FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[bud]

ten place penalty is nothing to McLaren fans Kimi had one every second GP in 05

but i seriously think even though McLaren have said they will probably go heavy with Lewis that they will 3 stop him with France having a small pit time loss and a long straight which is a good shot at overtaking.
i dont think he will be going for the win unless theres a SC or something drastic but a podium at best!

[f1ea]

Their race for the Cotructors is looking bleak... but everyone knows they are not after that one. Mclaren is looking for the WDC with Lewis.
And they still have their chance for the WDC. But since BMW and Massa are both pushing hard and doing a good job, and Heikki has not been able to consistently challenge and put pressure on the Ferraris, mistakes are very very costly this yr.

I have to say, the winner this yr will be the one with the least DNFs / 0 pts races between Massa, Kimi, and Lewis; and if these 3 + Heikki fall flat, then Kubica has a shot, but he and BMW need to consistently keep their form and development pace, and the other 4 have to fall considerably flat... so a difficult task for BMW.

[texasmr2]

We are not even halfway into the season and anyone who count's McLaren out for either title is fooling themselve's.

[f1ea]

We are not even halfway into the season and anyone who count's McLaren out for either title is fooling themselve's.

the WDC I think Mclaren has a shot... the WCC I don't think so. As they do not have the better team/driver combination within the Top 3 teams.
Once Heidfeld sorts his problems with the tyres he's going to be able to consistently haul big BMW points. Heikki has to sort his inconsistencies and set ups problem, which is a higher hill to get over...

Ferrari needs to get their 'team' act together though. I feel the drivers have done a better job than the team as a whole... and that is not even a compliment to the drivers!!

[McLaren Fan]

ten place penalty is nothing to McLaren fans Kimi had one every second GP in 05

but i seriously think even though McLaren have said they will probably go heavy with Lewis that they will 3 stop him with France having a small pit time loss and a long straight which is a good shot at overtaking.
i dont think he will be going for the win unless theres a SC or something drastic but a podium at best!

I think it will depend on just how quick the car is in practice. I would not be at all surprised to see Hamilton on a three-stop strategy. McLaren are just playing mind games.

[texasmr2]

the WDC I think Mclaren has a shot... the WCC I don't think so. As they do not have the better team/driver combination within the Top 3 teams.

After almost 30yr's of following F1 I have learned not to put my foot in my mouth by making any prediction's until atleast the 3/4's way thru the season, that's just me though.

I'm off now for awhile to rewatch the '87 Australian GP, the '88 Brazilian GP and the '88 San Marino GP. I'll let ya know who win's !

[przemo]

I agree with you on that but I'm afraid that the Mclaren is starting to focus more on delivering the WDC to Hamilton. I understand that the drivers have to do well in order to bring the constructors championship but somehow I get this feeling that the team knows that they want be able to realize that and they are shifting their attention at Hamilton. I hope I'm wrong.

Poor Heikki then; I'd like to see McLaren to challenge for a 1-2 some time. But what does shifting their attention mean, are they not going to think about their second driver at all? Or is it in terms of race strategy, amount of testing maybe. I don't see how they can not pay attention to both of their drivers. I think maybe Kovi is struggling now a bit, so they should even give more attention to him to overcome this and help him be at the top. I wonder what would be more valuable to McLaren, constructor's championship or driver's championship for Lewis.

[Denthúl]

Their race for the Cotructors is looking bleak... but everyone knows they are not after that one. Mclaren is looking for the WDC with Lewis.
And they still have their chance for the WDC. But since BMW and Massa are both pushing hard and doing a good job, and Heikki has not been able to consistently challenge and put pressure on the Ferraris, mistakes are very very costly this yr.

I have to say, the winner this yr will be the one with the least DNFs / 0 pts races between Massa, Kimi, and Lewis; and if these 3 + Heikki fall flat, then Kubica has a shot, but he and BMW need to consistently keep their form and development pace, and the other 4 have to fall considerably flat... so a difficult task for BMW.

