Mclaren Honda 2015

[Thunder]

If Magnussen drives Australia, does that mean McLaren can field an extra engine?

No. 4 Engines per Car per Season, no matter who drives it.

[RZS10]

my memories of alonso winning the WDC ar of him starting behind but the renault being exceptional at getting off the line [...] recent ferrari's were also quicker off the line [...]

or maybe, just maybe, it is the driver who is that good off the line

[lebesset]

my memories of alonso winning the WDC ar of him starting behind but the renault being exceptional at getting off the line [...] recent ferrari's were also quicker off the line [...]

or maybe, just maybe, it is the driver who is that good off the line

that wouldn't explain why the other car in the team was quick off the line

[f1universe]

my memories of alonso winning the WDC ar of him starting behind but the renault being exceptional at getting off the line [...] recent ferrari's were also quicker off the line [...]

or maybe, just maybe, it is the driver who is that good off the line

that wouldn't explain why the other car in the team was quick off the line

Is not about being fast off the line, is about what you do with that speed, Alonso is king in that regard.

[adrianjordan]

my memories of alonso winning the WDC ar of him starting behind but the renault being exceptional at getting off the line [...] recent ferrari's were also quicker off the line [...]

or maybe, just maybe, it is the driver who is that good off the line

that wouldn't explain why the other car in the team was quick off the line

Maybe the other driver was also quick off the line

[AnthonyG]

I had to chuckle at this.

Before McLaren switched to Honda power last year, Ron Dennis said it is impossible for a customer team to win the world championship. Do you agree with that?

"Well, when he was the works Mercedes team he got beaten by Brawn, didn't he? Maybe it's just difficult for him to win. Just like it's difficult for him to find title sponsors."

Source http://en.espnf1.com/williams/motorspor ... KFqwK5E.99

[Dipesh1995]

Just like when Symonds found it difficult to win in 2008 especially in Singapore.........

[maccafan]

The comment from Symonds surprised me. Seems like a cheap shot for no good reason.

[iotar__]

I don't understand Symonds' joke, Dennis clearly was talking about different and more importantly new engine rules, opened development, hybrids, big budgets etc. A customer can't beat a manufacturer, those whining now about Mercedes' dominance like Ferrari and Red Bull knew exactly the implications of new engines and they loved it. Second reason is budgets (the horror!), another area benefiting them, the only problem is Merc outspent and out-developed them. You are a manufacturer, you have twice resources of the same engine teams, your only 100% comparable competition is Ferrari (Red Bull is at 90%), you are + 0,5 in front, no miracles and genius designers needed for a team that was comparable to Sauber couple years before hybrids. Instead of laughing Williams should ponder where they would be with Renault in 2014 and how to close a huge gap to Merc.

More importantly Honda's money is keeping McLaren alive even without sponsors, they really had no choice. It's easy to be arrogant when engine supplier and extra Ecclestone money is bankrolling all your failures, like being badly beaten by Williams last season.

[bauc]

The comment from Symonds surprised me. Seems like a cheap shot for no good reason.

I agree 100%, people do have short memories

[Vasconia]

the thing that worries me is the fact that , even if the car is competitive with mercedes , both button and alonso are good , but not outstanding , qualifiers whereas hamilton and rosberg seem to be in the top rank
my memories of alonso winning the WDC ar of him starting behind but the renault being exceptional at getting off the line , never understood why it was quite that good , rumours of illegal devices seem hard to believe , maybe the michelin tyres being carefully designed to the car's needs had something to do with it ...we will never know ; recent ferrari's were also quicker off the line than in the race as well !
we shall see ......hoping for more competition at the front asap

If I am not wrong Renault had a launching system, at least between 2003 and 2005, which was the best of the field. Alonso is good at doing this but sometimes Renault had a surrealistic advantange in that aspect. For example I remember Canada 2005.

[GoranF1]

the thing that worries me is the fact that , even if the car is competitive with mercedes , both button and alonso are good , but not outstanding , qualifiers whereas hamilton and rosberg seem to be in the top rank
my memories of alonso winning the WDC ar of him starting behind but the renault being exceptional at getting off the line , never understood why it was quite that good , rumours of illegal devices seem hard to believe , maybe the michelin tyres being carefully designed to the car's needs had something to do with it ...we will never know ; recent ferrari's were also quicker off the line than in the race as well !
we shall see ......hoping for more competition at the front asap

If I am not wrong Renault had a launching system, at least between 2003 and 2005, which was the best of the field. Alonso is good at doing this but sometimes Renault had a surrealistic advantange in that aspect. For example I remember Canada 2005.

[j2004p]

The crazy thing about that canada start was his reaction wasn't even as good as the cars ahead. Just the initial phase of the start destroyed the other cars.

[ChrisF1]

Let's not forget that Alonso was the same at Ferrari one of the seasons, think it was 12 or 13, where for about 6-7 rounds he was making at least 3 places on average each race.

[Jonnycraig]

Let's not forget that Alonso was the same at Ferrari one of the seasons, think it was 12 or 13, where for about 6-7 rounds he was making at least 3 places on average each race.

That was 2012, however both Ferrari's were very good off the line. It was what made the Massa gearbox change in Austin such an easy decision as it have Alonso the clean line and a guaranteed 3/4 place jump off the line.