Ferrari vs McLaren - Engineers

[CHT]

I know someone who worked at McLaren a few years ago. The racing & car divisions are entirely separate. People who work on the road cars have nothing to do with the F1 cars.
Their financial resources may been stretched by the new car but the F1 personnel compliment is unlikely to have been affected.

Many things has changed for the last few years.

- Mclaren was producing Merc SLR road car, where parts such as engine and gearbox are produced at Merc AMG.

- Mclaren was getting financial support for both their F1 and road car program from Merc, and now they are independent

- Mclaren doesnt have a engine division 3 year ago, now they do

- Mclaren was producing 500 SLR back then, and now they are targeting to produce 1000 MP4-12C

[tok-tokkie]

He was working on the SLR so it was before the changes you speak of.

[segedunum]

He was working on the SLR so it was before the changes you speak of.

That was kind of the point.

[donskar]

Key point (as made already by xpensive): you need excellent engineers AND excellent engineering managers. Then stir in top quality facilities, and add a large helping of atmosphere conducive to individuals operating at peak efficiency (which can be influenced by management a level ABOVE engineering management).

Over the long haul, I think McL has had the best engineering. During the Reign of Schu, Ferrari was better.

[CHT]

Over the long haul, I think McL has had the best engineering. During the Reign of Schu, Ferrari was better.

Is has been very long haul since Mclaren win a constructor championship.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I think McLaren as much, or more go after the elite.
I found this video

http://www.grid1.tv/videos/featured/lew ... ini-trophy

very telling on several levels. Beside the rabid McLaren fans in Bandinni's hometown (at least for the event with The Boss)
Giovanni Banzola's award shows that McLaren leave no stone unturned (his bit is about 2/3 the way through the video).
Dig it! F1 is a beautiful thing.
And the Boss will eventually drive for Ferrari! :-"

[raymondu999]

Last constructors for McLaren was in 1998. The Hakkinen-Schumi days if I'm not mistaken

[internetf1fan]

All Ferrari can do is copy other people. Red bull style nose. check. mclaren f duct. check. redbull ebd. check. At least McLaren comes out with ideas of their own.

[shamikaze]

copying, incorporating and improving is a strategy like any other which often cosst less resources then the other way around. it is also largely instigated (as stated earlier) by the style and mentality of the management. Do you improve what you've got or do go outside and com back ?

the most succesfull ones are the ones that can do both. Last yr, brawn was the one with a new idea, but failed to improve over the year. McLaren this year very good with the F-Duct, less so with teh EBD (or at least up untill now), RedBull briljant with the EBD, flexi-fw thingie and strong style in implmementing the F-Duct, Ferrari good in f-Duct, EBD and flexi FW. To be honest, I can't recall that many really "new-world" items that ferrari brought in recent times (apart from the rims this yr) that otehrs did not think off or where not able to reproduce within 1-3 races.

Imho, what you team you would prefer is linked to you prefer yourself. for me bringing new idea's (irrespective if in the grey-zone or not) are the ones that show better.

If you take this approach I would put RB this yr on #1 spot and Mcl and #2 whilst given recent years total, McL would be #1.

S.