2010 F1 season preview: McLaren

Posted on

| Written by

The MP4-25 impressed on the final day of testing

They may have the current world champion, Jenson Button, and the last one, Lewis Hamilton – but can a McLaren driver capture the title in 2010?

The early signs are the MP4-25 will swiftly banish the bad memories of its predecessor.

Car design

The re-appearance of pitot tubes (air flow sensors) on the McLaren in testing this year left the team’s fans wondering if they were back in the same dire straits they had been at the start of 2009.

As testing developed that hasn’t been the case. McLaren set the fastest times in the final test and both the Jerez tests. But that’s only a fraction of the story. What really matters is the car’s performance over a race distance – and there too the signs are encouraging, if a little inconsistent.

McLaren brought their Bahrain-specification aerodynamic updates to the final test at Barcelona and the car showed good speed at a track which is often a reliable barometer of season-long performance.

The team also had their adjustable wing working for the first time this year, which will help their drivers manage the car’s balance as the fuel load came down.

Driver line-up

This team which already has a reputation for ambitious driver pairings has really outdone itself this time. Why have one British world champion when you can have two?

We all know the last time two previous champions shared a team it ended in tears. Parallels are already being drawn between the Button-Hamilton pairing of today and the combustible combination of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna at the same team 21 years ago. Not least because Hamilton is an avowed Senna fan and Button’s silky smooth style has the hallmarks of The Professor.

But the comparisons are also a bit too convenient. These are different drivers in different times.

However if Fernando Alonso got the impression he was joining Hamilton’s team in 2007, that appearance will scarcely have lessened over time. Button needs to embed himself in the team and the reorganisation of the race engineers which followed his arrival may help with that.

Ever since the refuelling ban was announced it has been widely remarked that this will suit the ‘smooth’ Button more than the ‘aggressive’ Hamilton. But I think these labels are too unsubtle to give much insight into the relative qualities of the two drivers. That said, I do expect Hamilton will usually out-qualify Button, but I suspect we’ll see fewer mistakes from McLaren’s new driver.

With Pedro de la Rosa off to Sauber, Gary Paffett is now the team’s third driver, making it an all-British trio. He’s had one day of testing in the off-season, and if either of the regular drivers are indisposed he may well get a call-up.

Strengths

If recent seasons have taught us anything it’s that few teams can rival McLaren’s capacity for developments throughout a Grand Prix season. We saw it in their remarkable comeback with the MP4-24 last year, and the huge effort which went into the MP4-23 at the end of 2008 to secure Hamilton’s title.

Testing has shown the team have a car with plenty of potential and it will be a surprise if it turns out to be anything less than a regular race-winner and ultimately a championship contender.

They are one of the most formidably well-equipped teams – a key reason why Button deserted Brawn/Mercedes for them. As we saw last year, they can never be discounted.

Weaknesses

In the past three seasons McLaren have attracted controversy like few other teams – ‘Spygate’ and the Hungaroring debacle in 2007, Hamilton being stripped of his Spa win in 2008, and the safety car controversy at Melbourne last year.

Personal friction between Ron Dennis and Max Mosley was often cited as a contributory factor in these rows, but as both have now left the scene, perhaps normal service will be resumed.

The team will be scrutinised intensely for any signs of cracks in their attention-grabbing driver partnership – and any perception of favouritism towards one side of the garage.

It remains to be seen how the change in relationship with engine supplier Mercedes will affect the team. Last year McLaren were one of three teams supplied by Mercedes and the only ones to carry their branding. Now coexist with a full works Mercedes team and customers Force India.

Yes, all the engines are supposed to be equal. But as George Orwell might have said, some engines are more equal than others.

Poll: championship position

In each of the teams’ previews we’ll have a poll on where they’ll finished the championship. We’ll then combine those results to create an F1 Fanatic readers’ prediction for the final championship standings.

Where do you think will McLaren finish the 2010 season? Vote below:

Where will McLaren finish in the 2010 Constructors' Championship?

  • 13th (1%)
  • 12th (0%)
  • 11th (0%)
  • 10th (0%)
  • 9th (0%)
  • 8th (0%)
  • 7th (0%)
  • 6th (0%)
  • 5th (1%)
  • 4th (3%)
  • 3rd (14%)
  • 2nd (33%)
  • 1st (48%)

Total Voters: 2,350

 Loading ...

