2018 McLaren F1 Team - Renault

[Big Tea]

Below is an excerpt from Joe Saward's Green Notebook post Spa

"The other thing about McLaren is that the team urgently needs someone to look after the design of the 2019 car, as Matt Morris has departed and James Key cannot join before the winter. The word is that the team may be shopping around for a consultant designer to take on the task. Expect an announcement soon."

Thats a strange term "consultant designer"?
Surely all the top F1 designers are designing F1, and the ones that are not will not have the experience?
Ring 118 domeanF1car? Are there such things?

When I read that, my mind went to Rory Byrne, but from what I understand he consults for Ferrari, which would be exclusive. Any other out of work F1 designer who's any good?

Murry, but he has been out of F1 for 3 or 4 generations

[mwillems]

Perez, Ocon?
In McLaren 2019 will be Norris and Sainz.
This is 100% information.

It's very possible, and maybe likely Lando will get the drive, but I don't think it's settled. Ocon or Perez could be a real possibility, one of them is almost certain to leave Force India after the take over, but who? Ocon would have been the most likely if Stroll moves this season, but with it being said that he's having problems due to his height, makes it a doubt. He's already done a seat fitting. Who goes to all that trouble if there's no real possibility?

A team in negotiations with other drivers who want to drive the those drivers prices down by raising interest in their seat, potentially. Not saying that's the case, but it is completely plausible.

[Moebius]

Thats a strange term "consultant designer"?
Surely all the top F1 designers are designing F1, and the ones that are not will not have the experience?
Ring 118 domeanF1car? Are there such things?

When I read that, my mind went to Rory Byrne, but from what I understand he consults for Ferrari, which would be exclusive. Any other out of work F1 designer who's any good?

Murry, but he has been out of F1 for 3 or 4 generations

Mike Gascoyne and Nick Wirth would be more up-to-date designers.

Given their history, Couglhan wounldn't be touched with a mile long stick ....

[Lucky]

https://twitter.com/MotorsportWeek/stat ... 84833?s=19

[GoranF1]

Mclaren has switched 100%focus on 2019 car since Germany.

[Ground Effect]

When I read that, my mind went to Rory Byrne, but from what I understand he consults for Ferrari, which would be exclusive. Any other out of work F1 designer who's any good?

Murry, but he has been out of F1 for 3 or 4 generations

Mike Gascoyne and Nick Wirth would be more up-to-date designers.

Given their history, Couglhan wounldn't be touched with a mile long stick ....

Whatever became of Nicholas Tombazis?

[diffuser]

Murry, but he has been out of F1 for 3 or 4 generations

Mike Gascoyne and Nick Wirth would be more up-to-date designers.

Given their history, Couglhan wounldn't be touched with a mile long stick ....

Whatever became of Nicholas Tombazis?

He's at the FIA.

[Big Tea]

I just googled it and would you believe there companies advertising? Probably as fill-ins though I doubt any team would let someone without a track record head the team.
(then again, I am so often wrong)

[RonDennis]

McLaren's budget with Honda if I remember was 451.7mil euros according the financial records in 2017. So I don't think 300mil is an outlier.

Ferrari's budget was 570mill USD for 2017 according to public records.

I am sure McLaren's budget this year is 250-300mil.

comparision with STR because it is public record, 150mil is their budget.

Thanks for that, didn't know the figures were that high.

Wow, first time I've seen those numbers, interesting.

Still, another 20 mil for Perez income and salary savings is not to be sniffed at and would buy a few new chicken wings....

They could buy a lot of Freddo's.

[Ground Effect]

I think Lando is 2nd favourite for the seat. I just feel Esteban is slightly ahead. The FP sessions, like Gil said point to development, for the future. Maybe they could be showcasing his abilities to Toro, in a bid to entice them into doing a deal with Key ASAP?

[diffuser]

Thats a strange term "consultant designer"?
Surely all the top F1 designers are designing F1, and the ones that are not will not have the experience?
Ring 118 domeanF1car? Are there such things?

When I read that, my mind went to Rory Byrne, but from what I understand he consults for Ferrari, which would be exclusive. Any other out of work F1 designer who's any good?

Murry, but he has been out of F1 for 3 or 4 generations

Not sure JoJo knows what a TD does and what a designer does ...

James Keys "What the technical director must do is ensure that everything fits together, that nothing is overlooked. In that sense, you can talk about an F1 car being the work of a technical director."

"As technical director, you are ultimately responsible but equally I've always maintained that it's a team effort," says Key.

"I don't sit down and design the front wing; I wouldn't know where to start compared to the guy who does it as a day job.

"Where the TD plays a part is in giving advice about direction. Say we've got direction A and direction B. They are both completely different but one is going to be better than the other and it's difficult to tell which one.

"But the TD says which one we're going to go with. The bigger picture is important; you must have a guy who can do that.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/feature/37 ... l-director

[Big Tea]

When I read that, my mind went to Rory Byrne, but from what I understand he consults for Ferrari, which would be exclusive. Any other out of work F1 designer who's any good?

Murry, but he has been out of F1 for 3 or 4 generations

Not sure JoJo knows what a TD does and what a designer does ...

James Keys "What the technical director must do is ensure that everything fits together, that nothing is overlooked. In that sense, you can talk about an F1 car being the work of a technical director."

"As technical director, you are ultimately responsible but equally I've always maintained that it's a team effort," says Key.

"I don't sit down and design the front wing; I wouldn't know where to start compared to the guy who does it as a day job.

"Where the TD plays a part is in giving advice about direction. Say we've got direction A and direction B. They are both completely different but one is going to be better than the other and it's difficult to tell which one.

"But the TD says which one we're going to go with. The bigger picture is important; you must have a guy who can do that.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/feature/37 ... l-director

They need Ariadne, but Ariadne has to know all the other jobs too

[Jackles-UK]

Had a thought today - if Mercedes definitely want Ocon on the grid for this/next year would they “contribute” to a team that ensures this happens?

I believe that they reduced engine payments for FI this year and for Manor when Wehrlein was there but, with McLaren using Renault, they obviously can’t do that. Maybe a “sponsored” drive rather than a “paid” drive but that could end up sweetening the deal?

At the very least you would expect McLaren to pay Ocon £0.00 in wages with his salary being paid entirely by Mercedes, a net few million quid gain.

[Big Tea]

Had a thought today - if Mercedes definitely want Ocon on the grid for this/next year would they “contribute” to a team that ensures this happens?

I believe that they reduced engine payments for FI this year and for Manor when Wehrlein was there but, with McLaren using Renault, they obviously can’t do that. Maybe a “sponsored” drive rather than a “paid” drive but that could end up sweetening the deal?

At the very least you would expect McLaren to pay Ocon £0.00 in wages with his salary being paid entirely by Mercedes, a net few million quid gain.

They are one of the main creditors for FI, so I would not be shocked if payment in kind was considered.

[charliesmithhd]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/upgr ... 83/?nrt=54