Another tough weekend ahead for McLaren?

In the official McLaren preview for this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix, Norbert Haug spoke candidly about the inferior competitive position of the McLarens just now and indicated that Turkey is going to be another tough weekend. Reading between the lines, you sense the guys at Woking and Stuttgart are expecting another Ferrari one-two at Istanbul Park and the overall situation in the points is going to get worse before it starts to get better.

Here are two answers from Norbert:

Prior to Barcelona, it has been the opinion of experts that on this track the real balance of power would become obvious and that the team which is in front in Barcelona would remain in front for the rest of the year. What is your opinion?

“Barcelona as the first Grand Prix of the European season and, with its challenging track layout, is definitely a yardstick for the following races. In qualifying, we missed pole position by less than three tenths of a second; however, we carried a little more fuel and therefore more weight. Anyway, even with the same fuel load we wouldn’t have been fast enough to beat Ferrari. Since winning the season opener in Melbourne, our car has improved gradually and has become significantly faster. Unfortunately, we didn’t score all possible points, neither in Melbourne, Malaysia, Bahrain or Barcelona, mostly due to self-induced mistakes and this is the reason for the gap to the top of the rankings, after Ferrari had scored only one point in Melbourne. Our aim is to improve further over the next few races, however it is possible the Turkish Grand Prix might be a challenging race for the team.”

How do you evaluate the chances of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in the Turkish Grand Prix?

“We didn’t really shine here in the past, and also this time we are not the current benchmark. The team wants to score as many points as possible, but after three consecutive wins Ferrari obviously arrive here as the favourites.”

Lewis will have taken some comfort and renewed confidence from a solid race at Montmelo and we know he loves Istanbul Park(just think back to his epic GP2 race there in 2006) but, as last year's Grand Prix, underlined it is a tricky place to overtake, notwithstanding the obvious one under braking at Turn 12. The British driver knows that qualifying well will be critical but, again, it looks a tall order to get ahead of the red cars.

As for Heikki, however much the team big him up - he's "fighting fit" and so on - you have got to expect, at the very best, another steady weekend from him after his huge wipe out in Barcelona. And then there is BMW to think about. Will Robert get a good start to his race this time to match his performance in quali? It's going to happen sooner or later.

In the same preview Martin Whitmarsh provided a more positive outlook on the team's prospects at the open and free-flowing track in Turkey. What struck me, however, was the confidence Whitmarsh expresses about high-speed corners as against the under-performance of the car on tight turns. This would seem to be a reversal of the form of last year when the MP4-22 was the king of the twisty tracks but struggled against the Ferraris on the faster, sweeping circuits. The interesting element here is that Lewis's supporters have been arguing that the current run of poor form will come to an end at Monaco. After reading this you would have to question that assumption.

Here's Martin replying to two questions:

The Istanbul Speed Park tends to be quite a demanding circuit on tyres, what are your expectations in this area for the race?

“The circuit has actually some terrifically demanding corners, and it is therefore positive that we are coming away from Barcelona where the MP4-23 was very strong in high speed corners. If you can have a well balanced car through high speed corners then you can be kinder to the tyres. So we have every reason to be optimistic that we will be able to preserve our Bridgestone Potenzas at this track. A key part of the practice sessions is understanding the conditions we find when we get to the track, we will be very careful in these sessions to analyse, working together with Bridgestone, tyre wear and degradation with representative race fuel loads”.

Has the team been focusing on any particular areas of development prior to this race, what is required from a car to be quick here?

“Given the challenging nature of the circuit, we have come away from Barcelona with some confidence for the high speed corners, but we also come away knowing that we have areas where we need to strengthen the car. The tighter, more twisty parts of the Circuit de Catalunya were certainly our Achilles heel during the race weekend, and there has been a lot of analysis and study of that as we endeavor to strengthen our car in that area.”

Pic of Heikki at Barca courtesy of www.mclaren.com

Comments

[enhiro]

I think McLaren is paying a big price for ignore Fernando Alonso last year and let him to go out.