2010 F1 season

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

119 comments on “2010 F1 season preview: McLaren”

  1. 3rd. Behind Ferrari and Red Bull

    1. Same here.

      1. Yeap, I say 3rd as well.

        Ferrari will win the title with Alonso unless there is a repeat of 07 or some sort of debacle were to unfold. My money is of the Scarlet cars.

        Sebastien Vettel will emerge as Alonso’s main rival this season.

        I say this because Ferrari and Red Bull have gone about very quitely in their tests showing consistent speed at the same time.

        I suspect we will have a record number of race winners in this coming season. I remember in 08 we had 7 different race winners..I have hunch we might have 8 this season.

        I just cant wait or Bahrain to come around!!

      2. And here.

        1. 3rd to me, also.

        2. Third, behind Ferrari and RBR

    2. Jarred Walmsley
      2nd March 2010, 1:52

      4th, behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes

      1. i second that, because i would like to see McLaren back with their traditional numbers 7 & 8 that lasted till 1995. :P

    3. Close, but third behind MB then Ferrari

      1. I really wanted to say 3rd but I think they will beat Red Bull, so 2nd it is.

        1. Same here, i think they will split ferrari&RedBull

          1. Agreed. Ferrari will be first, McLaren comes after. Then perhaps Redbull

    4. Gone for second (behind Ferrari) here, although it depends on whether Button has more pace than he’s shown in testing. I think Red Bull might struggle with reliability, and Rosberg’s win jinx will probably hurt Merc.

      1. 3rd too. Possibly second, but it will be close between them and Red Bull.

      2. I second that second!!
        Ferrari just seem to be able to get the constructors and Mclaren can’t. It would be great for one of the drivers to get the championship though.

      3. second, behind either Ferrari or RBR. The force is strong with them, but the pair of drivers – they’re not Jedi yet :-)

      4. I vote second also. Strong drivers, stronger than last season indeed.
        But I think (and I’ll be wrong surely) Ferrari is little bit better in this moment, in car and driver (mix of Both drivers)

    5. Its Hammer time
      2nd March 2010, 9:13

      All of you should grow up. They will be second if they are unlucky. Mclaren are more than a match for Ferrari, RBR and Merc.

      Go Lotus!

      1. I think they’ll win it. They have the capasity, they finally have 2 drivers who can win races, after 2 years with Kovy who was perfectly happy to come home 7th all the time. The car seems to be quick.

        I think it’s about time they grabbed a Constructors title, but it’s going to be close.

        1. I voted second. However I think they could well go on to win it. Not because they have the fastest car now, but because they’re so close. In 2009, well Keith went over it and you all know the story but in 2008 Ferrari started the year in what was undoubtably the better car yet but Spa an Monza that was definatley the McLaren. The McLaren is fast enough to win races already but under McLaren development it will finish the year the best car, so my second is an at least second.

  2. Mark Hitchcock
    2nd March 2010, 0:08

    I voted 1st, but have no confidence in that prediction! I may well vote for Red Bull and Ferrari finishing 1st when you do polls about them as well :P

    1. TheGreatCornholio
      3rd March 2010, 0:12

      At least you’re honest about it! Lol.

    2. With a maturer Lewis, solid engineering that has shown ability to adapt during the season, i vote McLaren for the championship in 2010. However, if you believe in statistics and some voodoo, they first have to win Bahrain.

  3. They’ll be first, and WDC will be Hamilton, and not just because I want it to be.

    1. Yeay! i agree, im sickened at the minute with the mclaren press – it’s as if they have a one man team – button! its all button this, button that, cant wait for lewis to get out there and do what he does best!

      1. You should see the laptimes of the last day of testing at Barcelona.

        Wow did Hamilton speak. His race simulation was amazingly fast.

        It’s no surprise that Schumacher and Massa all of a sudden were so pessimistic about their performance. They saw Hamilton get further and futher ahead while all three were doing a race simulation.

        Maybe Alonso can keep up with Hamilton or maybe Mercedes come with a fast car at the last second in Bahrain, but going on the tests, I’d say Hamilton and McLaren blew them all away.

  4. one thing about the Button-Hamilton battle this year.

    Something that happened in 2007 when Alonso was in the team was the press influence in the team. I mean, everytime Alonso spoke to the spanish press, the british press smashed him for saying whatever he said. And with Hamilton the same. Fans in Spain can’t hate Hamilton more (95% of them are Alonso fans, of course, as he’s the first and only succesful driver the country has ever produced). And the same from the Hamilton fans in Britain.

