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[CookinFlat6]

Well, you did ask the question, maybe you should have also supplied the answer you wanted to hear at the same time

[spankyham]

Not necessarily bad news here for McLaren fans. I remember one of Ferrari's most successful cars failed its first FiA crash test - (maybe F2004?). This may also indicate that McLaren are pushing to the absolute limit.

GP Today has reported the same part about McLaren failing their FiA crash test >>here<< but they seem to have gotten their car numbers screwed up calling this years car the MP4-28

>>Here<< is the original article in Italian while below it is run through a bot translation.

 wrote:">McLaren doesn't pass crash tests: Jerez at risk?

The MP4-29 is in serious delay, but Ron Dennis claims that the car is on the track in Andalusia

Ron Dennis yesterday has already made a very clear discourse: who does not share the new choices of McLaren may leave the team. The "old master" wasted no time to give a jolt to Woking and make everyone understand that music has changed. Right away. And there is no need!

FAILED THE CRASH TEST The McLaren MP4-29 hasn't passed all crash tests to obtain the approval of the body and, as he predicted Eric Boullier, is likely to be the second team that will miss the tests at Jerez, scheduled from January 28, after the Lotus. Even in the next few hours to Cranfield is yet another attempt to crash test, after several failed tests in recent weeks. This paradoxical situation for a top team, evidenced by the climate of confusion that exists within the Technocentre, which has always been rigorous and functional procedures one of its main features.

The MP4-29 it's TOO LATE The car designed by Matt Morris, the former dt for Sauber, is lagging behind its time, but the team is making the maximum effort to complete the first car with a view to the opening of the tests in Spain. The machine that will be shown online in January 24 presentation might not be complete in every detail. This is the picture of the car that is being born around the power-unit of Mercedes: for the first time McLaren will have to pay for the supply of three-pointed star, waiting to go in 2015 to Honda.

WHITMARSH IS NOW AT RISK And just to meet the high expectations of the Japanese, Ron Dennis was put back on track: the CEO is preparing a restructuring of the Woking team and among the first likely the place there are team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, the Chief Executive, Jonathan Neale and commercial and financial manager, John Cooper.

On-line PRESENTATION 24 In fact, the machine will be displayed without a sponsor's colours, so you are likely to see in the traditional orange color, as we had anticipated on OmniCorse.it: McLaren, after a disastrous season in which it has never climbed on the podium, he lost much appeal to find a title sponsor capable of detecting the Vodafone who closed the report with the expiry of the contract. Speaking of Sony, but there's still nothing definite ...

DENNIS WANTS ROSS BRAWN Ron Dennis, then, has the task of giving a "frustrated" to a team that wants to go back to being a top team: and ie will still surface invariably sounds a call to Ross Brawn as team principal. The former manager Mercedes won't have time to indulge in a sabattico year, because the restructuring of the team will leave before the start of the 2014 season.

THE HONDA SEARCH GUARANTEES What would be the reason to hurry in a year, however, the transition will be for McLaren? The reason is quite simple: the Honda. The Japanese want to understand how much you can spend in partnership with the Woking team. In 2015 they expect flattering results, otherwise what will initially be exclusive to engines, could become a supply is also open to other teams. Not only that, considering that the Honda would give the engines to the McLaren Supercar.

WOKING UNATTRACTIVE FOR ALONSO McLaren, then, is a major hub in its history: it is not surprising, then, that the distance from the decisions of a single man: Ron Dennis. Also because it is inconceivable to think of trying a pilot as Fernando Alonso for 2015 if there will be no technical conditions in order to have a winning team. The Honda would be prepared to overpay the Spaniard to take it, but why should the Iberian leave Ferrari to go in a structure that must make that path of major overhaul that the Maranello team has just finished?

[spankyham]

Note that Omnicorse (in the article above) are suggesting that without a name sponsor the team may preview their car it the teams original color orange

A nice touch for the dedicated McLaren fans.