The only I can not understand is the Mercedes rol. I think they must take the helm and fired the dreadful Dennis.

[ALEX B]

It almost seems as though Mclaren haven't taken a big enough step forward over the winter and the first 4 races of the season, compared to the rest of the cars in the field. If you ask me it sounds as if Mclaren have perhaps gone the wrong direction when developing the new car and they are holding thier hands up in defeat.

Do you notice how Whitmarsh comments on how "The tighter, more twisty parts of the Circuit de Catalunya were certainly our Achilles heel during the race weekend." Now hang on a minute, wasn't that Ferrari's main problem with the F2007 last year. The fact that the car did not enjoy slow, twisty corners with high curbs, but loved long, fast sweeping corners.

In my opinion, Mclaren may have adressed the car's problems when driving around circuits that have many fast, sweeping corners, but they seem to have compromised their special power from last season, and that was being able to outclass the field through the tight and twisty stuff. Instead, they have ended up with a car that isn't particularly special through long, fast corners and is even worse through tight corners.

This is why Ferrari are even more dominant this season, they addresed the F2007's problems without comprimising it's strengths. Mclaren are weaker, not because of Lewis or Heikki lacking experience or anything like that. It is just that the car is simply not fast enough, and when that happens people start to ask questions which increase the pressure on the whole team, in turn leading to mistakes. Not to mention depressed Martin Whitmarsh's and Norbert Haug's admitting defeat before a Grand Prix weekend.

[Tim]

I wouldn't define myself as a Lewis Hamilton supporter, but I think there's a reasonable chance that McLaren could put in a decent showing at Monaco. Why? Several reasons.

Firstly, Barcelona demonstrated that Ferrari had less of an advantage in qualifying than they did in the race. The top five on the grid were covered by 0.2 seconds whereas Ferrari's race advantage was at least 0.3-0.4 seconds per lap. This appears to be because the Ferrari is gentler on its tyres, which gives it a big advantage in race conditions with the downside that it doesn't get as much out of them over a single lap. The McLaren and the BMW work their tyres harder, which has the opposite effect (good in qualifying, not so good over a race distance).

Secondly, Lewis Hamilton has shown himself to be ultra-quick around the streets of Monte Carlo. In 2007, he was on course for a stunning pole lap before being baulked by a slower car (this probably cost him the race, but that's motor racing). If there is any circuit on the 2008 schedule where a driver can transcend the limits of his car it's Monaco.

Thirdly, as long as the drivers operate it correctly, McLaren seem to have a decent start system - unlike BMW, see Robert Kubica's slow getaways at the last two races. If Kubica were to take pole with a McLaren second on the grid, past form would point towards the McLaren being ahead by Ste Devote.

Fourthly, it's a cliche but it is virtually impossible to overtake at Monaco. If a McLaren can qualify on the front row and lead into the first corner then its driver should be able to control the rest of the race without any real difficulties. For example, see the 2003 race where Juan-Pablo Montoya was able to fend off a string of faster cars. Likewise, the 2001 race where David Coulthard found himself stuck behind Enrique Bernoldi's Arrows for around 30 laps.

So, in summary, it is clearly possible to envisage a scenario where the Ferraris can't get the best from their tyres in qualifying, find themselves on the second row of the grid, possibly even the third, and are then unable to use their advantage in the race. In these circumstances Lewis Hamilton or Heikki Kovalainen would be a reasonable bet for the victory.

I'm not arguing that a McLaren victory definitely will happen, but I think it's more likely in Monaco than in Turkey. It's also quite possible that Ferrari will anticipate such a scenario and adjust its strategy to suit, e.g. running a one stop strategy.

[Felipe]

If it's true that the slow twisty corners are the achilles heel of McLaren, then McLaren are really going to struggle for the rest of the season. For the sake of the championship, I hope they improve.

I would really like the BMWs to improve their racing starts. They have been very sluggish of the line. If they improve their starts, I believe they could fight for a win. Since the lack of overtaking in F1 could aid them.

And let's hope Ferrari also hit a developing wall, and make the championship mor interesting.

