- 29 Sep 12, 02:04#323560
Lewis is now past tense as far as the McLaren brand is concerned. Truth be told, it might have been the case for some time...what with the constant selling from the leadership at the beginning of each season that the car is going to be brilliant and be the all-conquering title challenger. And in consistent fashion, doesn't flatter on track until they find their way late in the season when it's all but too late.
Now new blood [Perez] has been injected into the system, into the McLaren way of doing things. Layered upon that is Martin Whitmarsh's penchant for his bromances. So first, the whole driver pairing and equality thing needs to be sorted. It's a serious issue because Perez isn't a hard guy like Lewis—not fully exposed to the harshness that top teams can offer in the way of politics. And we know Jenson plays that well. Perez could come in just like Juan Pablo and Alonso thinking he is all about the racing and doing the business only to find that before you race for McLaren, you must first define your political platform and work hard on your campaign. When Luca said Perez wasn't ready, I don't think he was talking about his driving. He meant he wasn't ready to run for "Prime Minister" of a top team. Perez has 99 problems and Jenson is one of them!
Jenson woke up on the morning of September 28th to what he first accepted as a dream come true. He is now the senior team leader in a lauded F1 team with what he expects to be a good car in 2013. As the hours wear on, it begins to hit him the knock-on effect Lewis' departure for blessed pastures will have on him and McLaren. Paddy Lowe all but stressed the importance of Lewis staying because the 2013 car was designed primarily around him. What can Jenson do with such a car? We don't have to look too far—the healthier part of the 2012 season showed that a balanced car was a mystery to Jenson, ever the hunter for mechanical grip. He was even lapped by his team-mate in Canada where there were no circumstances or conditions that may otherwise afflict one's performance. OK, I digress—Lewis goes extraordinarily well at Canada—he practically owns the circuit so maybe that is a poor example. A shortcoming of Jenson is setting up cars that isn't perfect...no argument about that fact. So what happens when the 2013 car isn't "pointy" and he can't find the handle? Turn to Perez's setup...the new team-mate just coming off his sophomore season who is looking to him for leadership? Where will the points then come from? What will the frustration then be in the garage? The pitwall? Ron's office? Jenson has 99 problems and instability is one of them.
Yes, then there is the leadership, specifically, Whitmarsh, Michaels, Ron and the like. The narrative coming out of their Brand Center is that they have a stellar driver pairing so they will step forward without skipping a beat after Lewis' flight. Well, darts look different when they are coming at you. In this case, one dart is the hefty engine bills they will now need to pay Mercedes in advance of any meaningful racing. Sure, McLaren aren't exactly in a position of needing a stimulus package to help correct their balance sheet. They do have a few quid but, given the board's nervousness about the cost of racing in this climate, according to Ron, now there is some added pressure for having to justify the cost with performance. The other dart is Whitmarsh having to justify everything his two drivers do on race weekends. That's no easy feat considering he has a driver he expects to win and a second driver that is the next "second coming" (you decide which driver fits the appropriate billing). Ron is watching very closely as his legacy is now in the balance and as Chairman, you dare not put him on the ropes. Mixed metaphors aside, Martin Whitmarsh has 99 problems and 2013 is one of them.
The fact that much is expected of McLaren by McLaren, as a team, a brand, they've got 99 problems and they are one of said problems.
I'm just saying...
Now new blood [Perez] has been injected into the system, into the McLaren way of doing things. Layered upon that is Martin Whitmarsh's penchant for his bromances. So first, the whole driver pairing and equality thing needs to be sorted. It's a serious issue because Perez isn't a hard guy like Lewis—not fully exposed to the harshness that top teams can offer in the way of politics. And we know Jenson plays that well. Perez could come in just like Juan Pablo and Alonso thinking he is all about the racing and doing the business only to find that before you race for McLaren, you must first define your political platform and work hard on your campaign. When Luca said Perez wasn't ready, I don't think he was talking about his driving. He meant he wasn't ready to run for "Prime Minister" of a top team. Perez has 99 problems and Jenson is one of them!
Jenson woke up on the morning of September 28th to what he first accepted as a dream come true. He is now the senior team leader in a lauded F1 team with what he expects to be a good car in 2013. As the hours wear on, it begins to hit him the knock-on effect Lewis' departure for blessed pastures will have on him and McLaren. Paddy Lowe all but stressed the importance of Lewis staying because the 2013 car was designed primarily around him. What can Jenson do with such a car? We don't have to look too far—the healthier part of the 2012 season showed that a balanced car was a mystery to Jenson, ever the hunter for mechanical grip. He was even lapped by his team-mate in Canada where there were no circumstances or conditions that may otherwise afflict one's performance. OK, I digress—Lewis goes extraordinarily well at Canada—he practically owns the circuit so maybe that is a poor example. A shortcoming of Jenson is setting up cars that isn't perfect...no argument about that fact. So what happens when the 2013 car isn't "pointy" and he can't find the handle? Turn to Perez's setup...the new team-mate just coming off his sophomore season who is looking to him for leadership? Where will the points then come from? What will the frustration then be in the garage? The pitwall? Ron's office? Jenson has 99 problems and instability is one of them.
Yes, then there is the leadership, specifically, Whitmarsh, Michaels, Ron and the like. The narrative coming out of their Brand Center is that they have a stellar driver pairing so they will step forward without skipping a beat after Lewis' flight. Well, darts look different when they are coming at you. In this case, one dart is the hefty engine bills they will now need to pay Mercedes in advance of any meaningful racing. Sure, McLaren aren't exactly in a position of needing a stimulus package to help correct their balance sheet. They do have a few quid but, given the board's nervousness about the cost of racing in this climate, according to Ron, now there is some added pressure for having to justify the cost with performance. The other dart is Whitmarsh having to justify everything his two drivers do on race weekends. That's no easy feat considering he has a driver he expects to win and a second driver that is the next "second coming" (you decide which driver fits the appropriate billing). Ron is watching very closely as his legacy is now in the balance and as Chairman, you dare not put him on the ropes. Mixed metaphors aside, Martin Whitmarsh has 99 problems and 2013 is one of them.
The fact that much is expected of McLaren by McLaren, as a team, a brand, they've got 99 problems and they are one of said problems.
I'm just saying...
"You must admit, the guy's a bit special!"
