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[Roth]

Storm in a teacup but from Horner's comments it appears they're treating this like they do their cars. Go way over the ethical line, but to the very edge of legality, then act innocent of even a mischievous thought.

[Nin-Chin]

McLaren result this year was worse than last year at China. Disappointing.

[Jabberwocky]

I wonder what the wage packet for this guy looks like now

[spankyham]

I thought Ron's comments this week directed to his team's fans and also to MM were top shelf.
Hang in there loyal Macca fans and hopefully your team will have their turnaround in Spain.

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[LewEngBridewell]

I thought Ron's comments this week directed to his team's fans and also to MM were top shelf.
Hang in there loyal Macca fans and hopefully your team will have their turnaround in Spain.

I hope so! That was a dreadful result

[LewEngBridewell]

Encouraging reading for McLaren fans (from Autosport)

McLaren has revealed that its factory has already produced the downforce improvements it needs to move up the Formula 1 grid.

Efforts to lift the performance of its MP4-29 have become more urgent after a disappointing performance in the Chinese Grand Prix.

But racing director Eric Boullier insists there is no huge concern about its plight because progress back at base has been impressive in recent weeks.

However, because of the long lead time that it takes for updates to be manufactured and delivered, it may take a few races before all the upgrades are ready.

When asked by AUTOSPORT if he believed that progress would be enough to get McLaren back in to the fight behind Mercedes, Boullier said: "Definitely.

"This is 100 per cent sure because we know already back in the factory what is going to happen in the next three or four races.

"I know what is going on, so I know we are on a very good development rate.

"What we picked up now since a few weeks is good. Very good.

"I hope it is going to come sooner than later. In the windtunnel already we have picked up a lot of performance.

"Back in the factory it is fine. It is just a question of preparing everything and shipping it to the track."

Sources suggest that the rate of downforce improvement unlocked in Woking in recent weeks has been greater than it has achieved at any point over the winter.

That is the reason why the team is quietly confident that it will only take a short while to get back to the kind of performance that helped it take a double podium finish in the season-opening Australian GP.

Boullier added: "Two years ago they were winning races, so there is no reason to panic.

"It is not because you lose a few guys that the car does not work any more."

[racechick]

That does sound positive news!

[Cyril Sneer Racing]

An article with similar information to what LewEngBridewell posted:
McLaren map out bold upgrade plan through to Silverstone
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/ ... 15762.html

""Everything is planned already," he told a McLaren-Mercedes teleconference. "Spain will see an interesting upgrade for the car, [while] every race will see an upgrade package.
...
"If you look in detail obviously it looks like we have stepped back from the beginning of the season, [but] I made clear that a lack of downforce was obviously hurting us when you have very hot or cold temperatures, and there is a technical reason for that. It is true that Australia was a bit optimistic, but we also prepare ourselves to pick up points or even podiums from the others.

"2014 should be a benchmark year for us. It should be seen as a year of rebuilding a winning team."

Boullier said that McLaren are also close to finalising a new title sponsor, and that negotiations are nearly concluded."

[LewEngBridewell]

Fingers crossed then. Hopefully exciting times lie ahead!

[sagi58]

, Andrew Benson wrote:">Eric Boullier: There is nothing fundamentally wrong with McLaren

McLaren insist there is nothing fundamentally wrong with their team despite their continuing poor form.

Both drivers finished outside the top 10 in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix to underline McLaren's struggle for pace.

But racing director Eric Boullier said: "There is nothing fundamental. This team has good individuals."

Boullier, a replacement for former team principal Martin Whitmarsh who was sacked in January, admitted his task was to "rebuild a winning team".

In 2013, McLaren slumped from winning seven races the previous season to not registering a single podium finish.

It was their worst year since 1980 and prompted chairman Ron Dennis to re-take the reins of the F1 team and dispense with Whitmarsh, his long-time protégé.

Drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button finished second and third in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this year but the team have fallen backwards dramatically since then.

In China, McLaren were comfortably the slowest of the teams using the dominant Mercedes engine, and were beaten by several cars using the less competitive Ferrari and Renault power units. Button finished 11th and Magnussen 13th.

Boullier, who started work at the end of January, suggested McLaren needed to look again at some of their working methods, saying: "We just need to reconsider a little bit strategically how we build our car and develop our performance."

He also rejected a suggestion that this season was effectively about marking time as they prepare for a switch to new engine partner Honda in 2015.

"You can't allow yourself to think and wait in motor racing," he said.

[Cyril Sneer Racing]

Yes, I don't think it's as bad as it seems. Two bad races, very bad, but I think with an experienced driver and a skilled rookie there will be improvements as the team says. Ups and downs but I think the first two races show the potential.

[sagi58]

From what relatively little I've seen, most of the top teams have one or two bad races, during the season.
Unfortunately, further down the grid, some teams seem to have more bad than good races!

[racechick]

Boulier mentions new signings ( tony Salter from Sauber and Guillaume Cattelani from Lotus) talks about the restructuring at McLaren he is putting in place in a bid go get McLaren back fighting at the front.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113727

[Jabberwocky]

Boulder seemed to have a magic touch at Lotus, let's hope he has learnt his lessons on financial control

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[racechick]

Boulder seemed to have a magic touch at Lotus, let's hope he has learnt his lessons on financial control

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Probably got a bit more to play with at McLaren. And uncle Ron will be keeping an eye on things.