And last but no least, let's hope Renault manage to make it a group of 4 and not just 3... though the most unlikely of my hopes.

[Javier]

MW is always confident, but Ferrai has a big gap. I do not see Mclaren be as fast as Ferrari in Turkey.

[Gary M]

I think it is still plan B for Lewis and Heikki this weekend, try and stay as close to Ferrari and score as many points as possible. A podium is still very much on the cards for Lewis and even 2nd place is likely if one of the Ferrari's have a bad race.

At this stage of a season when you are clearly struggling a little all you can do is stop racing the man in front and start racing everyone else. Try to make sure that when things start to turn (and they will) that you are still in the hunt. All it takes is for Lewis to win two races in a row and he would back up with the leaders in the championship.

After Turkey we have Monaco, Canada, France and Britain. These are tracks that should give McLaren and Lewis in particular the opportunity to get at least 2 wins from. I would certainly echo what Tim has said, I still expect to see one of the McLarens on pole at Monaco (of course I hope it is Lewis but you never know, I would not be surprised to see Heikki there!) and once on pole most certainly a win would be expected.

Monaco will be an exiting race, there are too many great experienced drivers in the lower ranks this season. You will have Alonso, Rubens, Button, Coulthard and Webber mixing it up with the BMW's for minor points on a track that rewards great driving. If Mclaren do qualify on the front row Ferrari might have a difficult race.

The Ferrari's will probably have it at Turkey, but it is far too early in the season to be writing anybody off, especially the McLarens.

If I were a bookmaker I would be writing this from the Caribbean, no sorry I meant to say if I was a bookmaker and giving odds on the WC I would have to make Kimi slight favorite but Lewis is not far away and is a close second favorite. He just needs to concentrate and finish his races. 6 points in Turkey would be job well done.

[graham fudger]

Either way I bet there'll be a few sly grins between race team owners and event organisers in the paddock... looks like we're in for a fine weekend

[Derek Smith]

Is the £50m, or the lack of it, beginning to tell? McLaren, and all the other teams, were struggling with the unequal financial resources last season. It seems as if MM set out to make McLaren, the only team with any hope of challenging Ferrari this year, uncompetative and so ruin F1 as a specatacle.

We have been used to loaded dice in F1, but since the debacle of stepneygate it has become a scandal. Penalising other teams by forcing them to pay £m to Ferrari and, when one team starts to overcome these obstacles, hitting them even harder, shows contempt for the enthusiast and spectator.

[CHIUNDA]

Don't i remember Lewis running longer than the Ferraris in Barcelona in the first stint. I would say qualifying pace for the McLaren still looks good - indeed Dennis seemed to regret not running the car lighter for a pole start.

My humble opinion still remains that there is something not right in the McLaren team - they just can't stop getting their strategies wrong. If Dennis' comments about Barcelona are right, that was yet another race where the team dropped the ball. Pole was critical, they could have got it but they didn't. McLaren should seriously start talking to Ross Brawn - he is under-utilised in Honda anyway.

I am also of the opinion that Hamilton's motivation is still not back after his bizarre debacle in Bahrain. Things are happening in the kid's mind that should not be there. It cannot be because of Hekki's speed because he is clearly faster than the Finn. But one wonders what could be bothering him - maybe Alonso's demons are contagious. What for example was the content of his conversation with Dennis prior to the Barcelona race?

[Alfredo Nieto]

Not like they were contenders but it seems the Super Aguris are gone for good - leaving only 10 teams on the grid which was supposed to have 12.

Will Prodrive make it for next year? Any chance of a new team?

[J.A.]