    I, as an Argentinean, can speak and read in spanish of course and also in English (…just). So i could read both sides of the struggle back then. It was remarkable how different the news were. Sometimes Alonso would say: “maybe he’s faster at some circuits but i could beat him at others” and the British press headlines: “I can beat Hamilton EVERYWHERE”… it was really annoying.

    This year they have 2 british drivers at a british team. I don’t think Mclaren will risk their reputation (already quite seriously damaged after some events no worth mentioning) this time. Imagine what would happen if Mclaren benefits Hamilton? the headlines at the monday newspaper would explode!.

    Back in 2007, the problem was different. Alonso and the team had some clashes. But the press from each country made it much worse!…

    1. Absolutely correct you are.

    2. ” Fans in Spain can’t hate Hamilton more (95% of them are Alonso fans, of course, as he’s the first and only succesful driver the country has ever produced).”

      What about Carlos Sain?

      1. Sorry that should read: Sainz ….

        1. Did Colin McRae have the same following than Hamilton? Same over there (here)

      2. i didn’t like what i saw in the 2010 Dakar!!

    3. Couldn’t agree more

  5. By the way, who voted 13th ??? LOL!!!!!!

    1. 5 votes for 13th so far…

    2. People expecting a controversy like 2007 must have voted :)

      1. Wouldn’t be surprised.

  6. I would change “I expect Hamilton to usually out-qualify Button” to “I expect Hamilton to almost always out-qualify Button”. And as for Button being the smoother driver, I say that “smoother” is a polite way of saying “slower”.

    1. Button did get quite a few good poles even in the BAR/honda though.

      1. Button can qualify well if the car is working good for him, but Hamilton tends to be able to qualify well full stop.

    2. It will be much harder for Hamilton to beat Button, maybe harder than Alonso if Meclaren plays it fer. Being teem mates is the best way to compare them and time will tell who is the better one.

      1. if Button beats Hamilton then you are safe to conclude he can beat Alonso … and that is where my brain gets short circuited :))

  7. Number 1 baby no doubt about it

  8. 1st, and I barely had to think. The one reason only for this is the line-up. Hamilton, given the car to do so, will probably win 4 races this year (I predict no-one will actually win more than 4, and if they do, they’ll win the championship), and Button should win at least 1 or 2. But Button, not Hamilton, is the key to my reasoning here. His consistency rivals that of Schumacher, and I don’t see Rosberg making up the difference, as good as he probably is. The Ferraris I think will reflect each other a lot, so expect double posiums on some weekends and no-shows on others. Red Bull again I see as having severer cases of on and off days.

    1. Yes, I agree with this fully. Once again looking back to 2008, imagine if it had been Button and not Heikki in the other car?

      In 2007, baring the Hungarian debacle, well McLaren would have comfortably been constructors champions.

      Mclaren seem good enough now to be the constuctors, I don’t see Redbull out doing them, the only others capable of it this year are Ferrari.

  9. Number one: Merc! Then Ferri and 3rd Macca. But I hope Red Bull beat them both and ends 2nd.

  10. I voted 3rd, behind Red Bull (1st) and Ferrari

    1. I voted 3rd also, behind Ferrari and RBR. I think the reds should win Bahrein, they always go well there, especially Massa (he has to win these dry races since he can’t drive on wet). I think they could go 1-2. RBR will be up there too and behind them Mac will fight Mercedes.

  11. Great read Keith!!
    Are you doing one for every team(everyone outside the “Top 4”)?
    Would love to read them all!!

    1. Yep, in car number order. Mercedes next.

      1. Cant wait for Bahrain!

        I really do hope McLaren have a good car, removed so much from races to have LH in midfield, if they have a good one with LH and JB challenging it will be great.

        I so hope they avoid the scandals and terrible pit lane calls that have dogged LH, besides scandals they have made 3 or 4 catastrophic errors with LH strategy/stops. They also seem to rely very heavily on race simulations, without factoring in LHs exceptional pace.

        I think LH will have less errors this year if he has a decent car, will be able to control more. Considering his aggressive pace its impressive how few errors he makes anyway.

        Also very interesting to see how engine performs viz Mercedes-Benz, the George Orwell quote is perfect.