Kubica has been the most consistent driver all season. All it will take for him to take the WDC is a few more second place finishes and the other drivers to keep making occasional mistakes and getting penalties (that's more in the case of Lewis, seeing as he's on his second this year). That being said, Massa really has picked up his game and has scored in every race he has finished so far, much like Kubica, so he's definitely a contender.

[Kiwi_Chris]

Remember Keke Rosberg won the title in 82 with one win and a whole lot of consistancy so it can be done

[Raider Monkz]

I Still think Lewis Hamilton can win it but I think as far as winning the constructors it's all over for MClaren.

[Fact Man]

I agree with you on that but I'm afraid that the Mclaren is starting to focus more on delivering the WDC to Hamilton. I understand that the drivers have to do well in order to bring the constructors championship but somehow I get this feeling that the team knows that they want be able to realize that and they are shifting their attention at Hamilton. I hope I'm wrong.

Poor Heikki then; I'd like to see McLaren to challenge for a 1-2 some time. But what does shifting their attention mean, are they not going to think about their second driver at all? Or is it in terms of race strategy, amount of testing maybe. I don't see how they can not pay attention to both of their drivers. I think maybe Kovi is struggling now a bit, so they should even give more attention to him to overcome this and help him be at the top. I wonder what would be more valuable to McLaren, constructor's championship or driver's championship for Lewis.

Of course, they will be supporting both drivers. But somehow it feels (maybe I'm wrong) that Mclaren is willing to sacrifice their chances of winning the WCC to help Hamilton win the WDC. Someone mentioned on another thread that Norbert Haug was defending Hamilton's mistake in Canada (I'm not sure how true that is?). But if that's the case, it's scary because it means they are willing to overlook his unnecessary mistakes even if that can cost them the WCC as long as Hamilton is not criticized.

Somehow, it is like Mclaren is trying hard to defend and protect Hamilton to prove that they made the right choice by having him with the team for 2 years.
But what is going to happen if he doesn't win the WDC this year. How patient are they going to be with him?

As you said "I think maybe Kovi is struggling now a bit, so they should even give more attention to him to overcome this and help him be at the top." But are they doing so? Or are all their hopes on Hamilton?

[McLaren Fan]

If it becomes clear that McLaren have sacrificed winning the constructors' championship in order to win the drivers' championship for Hamilton, I will be pretty pissed off, to say the very least. To me, however, it's not fair to say that is what's happening. Hamilton has made his own costly gaffes and Kovalainen has been getting luck comparable to what Webber has been having for years. To have any chance of winning the constructors' championship, especially with Ferrari and BMW both being strong, you need both drivers to be performing well on a consistent basis. For a few reasons, that has not been happening at McLaren. I don't think it's a case of the team sacrificing the constructors' title. Regarding Hamilton, I don't think he has any right to expect a drivers' title soon. He shot himself on the foot last season and has made too many mistakes this season. He has only himself to blame. Further, championships are meant to be competitive. The years of Ferrari's excellent performance with Schumacher running the team are the exception rather than the rule.

[racechick]

If it becomes clear that McLaren have sacrificed winning the constructors' championship in order to win the drivers' championship for Hamilton, I will be pretty pissed off, to say the very least. To me, however, it's not fair to say that is what's happening. Hamilton has made his own costly gaffes and Kovalainen has been getting luck comparable to what Webber has been having for years. To have any chance of winning the constructors' championship, especially with Ferrari and BMW both being strong, you need both drivers to be performing well on a consistent basis. For a few reasons, that has not been happening at McLaren. I don't think it's a case of the team sacrificing the constructors' title. Regarding Hamilton, I don't think he has any right to expect a drivers' title soon. He shot himself on the foot last season and has made too many mistakes this season. He has only himself to blame. Further, championships are meant to be competitive. The years of Ferrari's excellent performance with Schumacher running the team are the exception rather than the rule.

All those mistakes from lewis and still he is lying second. If he makes no more mistakes he'll walk it! Heikki is not scoring. the Ferraris are taking points of each other(or making mistakes). Which leaves Robert. If BMW put all theiree effort behind him and McLaren remain loyal to their policy of equality then Robert could be the one who spoils lewis' party.