Nobody talks about strategy and fuel charge? In Barcelona, Heiki had to qualify with a fuel charge notably greater than Lewis. It is Heiki's turn in Turkey? It's clear that saying the both drivers are in the same car is not enough to grant "equallity" between them. As every one saw in Barcelona, with a ligther car, you have an advantage (ask Alonso in his Renault) and being in front at the start, nowaday, is an objective advantage for the race.
So, will Heiki "enjoy" the Number 2 status? Will team strategy support him? Any body is taking notes about when Lewis and Heiki pits in every race?
I know I'm not asking the same for Ferrari, but you don't blame McLaren for having a Nº1-Nº2 driver politic, and, allegedly, it's british ethic to act equally in the same team. I'm saying that because last year every body talked about "equality" and "British ethic" at McLaren, but nearly nobody talked about the fuel and strategy regarding this alleged equality. Some have posted Lewis enjoyed an extra lap eight times while two for Alonso. Considering the importance of P1 in the same car, it doesn't seem an "equality" politics, does it?
And if it is the case, will Heiki enjoy the same oportunities as Lewis? I'm starting to see Heiki as a very strong driver. The flying lap he did in Barcelona considering his fuel charge was really amazing.
It would be interesting to sumarize the way the teams do their strategy and then see with objective data which driver is supported as Nº1 and wich is Nº2. I have the perception that doing that, we will discover that not only Ferrari has this politic, but jus they are the only having no problems to admit it.
Regards.

[Brent Batson-Trinidad & Tobago]

I think Lewis Hamilton is going to push ahead in Istanbul. Team Ferrari's experienced fuel to weight calculations together with tyre selections were important but lets face it, their cars perform exactly the way they want them to through the corners and McLaren has to find a way to keep on point with the red devils. Hopefully the learnings from the previous race (and a spot of luck) will catapult Hamilton to fight Mc Laren's way to the top.

I also would keep a close eye on Toyota.

[Gary M]

@ J.A.

What in god's name are you wittering on about?

You started your post with the startling revelation that having less fuel means a lighter car and therefore a faster car in qualifying, which you say is an advantage because "being in front at the start, nowaday, is an objective advantage for the race. "

But then you go on to say that because (you say) Lewis Hamilton had 8 extra laps last season as opposed to Alonso's 2 (I am guessing that in the other 7 races last season both drivers pitted at the same time? funny, don't remember that though.) that this somehow handed Lewis an unfair advantage.

But if as you clearly explained having less fuel is an advantage how can giving Lewis more fuel for his extra lap be seen as favoring him? Surely using your own logic it was actually Alonso who was getting the No.1 driver treatment?

And besides, what has this got to do with the topic of this post?

[Tetsuya]

I expect another tough weekend in Turkey for Mclaren Mercedes.

Last year, after the copying from Ferrari, the numerous lies and apologies etc., Mclaren Mercedes still proceeded to copy the Ferrari quick shift, fast fuel, and CO2 as a tyre gas for their 2008 car. FIA imposed that the team remove these items (without punishing them of course), but to have done this after all that had already happened in 2007 I think clearly illustrates how Mclaren Mercedes really don't have a clue.

To make matters worse Alonso is no longer there to nurse Hamilton along, and it looks like FIA may even be tempted to apply the same rules to Hamilton this year as everyone else......

I'm certainly not betting any yen on Mclaren Mercedes this weekend....

[Juan]

Its just the result of some hilarious and absurd team politics which involved an overrated pilot, too. They deserve it.

Kimi is going to win his 2nd championship without any problem.

F1 is getiing boring and boring. See you next year.

[javiervivaespania]

Of course, Ferraris are ahead of McLarens, but drivers have something to do about it. The circuit is broad enough to overtake other cars and there are some impressive curves (7th + 8th) where traction will be an issue this year.

[IDR]

Upstairs

I agree with Gary M (not very often, btw).

The best strategy for McLaren in Turkey should be to try to fight for the maximum possible points, looking at the long run. Forget about Ferrari and concentrate to be over BMW.

At least, keeping in mind that is so difficult to see F Massa three times in a row on the podium, LH or Heiki, should have some opportunities.

And as JavierVivaEspaña have said, is going to be interesting to see drivers without aids taking some curves as the 8th one with four apex.

Chiunda:

Ross Brown to McLaren? Too many Cocks for one hen house!

