FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Fact Man]

I thought their policy was based on equality within the team. Or is It?


"Lewis is now an absolutely proven product. He can lead a team and he can be the talisman that can take us to a championship," the country's Autosport Web site (http://www.autosport.com) quoted McLaren's chief executive Martin Whitmarsh as saying on Thursday.

Whitmarsh made clear that, despite McLaren's much-stated policy of equality between drivers, Hamilton would be de facto number one.

"We're determined that Lewis will be the world champion by this time next year," he said.

"Back at our factories in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart, people are working incredibly hard to make that happen. It's fantastic that Lewis has already earned that depth of emotion and support within the team."


http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/071206/2/wmmq.html

[texasmr2]

You answered your own question .

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Although the team do not plan to abandon their policy of complete equality of treatment for their two drivers, it is clear they feel that Hamilton can naturally take up the role of leader.

[Fact Man]

From autosport.com:

Although the team do not plan to abandon their policy of complete equality of treatment for their two drivers, it is clear they feel that Hamilton can naturally take up the role of leader.

Doesn't that contradict their policy?

[racechick]

Taking the role of leader because you drive the car faster is different to being given prefferential conditions in order to help you beat your team mate. Two differtent things

[texasmr2]

Hamilton has #1 status you dont have to be a rocket sciencetist to 'read between the line's'. I have no problem with this either as McLaren is putting 100% into making sure Lewis has everything he need's to be the '08 WDC.

[racechick]

If Pedro is the second driver, which is sounding likely, they will have a natural 1 and 2 with no need for any 'special treatments' and 'manipulations'.

[7UpJordan]

Probably not too disimillar to when Senna was effectively the number 1 driver after Prost left for Ferrari and Berger came in. Didn't stop Senna and Berger being competitive, and they would usually go out trying to beat each other in qualifying.

[texasmr2]

If Pedro is the second driver, which is sounding likely, they will have a natural 1 and 2 with no need for any 'special treatments' and 'manipulations'.

Agreed because De La Rosa is FAST as he showed in '06 and has shown alot of loyalty to McLaren, I think he deserve's the 2nd seat. Wow what a great combo that would make and if Pedro does get the seat I see him taking a few race win's.

[racechick]

He might, he'd do a solid job if lewis was in trouble and like you say he's been loyal and isnt mental.

[7UpJordan]

I'd say De La Rosa is pretty underrated, we really have never seen what he's fully capable of in a fast car. Put in some good performances for Arrows in 2000 running 4th at Hockenheim - the Asiatech engine was a powerful beast and the chassis was good at fast circuits. Also he did well as Montoya's replacement last season coming 2nd in Hungary.

But how will he fare in qualifying? Wurz's years of being a test driver pretty much blunted his racing edge and he struggled to beat Q1 often, but it is often said Wurz's true potential was lost in the tunnel at Monaco in 1998...

[f1ea]

yes, everyone is right... but back to topic

No, Mclaren does not treat the drivers equal. And it is so obvious I think they say they do, just to have a laugh at everyone.....

[Mikep99]

Taking the role of leader because you drive the car faster is different to being given prefferential conditions in order to help you beat your team mate. Two differtent things

racechick tell me what the difference is between your above statement and the case with Shuy and all his co-drivers at Ferrari

To me above appears to contradict everything you have been saying regarding this matter in the past. Unless your insinuating Shuy was only faster because of the prefferential conditions

[racechick]

Taking the role of leader because you drive the car faster is different to being given prefferential conditions in order to help you beat your team mate. Two differtent things

racechick tell me what the difference is between your above statement and the case with Shuy and all his co-drivers at Ferrari

To me above appears to contradict everything you have been saying regarding this matter in the past. Unless your insinuating Shuy was only faster because of the prefferential conditions

Well we'll never know because Schuy wasnt prepared to pitch himself against a top driver and even the mediocre ones had to move over. Lewis already has had a fast team mate and proven he can beat him without 'move over' tactics. McLaren have said they are not having two top line pilots after the problems this year, they have not said they are going to handicap the second driver.

[grumpyoldman]

I'm not sure if the "equality" that Ron talks about is well understood; I myself may not understand exactly what he means by it!

My understanding is that Ron means the drivers are given equal access to the team facilites and machinery. I don't hink it means there is no "emotional" favouring, and that is only natural. Ron and others in McLaren are only human and will have their favourites, but that doesn't mean they will give those favourites any special treatment compared with other drivers. Of course where favouritism may come into play is in who gets the optimum race strategy choice; but in general I believe at McLaren this is a decision made on a race by race basis with no one driver getting an automatic choice.

As I say, that is only my understanding and I could be completely wrong!