Could Whitmarsh not be this new CEO of McLaren Racing?

Could Whitmarsh not be this new CEO of McLaren Racing?

 

Maybe - I don't think McLaren have decided yet on what position (if any) Whitmarsh could fill (including this one) or whether he wants to go, and on what terms.

 

MW is not a strategic in-race decision maker - he has shown last season that he couldn't make the best decisions under pressure, whereas Boullier did come up with some great strategic decisions to put Kimi & Roman into race winning and top level finishes. However I do think that MW could be a good link between Boullier and RD?

Never mind the times; Nico's done a race distance today, so if Merc didn't touch the powertrain...

Testing Day 3 - "Fernando, Filipe is faster than you, repeat Filipe is faster than you." 

I heard a suggestion that Ross Brawn could be in the frame at McLaren too and that MW goes to Lotus ?

Ross has denied talking to anyone about returning to F1 - so that probably means he has.

 

Although didn't he and Dennis have a falling out?

Ross said he was having a 6 month sabbatical minimum, and we shouldn't expect him back until halfway through this season! That was the last thing I heard though...

 

The current popular vote is Ross for CEO and MW to Lotus, though. Intriguing discussions going around that if this new McLaren is so good, surely it was designed under MW and perhaps they've hung him prematurely...

 

 

Testing is definitely very interesting so far. The Renault power train cars do really seem to be struggling! I think Ferrari will be right up there in a Mercedes-Ferrari-McLaren 3 way. People seem to think that Williams is going to be pushing the top players, too. Shaping up to be quite exciting.

This could be the best start to a season - completely new engines and new regulations have mixed things up a bit, plus we'll need to adjust for the Pirelli factor!

 

Red Bull's appear to be setting themselves on fire, but this could be to do with the turbos and lack of protection around them.

There was some talk suggesting that the initial problems were because somebody a RBR fitted a part (something to do with the battery and turbo) back to front... But who knows!

 

Newey does have a fantastic history of building very aerodynamic cars that breakdown... In-fact that was what scuppered Raikkonen's chances twice when he was at McLaren! Arguably he should have 3 WCs by now but of course, that's not how it works!

Button quickest yesterday, Magnusson today and the Merc motor proving reliable early days but lovely!

There was some talk suggesting that the initial problems were because somebody a RBR fitted a part (something to do with the battery and turbo) back to front... But who knows!

 

Newey does have a fantastic history of building very aerodynamic cars that breakdown... In-fact that was what scuppered Raikkonen's chances twice when he was at McLaren! Arguably he should have 3 WCs by now but of course, that's not how it works!

 

Test day #1 Red Bull's PR machine was saying they had fitted a spring upside down. IMO, doubt this was the truth after the revelations about the Renault power unit having issues. Although apparently as well as the know Renault issue RBR are having their own overheating issues.

As you say, Newey likes to push the limits and can end up with fragile cars. Him and Horner always seem to have some form of gripe when things don't seem to be playing out their way, with claims that the new noses, designed to be safer, are in fact more dangerous...

(2 days ago news, but still http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25931008 )

 

Still too early in testing to decide who has pace but definately the Merc and Ferrari powered teams will be heading to Bahrain on the right track as their engines (sorry, powertrain, not just an engine now  ) actually work.

 

McLaren have sprouted some interesting rear suspension items that have cleared as legal by the FIA. Not going to be easy to copy as their suspension is mounted further back than other teams. For other teams to copy it seems they would need to redesign the rear crash structure and get it crash tested again.

http://www.f1technical.net/development/435

 

Oh, and apparently McL and Lotus are both in negotiations with the same Japanese tech giant for main sponsor. 

Edited 30 January, 201412 yr by Iann-

If that structure works as has been theorised then it's a seriously impressive bit of engineering.

Anyone else think it's great that Red Bull are having issues? This should spice up this year immensly.

They are hoping to resolve their cooling issues by second test in Bahrain - they'll need to give the heat our there!!!!

 

But yes, makes a refreshing change that RB have issues and McL seem to be tracking ok.

 

 

Pic of the Marussia MR03 - looks like a car from the early 90s:

 

Anyone else think it's great that Red Bull are having issues? This should spice up this year immensly.

Not in a malicious way but yes, as someone that enjoys watching a decent race and doesn't support a particular team I do like the outcome to be a surprise rather than predictable.

Pitty that there is no Tobacco sponsoring, because the struggling for money teams could have gone to 'Camel'.

 

 

 

 

 

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Hopefully Williams can reverse their luck of the last few years.

Hopefully Williams can reverse their luck of the last few years.

 

Well moving from a Renault engine to a Merc engine seems to be a good start . 

There's strong rumours that the Williams will soon be in Martini colours so something like this (The pic isn't a 2014 car)

Well moving from a Renault engine to a Merc engine seems to be a good start .

But they did have some great years with Renault in the past.

There's strong rumours that the Williams will soon be in Martini colours so something like this (The pic isn't a 2014 car)

Would be nice to have Martini cars back in motorsport, and that does look slick.

Forget about the sound of the new cars, I can't wait to hear the debut of the 2014 version of Lewis Hamilton's American accent.

 

Hehe

 

Is that the new hospitality suite?... I know the budget's tight at Lotus but....

Budget aside, Lotus had a couple of 'filming' days this week. Day 1 only ran 1 lap, next day ran the rest of 100km (about 20 laps) allotted to these kinds of test 'without any major problems'. Although reports suggest that they were running far off pace, and only a few laps at a time. Still more than Red Bull managed at Jerez  . 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/26122651

http://gptoday.com/full_story/view/477974/Lotus_break_the_spirit_of_Formula_1_sporting_regulations_as_new_E22_flops_at_Jerez/