Downstairs

I’m curious to see real improvement of Renault. Anyhow, as Red Bull will go to Turkey with the old car, is difficult to know what is the real improvement up to Monaco or Canada (Red Bull said that maybe Monaco is not the best circuit to launch it)

[BAKKALI Mohammed Nidar]

I think MCLAREN are paying ALONSO departure. The man was challeging his teammate and both of them provide the best drive that the team was on the top. This years HAMILTON feels unchallenged because of RON DENNIS mangement mistakes. We are going to attend à boring 2008 championhsip.

[Verbal]

ALEX B - lol well done mate that was funny...looks like Mclaren have ended up with last years Ferrari :)
Would someone pliz go get that Dossier back.

On a slightly different note...Last week there was a lot of interesting debate about "the greatest drivers of all time"...I urge you to grab Mays F1 magazine it features not without controversy, the top 100 drivers of all time, you can probably guess the first two but the rest v.surpprising

[Antonio Xixon but in UK]

It is sad the way McLaren is starting to "cry". You can't say that Ferrari arrive as favorites. You have to sell yourself, look at Briatore: he knows he has a car which dreams of becoming a F1 sport car, but is not saying, well, BMW arrive as favorites...he says: "We have improved the car and we are trying hard to get up there".

I understand that having been banned to use other teams technology affects your performance, because you have to start from scratch. Maybe they should concentrate in 2009-2010 car.

I don't believe that after Monaco their performance is going to improve. I think that it is end of cycle for McLaren.

[Anon]

Turkey will be firmly in Ferrari's grip. I would be surprised if McLaren could actually pick up third and fourth place, however.

BMW is coming strong. Turkey is a track that will fit the car. The BMW is so much faster at turning than in straights (it's weakness) that turns like Turn 8 will be making it very happy. Heidfeld is pretty good at this track. So it will be interesting to see what happens. Possibly a

Massa
Raikkonen
Heidfeld

finish. But what I really want is for BMW to storm the weekend. A one-four is not out of reach. THey are SO close the win should come soon.

On another note, the Super Aguri story is very bad for the sport of F1. Basically, the team was locked away from the Turkey circuit by Honda and Ecclestone. Today, they have withdrawn from the championship. This is very sad. They still seeme to have some juice. THey scored a thirteenth place, it was doing pretty good. Anyway, Aguri Suzuki said F1 was like a bowl of piranhas. Who can say he is wrong? It is not by having this run as the headlines that Mr. Ecclestone shall be attracting new customers. I had heard that there may be a Spanish or Russian takeovr of the team. Apparently, Honda tought Super Aguri to be too much of a hassle and so let them sink. I am very disappointed in Honda, who refused to give Super Aguri funds and who refused to allow them to get funds fromthe Weigl group. THey pretty much decided to sink them!

But this is serious. Toyota and Honda are probably not enjoying their Formula One experience. Toyota are gettingback there, but they still need some more juice. Honda seem to have to wait another year to get a better car.

Bernie needs to bring in teams like Force India, who have shown their trength and dedication. THey need personalities like Matesich (I know I just slaughtered his name) and Mallya to bring life to this sport. THey need to makeF1 seem like a real profitmaker,not a place where you go to die.

[ALEX B]

Thanks for the kind comment VERBAL, pleased you liked my opinion. Yes, all Mclaren need to do now is get rid of the bridge wing, widen the nosecone, paint their car red and there you have it, the F2007 lol.

[Michel Angstadt]

I don't want to be nasty in my predictions but I think McLaren will be fighting with BMW and maybe Renault or Toyota for second and third place this year.

Ron Dennis got it all wrong last year, raced the wrong driver, and the price is a heavy one to pay.

[otro javier]

I think Mclaren will have serious problems –if they not have it yet- in the present season, and not only related to the car, since they need to make the pole to have any chance to win a race. The Ferraris are ahead by now, but also BMW is often ahead of McLaren in qualifying. And maybe BMW is not still a title contender, but being ahead of McLaren in qualifying means that Lewis and Heikki, or at least one of them, could have to start form the third line of the grid. And all we know what it means. BMW improvement in the present season will be in the end the key for Kimi to win the 2008 championship comfortably.