[bud]

Thanks for the article.
Indeed its always better to get the crash test out of the way first go, hopefully it doesn't delay things too much.
Orange will be a nice touch but who will fill the side pods? Maybe McLarens swoosh? Or will they use a minor sponsor like they did with Johnnie Walker in 06?

[oaba09]

This news is a breath of fresh air as a McLaren fan...martin failed to deliver. McLaren needs to get back to their winning ways.

[Jabberwocky]

Well, you did ask the question, maybe you should have also supplied the answer you wanted to hear at the same time

I was just stating that it was McLaren own making. I think Max had minimal input on the outcome

Sent using NCC-1701

[CookinFlat6]

Not necessarily bad news here for McLaren fans. I remember one of Ferrari's most successful cars failed its first FiA crash test - (maybe F2004?). This may also indicate that McLaren are pushing to the absolute limit.

I'm not sure there can be any parallel. Firstly McLaren started the 29 very early, secondly this is not a normal crash test of a car evolved from the previous year- it's a brand new car so they should be even more ready for the basic tests
What's most worthy is reports that the team has failed several times and there is no guarantee it can pass

So like last year they may not even know what they have done wrong or are unable to change it as it's integral

The fact Ron is back just before the launch suggests Whitmarsh again gambling and hoping for the best and has completely screwed up

[spankyham]

Not necessarily bad news here for McLaren fans. I remember one of Ferrari's most successful cars failed its first FiA crash test - (maybe F2004?). This may also indicate that McLaren are pushing to the absolute limit.

I'm not sure there can be any parallel. Firstly McLaren started the 29 very early, secondly this is not a normal crash test of a car evolved from the previous year- it's a brand new car so they should be even more ready for the basic tests
What's most worthy is reports that the team has failed several times and there is no guarantee it can pass

So like last year they may not even know what they have done wrong or are unable to change it as it's integral

The fact Ron is back just before the launch suggests Whitmarsh again gambling and hoping for the best and has completely screwed up

I prefer my positive interpretation because right now, F1 needs a strong McLaren. If my team is to prevail and win a championship soon, for sure it will carry more meaning if it is with a strong McLaren in the field.

[Hammer278]

I prefer a realistic interpretation whether positive or negative, and at this moment Cookin's thinking sounds very plausible to me.

[spankyham]

I prefer a realistic interpretation whether positive or negative, and at this moment Cookin's thinking sounds very plausible to me.

Either could end out being right I guess and fair enough on what you find more plausible.

I'm confident right now F1 could do with a strong McLaren.

[CookinFlat6]

F1 could also do with a strong Ferrari. We don't know how it's gonna pan out, all we have so far are the facts in front of us-
Lotus wont make Jerez
Mclaren have failed the crash tests ( that lotus passed) and may not make Jerez

No amount of wishful thinking can change this. At least McLaren have taken steps to correct their deficiencies. Will they be fixed for 2014 or 2015?

Missing the first test would be a disaster for 2014

[Hammer278]

They're around 8-9 test days before the start of the season....I don't think it'd be a season changer to miss the first one. All depends on how quickly they solve their immediate headaches.

[CookinFlat6]

It doesn't sound though like a simple 'turn up a day or 2 late' more like pass the tests first
Tests cannot be taken everyday, after each fail, by definition there will be work to do on the car just to pass the next test, this is not the development on the car performance etc

So if they have another test early this week and fail again (reports say they have failed more than once so far) then it's unlikely they make the first test at all as they would have to work on the car, book another test, pass, then get on the plane

A mockup at the car launch? This is a serious problem at a team with McLarens resource

[spankyham]

F1 could also do with a strong Ferrari.

If being 2nd 3 of the last 4 years isn't strong enough then maybe we agree on something. Ergo we can both feel F1 is better off with Ferrari going one better than 2nd

[What's Burning?]

F1 could also do with a strong Ferrari.

If being 2nd 3 of the last 4 years isn't strong enough then maybe we agree on something. Ergo we can both feel F1 is better off with Ferrari going one better than 2nd

They were third last year. I'd be all for them moving up a slot, right behind Mercedes.