        1. Cant wait for the next vote, and I too love the George Orwell quote.

      2. Nice – one per day till Friday practice, eh?

  12. Second behind Ferrari but the biggest treat for them is Mercedes.

  13. If hamilton wins the title, Mclaren will be Constructors Champs!

    thats my prediction, i’m not one of those brash fans who says “This is how it is going to happen and i’m right”. this is just what i think and hope

    1. im normally quite worked up in the week bwfore the first race, but im quite calm! i spose its confidence in McLaren and that it could be thier year!

  14. Formerly Kimster now to be known as Lord Stig-

    Anyhow I would guess McLaren would be between 2nd-4th but that estimate is subject to change after Q3 in Bahrain

  15. But as George Orwell might have said, some engines are more equal than others.

    brillinat quote.

    1. *brilliant

    2. er, adapted quote, really.

      Anyway, It won’t be as superfantastically brilliant as say the engine Lewis got for China and Brazil last year, but I don’t think Mercedes will be able to get away with giving themselves an advantage.

  16. McLaren MP4-25 is a fast car, but Ferrari is more consistent.

    1. and then McLaren installed their adjustable wing … and McLaren showed they are more consistent on the last day in Barcelona

      1. Hmm. Hamiltons race simulation was magnificently consitant. Practically every lap you could see the fuel effect dropping the time.

        Of course it is important to be friendly to your tyres but on certain tracks, particularly the two stoppers outright pace will be just as important as ever. Ferrari may do better in the first stint or at the more marginal one stopper tracks. But in the middle and final stints, especially in the marginal two stopper tracks, McLaren look set for an cash in majorly.

  17. 3rd, behind Redbull and Ferrari. Mercedes will be 4th.

  18. why is bmw sauber not on the f1.com site as a team or drivers?

    1. You’d have to ask F1.com! They’re on the FIA’s entry list.

      1. That entry list has not been published on the official FIA website has it?

        The entry list was published end of november. Sauber got their license a week later (after Toyota pulled out). The press release on the Sauber entry stated that a new entry list would be published in due time. That hasn’t happened yet (or at least not last time I checked)

  19. “Yes, all the engines are supposed to be equal. But as George Orwell might have said, some engines are more equal than others.”

    Come on Keith, it’s a little disappointing you said that. We don’t need no conspiracy, just racing and insights. Please, that doesn’t add anything.

    1. The point is, McLaren are no longer Mercedes’ most preferred partner. If there’s an advantage to be had somewhere, the works team will have it first.

      1. There’s just a bit too much potential for a combustible end to that relationship. I know they have a contract for five more years, but it’s one thing supplying engines to another team that’s on a different performance level, but a direct competitor? they end up neck and neck and McLaren feel and real or imagined shortcomings in engine performance, it’s ain’t going to be pretty.

        1. Yeah, it would be terrible. Almost as terrible as vetoing your engine supplier’s decision to supply another team because it might harm your own competitiveness, then launching a supercar directly into the market of that same engine supplier. Imagine that!

          1. Great comment Red Andy

  20. Marc Connell
    2nd March 2010, 7:20

    I expect this to be a mclaren Ferrari battle up top. Im a mclaren fan but Ferrari do have a good team this year ( like always ).

    Im expecting hamilton to push to hard to beat button and spin off ( like monza last year). Therefore jenson will pick up all the best points for the team but not enough to win.

    My theory anyway.

    1. Sorry mate. Couldn’t disagree any more.. I dont think Hamilton will have to push hard to beat button. I think Hamilton would beat Button with minimal effort. He will outqualify Button for every race (unless there are technical problems), and as “smooth” as button’s driving style is, he just doesnt have the pace to match any top league driver.
      But then again… its just my theory.
      And in the McLaren vs Ferrari battle, I expect it to be close but Ferrari has a stronger driver pairing and i tip them for the constructors.

      1. I think Button isn’t going to beat Hamilton but I don’t think Hamilton will blow him away. Button is a damn good driver.

        All the same I remember something said at Silverstone in 2006, during a GP2 race. The sprint with the famous move over Piquet… and that other guy. One of the commentators comented on Hamiltons smooth driving style. This would have been Hamilton matching his style to the nature of GP2 but it shows that Hamilton can be enourmously adaptable in his driving. While definatley more agressive than Button I don’t think Hamilton is going to have any trouble looking after his tyres. It’s one of his best hidden strengths.