Since Lewis has not been able to win a race but starting from the pole, get the pole seems to be his only chance. Overtaking is always a risky maneuver, and we know how prone to make mistakes under pressure Lewis is. The more he has to overtake during the race, the less likely he could finish it. Even having made no mistakes, as in Barcelona, he could finish behind the Ferraris. I think everybody knows that weakness of Lewis, and they, mainly BMW, will exploit it. Knowing that be in the Ferrari’s level is by know and unreachable target, BMW will push hard to outqualifying McLaren in every race, to force them to start behind his cars.

Lewis needs to learn how to win a race starting, at least, from the second line of the grid, and driving among the traffic keeping his mind cold enough to not ruin a race making stupid mistakes. And he should do it fast he wants to be a title contender for the present season. But even if can do that McLaren needs to improve the car. Maybe not the car in itself but the set up and race strategies, that seems to be his real Achilles heel.

So, I expect another hard weekend for McLaren in Turkey. And things will be the same all along the season unless the reliability and strength showed by the Ferraris suddenly disappear.

[Jordi]

Gary M.
If 2 drivers have same fuel, but one driver does more laps than the other (which is what J.A was talking about) then that second driver will have less fuel, therefore an advantage. Is not that difficult to understand. Just have a look at Q3 Hungary last year.

Regards

[Mullarkian]

Who cares, it's as boring as hell anyway. If you want to see real racing watch motorcycling.

[Gary M]

I see all the idiots have come back out to play! Spouting their MARCA fueled rubbish. I do not think it is possible to have a grown up conversation about F1 on here without the children making a mess of it.

[Tim]

Jordi - I can see where you're coming from, but I think you're conflating fuel loads in qualifying with the fuel credits system. I could be wrong, but I think the regulations were changed for 2008 to remove the need for fuel credits.

Last year, the drivers who made it through to Q3 were required to qualify with the fuel they needed for their first stint in the race. For each lap completed in Q3 within a certain time limit, a "fuel credit" was awarded and the team was able to put a corresponding amount of fuel back into the car before the race to bring the fuel load back to the level at the start of Q3.

What Hungary 2007 highlighted was that, at some tracks, drivers in the same team would not be able to complete the same number of laps in Q3. This gave the advantage of an extra lap's fuel credit to the driver who was able to complete the additional lap. McLaren had its drivers take turns to see who gained the advantage of getting the extra lap and the extra fuel credit.

However, as we all know, things didn't work out as McLaren planned in Hungary 2007 and this caused the incident between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

For 2008, my understanding is that the regulations now require drivers to start Q3 with the fuel they need for qualifying and the first race stint. There are no fuel credits awarded and teams can't refuel their cars after Q3.

But this is a separate issue to how much fuel each driver starts the race with. For example, running a lap lighter in Q3 could help Lewis Hamilton outqualify Heikki Kovalainen. But Kovalainen would then be able to go one lap further in the race (a lap when Kovalainen could take advantage of a very light, fast car but Hamilton would be heavy with fuel) and have the chance to leapfrog Hamilton. This is exactly what Kimi Raikkonen did to Felipe Massa at the Malaysian GP.

It really all depends on whether a driver wants pole or race position. Pole position is nice and can be quite important. But it would not be correct to assume that the driver who starts with heavier fuel is always at a disadvantage.

[Adele]

@CHIUNDA

I think you might have a point there, there might be something wrong with the team morale. It was reported that straight after Hamilton's crash in the Bahrain free practise session, he just immediately left the circuit, the same thing happened after the race while Heikki stays on for hours doing discussions with his engineers. The same thing also happened more then once during winter testing.

It is common knowledge that Maclaren lengthened their chassis this year, so it is not strange to learn that they are now suffering with the slow corners (just like Ferrari did last year). If you watch the Maclaren in the slow corners and compare it to the Ferrari's and the BMW's, it seems like Maclaren are struggling with the lack of traction.

