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[What's Burning?]

Curious to find out what the consensus is so far regarding Mclaren and their WCC. Obviously last year, they finished 3, having Ferrari overtake them in the WCC for the first time since 2008. It's obvious they're struggling. We're only two races in but looking at the current standings, they won't be able to absorb these types of results much longer. Especially since it looks like Force India has legitimate pace and Lotus showed up with a strong car from which to build on.

Pos Team Points
1 Red Bull Racing-Renault 66
2 Lotus-Renault 40
3 Ferrari 40
4 Mercedes 37
5 Force India-Mercedes 10
6 Sauber-Ferrari 4
7 McLaren-Mercedes 4
8 STR-Ferrari 1
9 Williams-Renault 0
10 Marussia-Cosworth 0
11 Caterham-Renault 0

No need for ceaseless argument here folks, vote, make your statement and move along. Little tolerance for the same ol'.

[darwin dali]

I'd be hugely surprised if they managed to retain 3rd, though one never knows in F1...

[Jabberwocky]

I think they will, look how Ferrari came back last year. then again they do not have an Alonso to transend the car.

[andrew]

It'll all come down to how much they are able to develop their car. With Lotus sounding like they are in trouble finacially I think they'll be duking it out with Merc for 3rd, unless Merc employ their usual strategy of giving up around July and start focusing on their next car.

Today showed progress until the bad luck struck else it would have been a pretty decent result after Australia.

[LewEngBridewell]

It may come as no surprise, seeing as I support McLaren, but I think they have a good chance of retaining 3rd. I mean, just look at today. If Jenson's pitstop hadn't gone tits-up, then he would've likely finished at least 5th, ahead of the sole remaining Ferrari and both Lotus cars. This is just ONE week after the disastrous Melbourne race, where they were scrapping in the midfield.

If progress can continue, I've no reason to believe they'll continue to embarrass themselves.

Fingers crossed anyway.

[Hammer278]

It's 5th for them this season, I predict RBR, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lotus, ahead in order. Merc beating Lotus simply because of a better driver pairing. McLaren will come back but there's a limit to how much they can come back due to the lethal pairing they have right now.

[Jabberwocky]

I think they will see of Lotus, but not sure they will catch Merc if they continues todays form

[racechick]

I think that will be a tall order given their starting point and the fact that both drivers, and team principal thinks they're in big trouble and are unsure how to get out. So I say no .

[CookinFlat6]

I dont see them coming 3rd. They would have to beat teams with a better driver pairing. Also they will need to focus on 2014 at some stage because they dont have the resources to have 2 development teams running in tandem unlike at least 3 of the top teams. This year they are competing with Force India for fifth. To beat Lotus would be a massive acheivement considering how much weaker they are this year

[bud]

McLaren don't have the resources to tandem develop? Where do you get all this negative info on the team from? They already are tandem developing the 2014 car right now!

I think it's only the second race so it's way too early to make any sound prediction, once the circus returns to Europe I think we will get a better idea on the performance of the teams.

[darwin dali]

McLaren don't have the resources to tandem develop? Where do you get all this negative info on the team from? They already are tandem developing the 2014 car right now!

I was just waiting for that from you

[bud]

It's a valid question...

[darwin dali]

It's a valid question...

Of course it is - I just did an NR and let you go first

[spankyham]

I will post a little more in the GP thread, but, I was at the race and you learn a lot more being there than you ever can from TV. One thing is abundantly clear - the McLaren definitely has race pace.

There are 2 key factors:-
1) Melb is not a good yardstick, but Malaysia is and, although McLaren never really had a chance due to crazy Q and poor track position the car was definitely fast, and by that I mean it had the pace and stability on track of the lead cars.
2) Going to the 1st GP with an all new front suspension with nothing to reference it from (ie last years data) meant they were never going to get enough track time in the practice session to learn how to setup and use the pull-rod front suspension. We saw exactly this from Ferrari last year. Like Ferrari last year, McLaren have a bright side to all this - they have a very big upside in terms of additional performance they can garner from the car.

On the topic, having seen the car on track, I wouldn't write McLaren off from any position this year.

[CookinFlat6]

It's a valid question...

Of course it is - I just did an NR and let you go first

When I say two teams in tandem,I mean two teams led by proven championship winning designers.
Paddy Lowe is no longer involved, Goss is there but who else?
Ferrari brought Bryne back to lead/consult a development effort for 2014. We all know that Merc could field 3 development teams with championship winning designers.

Who can tell me seriously that McLaren loses Lowe and promotes from withing and yet is as able to design and develop two cars at once? Remember McLaren ditched their routine of 2 separate teams rotating the design of the car, they have had a big net outflow of technicians in the last 2 years