        I think Buttons smooth driving style can be more of a weakness sometimes when he is required to drive round flaws in a car. Wheras hamilton has the ability to mask the flaws in his.

  21. Eddie Irvine
    2nd March 2010, 8:10

    Fantastic article keith!!! well done!!! My vote is for 1st place, they desperately need this title along with Red Bull, they will do everything to clinch it..!!

  22. Mercedes will be fourth, its just Brawn with new colours, they had massive funding last year. Im not saying they wont win, but Mclaren will (should) at least beat them.

  23. CovertGiblets
    2nd March 2010, 8:24

    Over the entire season I’d expect McLaren to be at the top of the pile, but only just. Ferrari will be second, Mercedes third and I think Red Bull will be fourth.

    The development power of the first three teams will push Red Bull down the list.

    This will trigger Vettel’s innevitable move from Red Bull to Mercedes, Mark Webber will be forced into retirement, Darth Vader will take his place and United Kingdom will win the Eorovision Song Contest! ;)

  24. CovertGiblets
    2nd March 2010, 8:24

    That should read Eurovision…. Doh!

  25. I have polled 1st. Although not a great fan of McLaren I think they will make very few mistakes and a great line-up will not bother them as well. They will probably qualify best and I think there will be less overtaking this year. So pole position is gold.

  26. 2nd.
    Fastest car probably but race wise the Ferrari could edge it and I reckon the redv team has a slightly stronger line up. Not only that but I’ve left room for a DNF for a crash from Hamilton as he likes to battle and may push the car a bit too hard.

  27. The negative commentaries does not match the clear vote for WCC :(

    This leads me to think only McLaren haters and of course LH haters voice their frustration here… :-(

    As a McLaren fan, we shall win both trophies this season ;-) ….. God-will!!

  28. I think we’ll see a new Webber (before he retires) this season more confident, fitter, faster and a match for Vettel.

    Mclaren / Ferrari – a point or two in it not sure which way at the moment hope Mclaren suspect Ferrari might edge it (always seem to get favourable decisions but some would say you make you own luck).

    Red Bull 3rd, Merc 4th.

  29. I voted 2nd.

    With 4 teams so close to each other, lots of points are going to be won or lost in a matter of few tenths.

    And among the 4 teams, Ferrari easily have the strongest driver pairing. So, if cars stay true to their testing form, I see Ferrari taking constructors,

    Mclaren should be 2nd!!

  30. I decided on 2nd behind Ferrari, although it was close between McLaren and Red Bull, but honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if any of those three teams claimed the Constructors’ Championship.

  31. Accidental Mick
    2nd March 2010, 9:46

    Ferrari, Maclaren, Williams and now Peter Sauber are in Formula 1 because they want to build and race cars. Everything else they do is aimed at financeing that end.

    Red Bull (for example) are in Formula 1 to sell their product. The individuals in the team are to be respected ( Newey is one of the best designers around and Webbers comitment last year when his leg should have rendered him unfit was awesome ) but that underlying philisophical difference will always give Ferrari and Maclaren an edge.

  32. I think they’ll end up 12th but only because USF1 isn’t going to be on the grid. Seriously, I think 3rd behind Ferrari and Red Bull and in front of Williams (4th), Mercedes (5th) and Force India (6th).

  33. I think mclaren will be 3rd behind ferrari and merc. I say merc 2nd because they have the driver which can make a decent car to win races. Yes, I am talking about brand ShoeMaker.

  34. Deutsche Motoren Only
    2nd March 2010, 11:26

    McLaren is a great team, but in my opinion they won’t be so strong without mercedes engine. Its reliability is the main reason they’re still in the game (except 2009 with the worst mclaren in history).

    Senna is a legend, Hamilton is just quick driver in the fast car. In addition he’s making to many mistakes (Monza’09 for example). That’s all. There’s no comparison to Senna. He was like no other.

    Schumacher & Alonso are main contenders for the title in 2010. That’s the fact and McLaren won’t change it. Lewis has to grow up first, then he can think about competition with Schumi.

    1. You do know they still have Mercedes engines don’t you???

      1. ok then what would ferrari be with out a ferrari engine.

        at the begining of the 09′ season they had a mercedes engine but they were strugling to score a point a race! but then the team did there stuff and the engine stayed the same and they started winning again!