However, I still believe Maclaren and even BMW could have performed better then they have up until now. Maclaren and BMW have been using very strange race strategies, up until now. Heikki has been heavier then Lewis in all the races so far, sometimes the difference is up to 4 laps. Instead Maclaren should be exploiting Heikki's obvious qualifying speed, fuel him light get him out in front to slow down the pack. It doesn't help much to use one driver as the second driver, when you are not going to optimise him. In the process Maclaren are compromising both Heikki's and Lewis's races.

I suspect BMW on the other hand are taking a cautious approach, their main aim is to at least try and get one of their drivers on the podium. But I think they should take a chance and fuel Kubica and Heidfeld closer to each other and have both going for pole. BMW is properly still learning and experimenting being on the front end of the grid. Maclaren on the other hand should know better.

It perhaps isn't always so wise to decide who the number one driver will be at the start of the season, especially if you are behind in the points. In the early stages of the championship it might be better that both drivers just compete against each other. They will push each other much more for better results, and if the number one driver for some reason is in trouble his teammate will at least be close enough to minimize the damage. Instead of just loosing points unnecessarily. It might be the best strategy to decide on the number one driver at least halfway through the season.

(It is almost amusing that for the season so far Ferrari has been the fairest team when applying fuel strategies. They have always pitted 1 lap apart and they take turns with going heavier and lighter, for this weekend Kimi will be light and Massa will be one lap heavier, I suspect.)

[Tetsuya]

F1 isn't getting boring at all.
I think it's the most interesting it has been for years...

Not only are Renault quickly claiming their previous form, but both Toyota and Honda may become serious threats now too. BMW have also clearly overtaken Mclaren Mercedes. I can't remember the last time that there were so many teams with such high ambitions...

[Felipe]

Gary M,

I think you get very wound up from some comments. If you really want to have a discussion, maybe you should ignore those comments you consider to be a regurtation of Marca. Some people manage to have good discussions and rise above the drivel that's posted here sometimes. Examples are D, IDR and a few others.

And even though I don't want you to get angry enough to go back to your old winding up tactics, I do believe Hamilton benifited from the extra lap in qualifying last year. And I didn't get it from Marca, there's very little I will take away from Marca, as little as when I read the Sun. Though more importantly, unlike some people on both sides, I have gotten over it and want to focus on this year.

[Jordi]

Thank you Tim
You clearly made an effort to explain the regulations. Still, I think there is no doubt that who ever gets pole, gets better change to win the race.

Ed, I see that you allowed people to insult others, let me have a go.

(Deleted by the moderator - actually it wasn't too bad!)
Ufff! thank you,
I feel better now.

Will you publish that?

[ramplano]

@ GARY M.

Although I haven't posted anything for weeks I've been following the blog in full. Personally I'm finding it quite interesting and balanced with the odd stupid partisan comment.

Sometimes someone is plainly wrong , twisted or childish I agree ,but the type or thing you posted on May the 6th 21.30.46 belongs to the kind I don't like at all. Statements like yours, "idiots" and all that ,only show that you are no fit to discuss like an adult. After two or three rounds of comments you didn't fancy you reacted exactly the same way you dislike so much. Just prove them wrong or if not possible, refrain from insulting please. It's not adding anything but fuel to the fire.

Regards

[Manc]

Tim
You are rigth that a lap more of fuel during Q3 can be compensated by an an extra lap during the race. But even so , the race is always a little bit impredictible, and also we've seen this season how close are the front team, so an extra lap of fuel could mean 1 or 2 car between you and your team mate. So in my opinion a team that claims equality between its drivers should alternate them. Having said that, I don't think this litle advance can be compared to an extra flying lap last season. Anyway, if we look at these 4 races, there is nothing (in my opinion) to sugest a preference treatment to any of the McLaren drivers.
Australia: Heikki staid for 4 more laps that would sugets a different strategy.
Malaysia: Although Heikki qualified in front of Hamilton, he staid for a lap more.
Bahrain:Well, we won't know for sure.
Spain: Heikki crash in the same lap that Hamilton pit, so he was with more fuel, just one lap or 5 we won't know.

