McLaren sporting director Gil de Ferran says the team shouldn’t simply focus on power unit supplier Renault as the first target it has to beat in F1.
After three races, McLaren is three places behind its engine supplier in the championship, though the two are separated by just three points. But when asked by RaceFans, De Ferran said the team doesn’t consider Renault the first of its rival it has to beat.“Personally I don’t look at it that way,” he said. “Renault has done a great job for us this year as a power unit partner. They have definitely made a step forward and delivered us a more powerful power unit and I think our objective is just to keep moving up regardless of who’s ahead.
“I cast my mind back to when I was a driver. Some people like to focus on one enemy. I don’t think that way. We as a group can only control what we do and that’s what we need to stay focused on and continue to move forward. And, frankly, no rest until we are P1 and P2.”
De Ferran says he can see signs of progress within the team since it split from Honda at the end of 2017.
“Working day in and day out it feels like it has. Obviously we are not fighting for wins at this point but I think that we have evolved a little bit in our understanding of what we need to do and what we need from a Formula 1 car.
“This car feels like it’s a little bit of a step forward relative to last year. But we are certainly under no illusions. We still know there is a lot of work ahead of us, I’ve been saying that throughout winter testing and the first few races and that mindset hasn’t changed.”
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The limit
20th April 2019, 10:43
McLaren have clearly turned a corner in a sense because you can only compare their current form to the past few seasons. To be honest, compared to the last few years, any improvement is a good thing considering how badly McLaren were performing.
In the hybrid era, McLaren have suffered much in the same vein as Williams. Two legendary teams that have fallen completely from grace. Williams really have floundered, considering the fact that they have access to Mercedes power, an advance McLaren rejected years ago after a long partnership.
The road to success is going to be hard for them, but McLaren are probably the most capable of teams in terms of reassertion themselves at the front of the grid.
Bad management got them in this mess, and only good management can get them out if it.
ColdFly (@)
20th April 2019, 11:07
He said “it’s a little bit of a step forward relative to last year.”
Not sure why referring to 2017 or the ‘split from Honda’. I think the smart guys at McLaren have long moved on blaming all on the PU; we should stop referring to that as well.
As the commenter above noted, it’s more to do with bad management. but I’m not sure they’ve fully cleaned that out yet.
Todfod (@todfod)
20th April 2019, 11:16
I think Mclaren has moved on from the Honda days. You don’t hear them bad mouthing Honda or even commenting on them at all.
It’s the Red Bull and Honda garages that constantly take swipes at Mclaren now, it’s almost like they have something to prove after Mclaren dumped Honda. The way I see it, Mclaren Renault, despite a disastrous 2018, still managed to do better than Mclaren Honda in 2017. In 2019, they seem to have taken a step forward from 2018, and for the first time in nearly 6 seasons, they actually looked quicker than a Red Bull in Bahrain.
If Mclaren can develop the car enough this year to finish in P4 or P5 in the WCC.. it would be great for the team. I hope they can recover and join the big three. 2021 might be their big chance, but they have to make consistent steps forward up until that point
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
20th April 2019, 11:34
Agree with all of the above comments.
Mclaren shouldn’t be targeting anybody except themselves.
They are finally starting to show some signs of improvement and just need to take it one step at a time in all departments to get back to being a competitive and reliable team.
Then they can decide who to focus on beating.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
20th April 2019, 11:35
p.s. – it might be nice if they then share the details on how they fixed themselves with Williams ;P
Phylyp (@phylyp)
20th April 2019, 12:23
Tons of oil money probably didn’t hurt. @nullapax
Sonny Crockett
22nd April 2019, 18:07
Wise words from de Ferran.
One thing I don’t understand: Why don’t McLaren brand their engine ALPINE? It would clearly differentiate them from the Renault team whilst also advertising Renault’s sports car offshoot.
Keith Crossley
23rd April 2019, 3:48
Speaking of McLaren – why can’t they get the colour right?
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/2017/11/video-driving-bruce-mclarens-championship-winning-m6a/