  35. I think Mclaren will end 2th for the constructors title. Red Bull as First (if the car keeps running)
    i will keep the drivers list to myself.

    as for Senna as being a Legend you completly wrong he was a great driver and champion but a legend Not really.

    I raced against him a lot in the old days (carting) and he was a sore loser and did everything which you didn’t expect of a legend. Mark of a true Legend is to give a bit of repect to others. and Senna never did this.

  36. Snow Leopard
    2nd March 2010, 12:43

    Deutsche Motoren Only, there are a few errors with your post. McLaren will have a Mercedes powered car until 2015 at least. Comparing past legends to current racers is fruitless and pointless; all of Hamilton’s errors are relatively fresh in the mind whereas those of Senna will have been forgotten or replaced with more sincere memories. Furthermore, if you are claiming Hammy makes too many mistakes, then you may consider giving an array of examples, rather than just one.

  37. 3rd I reckon, I just see the Alonso-Massa and Vettel-Webber combo stronger then Button-Lewis. Since Ferrari have the man power to keep both drivers happy if need be, while Red bull have a solid team and no problems to show. while Mclaren has probably the best minds in their team they cant seem to keep both drivers happy when it gets close to winning.

  38. Keith,
    last week you posted a comparison between the race simulations done by Button, Massa and Roseberg in a very nice chart!
    Is it possible to post the same chart using the race simulation data done by Hamilton, Massa and Shumacher on the last day of testing?

      1. Why do you only add Massa’s second stint to that first chart? You left out the whole first stint where he does 30 laps of around 1:26.

    1. I haven’t got that data I’m afraid Goham.

  39. I voted first. The last time McLaren had an off season was 2006 and look how they came back fighting in 2007. I expect the same this year.

    Also, we mustn’t forget that if they hadn’t been stripped of their points then McLaren would have walked the 2007 WCC…

    I’m a Button fan, but I have to say I think it’ll be Hamilton or Alonso for the WDC this year…

    1. No, Mclaren had 203 points in 2007 and Ferrari had 204 (Mclaren lost 15 at Hungary, otherwise they would have got 218, but that was a fair penalty).

      So, the last time Mclaren won the WCC was in 1998. Since then only in 2007 they have theoretically come close.

  40. Hmm. Gut feeling tells me 2nd behind Ferrari.

    Though I really like the idea of doing the poll for each team – we’ll be able to see how wrong most of us were at the end of the season!

  41. 12 years have passed till the last time Mclaren became Constructor’s champions (1998). That saddens me, as all those years (each year in fact) I had to motivated myself: The time has come! And always it was the opposite, especially 2008 when we should have taken that Constructor’s title, but Ferrari and FIA showed their middle fingers (I still doubt that Mclaren was that into spying and You can say whatever, but the fact is that less than 10% from that scandal is still known by us, therefore You can hardly judge of what happened then.) Well, You may say I am an optimist, and indeed I am, as I always will be with the team I support. I do not care who is going to become a driver champion as long as Mclaren is on the top!

    Hope 80’s and 90’s are coming back: see ya on the top Martin (1st and only 1st).

    1. Kovalainen’s low points tally relative to Raikkonen and Massa cost you the constuctors title in 2008.

    2. It’s 2007 not 2008, my bad :)

  42. theRoswellite
    2nd March 2010, 15:25

    Nicely written Keith, as usual!

    For “D”: if you think smoother means slower, look up Sterling Moss and 4 time world champion Prost. Two slow guys?

    Also, conceptually a car with a given setup and under given conditions will have an ideal line through any given corner. If the driver can follow this line, a line which provides the maximum speed possible, with the least amount of steering corrections (and steering corrections should be viewed as attempts to return the car to the ideal line) he will arrive at the exit of the corner in the shortest time with the highest speed and incurring the least amount of wear on the car and most importantly the tires.

    Smooth is good, in fact smooth is ideal….just very difficult to obtain.

  43. It appears McLaren did not rush to copy Adrian Newey, which means to me that they may be able to get on a different performace plane, at least early on. Last year, the car also was not cookie-cutter, but it seems the implementation lacked. I think they have learned from this—the pitot tubes and rigs show a more rigorous approach to testing the wind tunnel data early on—and will not be caught flat-footed again.

  44. McLaren_Monkey
    2nd March 2010, 16:54

    1ST without a doubt.