[IDR]

@MANC

"Australia: Heikki staid for 4 more laps that would sugets a different strategy"

Differences between Kova and Hamilton:

Australia: Heikki +4 Laps
Malasya: Heikki +1 Laps
Bahrain: Heikki +2 Laps
Spain: Heikki +3-4 Laps (Estimated according to M W declarations after the race)

1-2 laps more doesn't mean any high disadvantage, just you need to choose who's driver is going to pit first. And the second one have the opportunity to compensate qualy difference during the race, (taking in consideration that this represents a little disadvantage just because is better to be on pole than have to wait for the race).

4 laps means different strategy, but IMHO is WRONG strategy keeping in mind the close differences between Ferrari, BMW and McLaren.

In fact, if you take the qualy times for Spain and adjust them to the same laps Kimi did, you could have seen Kova 2nd in qualy.

You will probably agree, that for Kova should have been much better to start second than 5th.

[CHIUNDA]

Tim

Those days when Schumacher would eat into 7 seconds of his team mates pitstop in two laps are sort of over (those were Ferrari's way of getting around the team orders rules and related bad PR). If you can consolidate a lead by running light in the first stint, you only need to manage your first pitstop really well to stay ahead.

But unfortunately as we have witnessed, McLaren mismanage pitstops (Malaysia 2008) and mismanage pitstop timing (China 2007)- so really, in a way, Lewis and Hekki sometimes are fighting their team rather than the opposition.

In hindsight all that mess between Alonso and Lewis in 2007 was not planned at all - it was just the usual McLaren ineptness to perform at 100% - we saw all this lousy strategy choices even with Kimi - like when he blew his tire i think in 2006 or 2005 - how embarrassing was that - pretty similar to China 2007 :-((

[CHIUNDA]

so Lewis is not superman? Read the comments if you are Spanish -

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/163005-0/lewis_im_not_superman.html

[Manc]

@IDR
I agree with you that four laps is a disadvantage, but my point was that is (or can be) Heikki's choice. In the other hand if during the season we see that each time the drivers are in the same strategy and is always Heikki the one who goes 1 or 2 laps longer, in my opinion, this would prove, without questions, that there is not equal treatment in McLaren.
Or are you sugesting that Heikki can not even choose his strategy when it doesn't conflict with Hamilton's one?

[Carlos]

To Gary M

words can not express my sorrow when i am reading some of your comments.

you act like a little crying kidd. Whenever some poster writes his opinion and it doesn't match your opinion, you insult him and think it is based on MARCA "rubish". At least we (spanish posters) read two "rubish sources" (english and spanish) so we have more information to make an opinion.

[IDR]

@ MANC

I'm not suggesting anything, basically because I have not enough information, to get that conclusion.

I you have it, I would appreciate if you want to share it with us.

On the other hand, is not only McLaren runnig so badly in pit stop strategy, BMW too, both teams should keep more attention on this issue just looking how Ferrari does his job perfectly.

[Becken]

What defines the first choice on strategy is IS THE FASTEST DRIVER IN Q2.

Everybody knows that because last year, at the first ROOKIE´S qualifying, Mr Alonzo must to do AN EXTRA LAP and sacrifice a set of new tires to beat THE ROOKIE and guarantee himself first choice on strategy (he was irritated he'd had to do so).

Q2 THIS YEAR:

Q2 in Australia:
Lewis - 1:25.187
Heikki - 1:25.452

Q2 in Malaysia:
Lewis - 1:34.627
Heikki - 1:34.759

Q2 in Bahrain:
Lewis - 1:31.922
Heikki - 1:31.933

Q2 in Spain:
Lewis - 1:20.825
Heikki - 1:20.817

Obviously in Spain Lewis made a good Q3, better than his teammate (as Heikki did in Sepang!) and a great start and left Robert between him and Heikki and this change all the strategy choice.

(Is in the Q2 where we can see who is the better one with exactly equal cars, same weight, same tyres…)