Honda Holding Out for Big Token Spend

Let's hope so, because frankly I find it sickening to see a once great team languishing at the back of the field. 2015 was truly pathetic, and 2016 is not miles better.

 

OMFG. Who asked BMW for a solution? This is the lamest of lameass suggestions, genuinely pathetic.

 

I can't go as far as saying Renault is competitive, with only one points finish in 4 races, mostly thanks to a big safety car in Russia, with Vettel, two Toro Rosso and two Red Bulls not being in the top 10. But I wish them and K. MAG the best

 

Other than a few races that had DNF's due to collision or mechanical failure, McLaren is not languishing at the back of the field. Sure they are not at the pointy end of the grid, but they are solid midfield runners right now, and pretty close at getting into Q3.

Sure, it's not something to write home about, but you make it seem like they're in the same position as last year. 2016 IS miles better than 2015, although they can and should do better.

 

Anyone knows how the Renault upgrades work for Red Bull, if at all?

 

Anybody still cares about Honda?

Bouillier already admitted that they had f**** it up with their current engine concept and that the developments they were expecting for Canada are a stop gap solution. Right now they are more or less where they ended the 2015 season (almost Q1, some points). Probably they will end the 2016 season with solid points and maybe a lucky podium, but we´ll have to wait till 2017 with an engine made from scratch to see where they really stand.

 

Dunno, tehy need a lot of luck for that podium to happen:

Merc, Ferrari, Red Bull and a williams + Toro Rosso out of position or out. That's a big first corner pile up if you ask me .

Perhaps the Toro Rosso thing could happen now that Verstappen is gone...

 

The usual disclaimers apply, but I believe once homologated it has to be made available to all.

Whether they choose to use it or not is up to them; Remember FI last year had a 'new' lump available but didn't run it until Merc had done a couple of races with it.

I think.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

So maybe yes...maybe no .

 

Having gone through the many season's of M̶c̶L̶a̶r̶e̶n̶'̶s̶ Ron Dennis' arrogance in the past, when every other team was looked down upon, as though they were not worthy to share the same tarmac as McLaren (Dennis literally walked around with his nose up in the air as if he was the emperor of F1 back then!) , and Ron Dennis' weird obsession with "The red team" (remember back when he couldn't even bring himself to say: "Ferrari"? ), I have little sympathy for their current situation.

One of the biggest benefits McLaren ever got from having Martin Whitmarsh in charge was that they lost a lot of that arrogance, they became a far friendlier team, showed a lot more respect to their competitors (Including their biggest rivals - Ferrari), and the whole outfit became more Human again.

After a couple of poor seasons, Ron Dennis decided that Martin Whitmarsh was to blame for all of McLaren's woes, stating that McLaren had lost their focus and direction under Whitmarsh, and so threw him out, whilst at the same time declaring that, now he was back in charge, McLaren would instantly go back to being winners again.

Cue the: "That never happened" posts! - Here you go: (From: Ron Dennis retakes control of McLaren: What next for Whitmarsh? // F1 News // James Allen on F1 ? The official James Allen website on F1 ) :

Posted By: James Allen | 16 Jan 2014

The future of McLaren’s team principal Martin Whitmarsh is in question tonight after former team boss Ron Dennis retook control of the company as CEO, promising changes to make the team win again.

Or in Ron's own words:

“My fellow shareholders have mandated me to write an exciting new chapter in the story of McLaren, beginning by improving our on-track and off-track performance.”

Well let's be fair here, when it comes to both on-track and off-track performance, in the 2015 F1 season, more often than not McLaren were the fastest - To go from being on-track to off-track!

Under Ron Dennis' control, McLaren have had the worst season in their history, and this season is not much better so far.

(TBH, It's surprising that with Ron being his own boss, based on what happened with Martin Whitmarsh, Ron hasn't been so disappointed with McLaren's performance under his control that he hasn't sacked himself! )

Let's be fair though, Ron Dennis has mellowed a bit these days (he can actually say: "Ferrari" now!), and he's far less annoying than he used to be (being forced to eat humble pie has worked wonders on him!), but for the Tifosi, there is a sense of satisfaction at seeing McLaren struggle, a case of: "serves you right!", because we still remember Ron's arrogance "back in the day", and his palpable hatred and jealousy of Ferrari.

Finding it sickening to see a once great team languishing at the back of the field? - Not for the Tifosi it's not!

(And if the tables were reversed with Ferrari, I'm sure the majority of McLaren fans would take the exact same satisfaction seeing Ferrari struggle!)

 

Exactly!

Cheers,
Ian

 

I think that everyone but Mercedes are developing their 2017 engines. I know there's all types of rules, but people are way too complacent with the Merc's kicking so much ass. The more aero sucks, but at least they can make a new PU and hopefully challenge.

 

Last I heard Renault was posturing themselves to be competitive with Ferrari during the European season. With how outstanding the Red Bull chassis looks I'd say they do not need equivalent power to Ferrari to be competitive with them.


I hear for 2017 they are talking about limiting boost pressure at certain RPM intervals similar to how fuel is limited at certain RPM. It's questionable if they will raise the fuel to a third level above 12k rpm, but I'm not certain it's even necessary if they are limiting boost. Limiting boost pressure at certain RPM is a way to knock out a couple birds with one stone as it will force engines to rev to 15k rpm (to get back to the power they were making at 12k rpm) as well as increase sound quite a bit. Power from these units is already very good so I don't believe it necessary, along with the other performance gaining alterations such as aero and tires, to significantly raise the level of power from these things.

 

Agreed on all fronts.

That Red Bull is a very good car. if the odds are still high (66/1 for Ricciardo to win Spain [oddly enough Verstappen is at 40/1], not sure what it is for Monaco) I'd put a punt on Monaco. With new power on the horizon Ferrari have to get their act together very soon.

 

Lol, no kidding. What does this even mean? A speaker? A whistle tip fart can exhaust?

Yikes...

 

I don't feel bad for McLaren, but I do feel bad for Alonso/Button wasting their careers driving this thing

 

That McLaren has a nice chassis as Russia demonstrated, it just needs more drivable power. Russia is pedal to the metal 60%+ of the time which tells me McLaren is sort of getting there with power, but drivability of that unit needs big work. I believe Monaco will go well for them.

 

It was their choice, and they are well paid, so don´t worry about them.

About McLaren, I enjoy beating them but, man, this is embarrassing, and if they don´t put an end to this soon it could be even threatening the survival of the team in the long term.

I think that, after their utter failure in the 90s and the bad image they´re giving now, Honda definitely can´t afford to NOT win. It´s just that it will take them longer than expected.

 

Lol you're funny. Todt was equal d*** in period. Don't forget his massive arrogance having Rubens give first to Shummy even though Shummy had already won the WDC. 2002 Austrian I believe.

 

Schumi didn't have the WDC by that point (Even though it was nigh on impossible to lose at that point). It was all about getting the title in record time.

 

MSC handed wins to Irvine (Malaysia 1999) and Rubens (Indy 2002)

 

Ok the point was about Todt being an equal ass to Ron as described by Phil. lol