    They might not start the season with the fastest car but they will win the development race and finish the season TOP

  45. Deutsche Motoren Only
    2nd March 2010, 17:30

    I mean McLaren couldn’t be as competitive as it is without brilliant Mercedes engine. Thats for sure.
    @ Snow Leopard. You wanted “an array” of Ham’s mistakes.. Here are some examples: Shanghai ’07, Monte Carlo ’08, Monte Carlo ’09, and as I mentioned Monza ’09.

  46. McLaren and Ferrari should be fastest, McLaren looked fantastic with the upgrade so if you consider that it’s these teams that will most likley develop the best and stay ahead of the rest, you have to say the championship comes down to whether you think Felipe Massa is a better driver than Jenson Button.

    Hamilton and Alonso seem to be mostly matched. While Alonso is a more complete package, more cany and better technically, Hamilton is faster outright, and improving his game else where, all these things being marginal neither will be able to break away from the other this season.

    So it comes down to Massa and Button. Massa has been a top driver for longer than Button has, he’s also been in top teams for longer and knows, should it come down to it, how to support a teamates title challenge. Button on the other hand has proved somewhat better than Massa that he doesn’t have faster and slower tracks, he’s better in the rain, he’s certainly much better at overtaking and of course he’s world champion, a psych boost Massa doesn’t have. Having said that Massa, I think is better in qualifying and took Hamiltons preassure in 2008 better than Button took effectivley no ones preassure this year.

    It is impossible to understate the role’s these two will play if both title’s are up for grabs by Macca and Ferrari. Especially if it’s Hamilton and Alonso in contention for the drivers. I reckon that Button will finish above Massa but that Massa will be better equiped to support Alonso’s title chances.

    1. Completely agree with your analysis.

      I wonder if this year qualifying will become less important. At least I hope so and that we will actually see cars overtake due to speed differences appearing during the race.

    2. Jhonnie Siggie
      3rd March 2010, 4:11

      A guy doesn’t return from the brink only help Alonso live his dreams. There is no way Massa is supporting Alonso for the title. He has already said publicly what we all suspect of Alonso, so there is no way Massa is playing number 2 to a (c***t) except maybe till the end of the season provided Alonso has a handy lead.

      I think the pundits here that time after time show Alonso ahead in the pecking order as though it’s a forgone conclusion should be prepared to be humbled during the season. They will be very close and my personal bet is that Massa will be ahead. Those with the herd mentality will always pick last year’s best performing mutual fund to invest in.

  47. I am surprised at some people of the understanding that Redbull will come second and McLaren third. They don’t know what they chatting about!
    RedBull is a team thats a few years old and McLaren has a history in F1. Yes, RedBull had a strong car last season but it was more like McLaren and Ferrari had a crap car, which, made the RB5 look good. By the time McLaren caught up, the season ended. McLaren is a big daddy, just like Ferrari and have two brilliant drivers and one arguably the fastest one on the track. No doubt in my mind they will be aiming for podiums and the championship! The hunger is there.

    1. “I am surprised at some people of the understanding that Redbull will come second and McLaren third. They don’t know what they chatting about!”

      To be honest, no-one (including you) really knows what they’re chatting about since we’re all making educated guesses.

      Lotus for the constructors title! (just kidding)

      1. Some may have made educated guesses but most of them haven’t. Go and read the statistics of the test windows and it clearly shows where McLaren stand. I’m not saying that RB are not going to be competitive but don’t under estimate the power houses of Ferrari and McLaren.

  48. I cant really split McLaren and Ferrari but I voted for second, as I want McLaren to win, and I am a pessimist, so I wont vote for them, if that makes any sense. Red bull will be third – I think if RB had a better driver line up – as good as Mclaren or Ferrari then I would put them higher. Mercedes fourth.

  49. I predict that Massa and Alonso will have a falling out. Alonso could start a fight in an empty room. That might affect Ferrari – and they might take too many points off each other for either to win the title.

  50. Mclaren 2nd or 3rd depending on the track. With such a close field we should see the Hamilton “GP2” the numpties. Rumour has it he’s been practicing on Schumi during the last day of testing. Hoping Alonso is also in his crosshairs.

  51. This seems the logical place to post. Are there any pictures of thsi disputed hole above the drivers head in the McLaren? What do people make of this in regard to the diffuser issue last year?

  52. This car looks great and I hope we will see some good results from them…

Comments are closed.