, without having to refuel by the end of the year.

[NL_Fer]

I wonder what they will perform at Suzuka. The long sweeping corners, sharp turns like 130r. It must suit the car.

[diffuser]

It's not as clear cut as you make it. I think McLaren knew they weren't going to fight at the top. So everything they've done this year is preparation for next. That's why they spent so much time on the floor, rear wing end plates, front wing and brake ducts. While basically having the same rear wing all year, same suspension, same barge boards. Next year the chassis and the power unit will both take a step forward. Next year should suit McLaren because they're amongst the best at developing a car. The cars will improve by seconds a lap, at least 2010 pace to start the year. Could be have race pace to rival the refueling days, without having to refuel by the end of the year.

No number of "I think", "maybes" or "could bes" will change the fact that this year their PU and chassis are last when measure against the top 4.

I don't discount the fact that a big jump in the pecking order is possible next year...but that's a maybe and not a fact.

I also recognise that it's always been a 3 year plan....It's why they've signed a 3 year contract with Fred. That next year was to be the year for racing for wins.

In the mean time, we're always closer to 8th than we are to 6th.

[diffuser]

I wonder what they will perform at Suzuka. The long sweeping corners, sharp turns like 130r. It must suit the car.

When Mad Max was chasing Alonzo late in the race, I couldn't help but notice a flash red light on the back of the McHonda and no red flashing light on the back of RBR. Significantly longer duration of their electrical power.